Resurrection: The Power of God for Christians and Jews [Paperback]

Kevin J. Madigan (Author), Jon Douglas Levenson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 28, 2009

This book, written for religious and nonreligious people alike in clear and accessible language, explores a teaching central to both Jewish and Christian traditions: the teaching that at the end of time God will cause the dead to live again. Although this expectation, known as the resurrection of the dead, is widely understood to have been a part of Christianity from its beginnings nearly two thousand years ago, many people are surprised to learn that the Jews believed in resurrection long before the emergence of Christianity. In this sensitively written and historically accurate book, religious scholars Kevin J. Madigan and Jon D. Levenson aim to clarify confusion and dispel misconceptions about Judaism, Jesus, and Christian origins.

 

Madigan and Levenson tell the fascinating but little-known story of the origins of the belief in resurrection, investigating why some Christians and some Jews opposed the idea in ancient times while others believed it was essential to their faith. The authors also discuss how the two religious traditions relate their respective practices in the here and now to the new life they believe will follow resurrection. Making the rich insights of contemporary scholars of antiquity available to a wide readership, Madigan and Levenson offer a new understanding of Jewish-Christian relations and of the profound connections that tie the faiths together.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“This book brims with provocative insights and reveals many connections between the well-known Christian faith in resurrection and lesser known or previously unnoticed precedents and parallels in Jewish thought, the Hebrew Bible, and cognate literature.”—Jonathan Klawans, Boston University

(Jonathan Klawans 20080601)

"This is a gem of a book. Jon Levenson and Kevin Madigan address and correct a number of widely held misconceptions about Judaism, Jesus, and Christian origins, which continue to distort Jewish-Christian relations to this day."—Matthias Henze, Rice University

(Matthias Henze 20080701)

“No one will think the same about resurrection after reading this wonderful volume. Powerful and persuasive readings of the Bible adorn nearly every page. It will provide a fruitful ground for Jews and Christians to explore the roots of their shared faith in the world to come.”—Gary A. Anderson, University of Notre Dame

(Gary A. Anderson 20080901)

“This marvelous study of the resurrection of the body offers us the very best of Jewish and Christian scholarship on the two traditions, resulting in a book that will surely become the standard work on the subject for Jews and Christians alike—and indeed for all who want insight into our shared hope for a life beyond the grave.”—Richard J. Mouw, Fuller Theological Seminary

(Richard J. Mouw )

“Two Harvard scholars, one Jewish and the other Catholic, have co-authored this superb and readable treatment of a core belief in Judaism and Christianity—resurrection—and suggest how belief in resurrection can change one’s life.”—Richard J. Clifford, S.J., Boston College School of Theology and Ministry

(Richard J. Clifford, S.J. )

“How did Roman era Jews and Christians learn to trust God''s faithfulness to raise the dead? Resurrection is a luminous scriptural story, beautifully told by Madigan and Levenson.” —David L. Tiede, Augsburg College

(David L. Tiede )

“Accessible and engaging for the non-specialist, yet also with nuggets for the expert, Madigan and Levenson wonderfully clarify the biblical meaning of resurrection and illuminate both Christian and Jewish faiths.”—Walter Moberly, Durham University

(Walter Moberly )

"Cogent and accessible. . . . The deft historical arguments of Resurrection will draw adherents of both [Christianity and Judaism] to explore their ''neglected continuity.''"—Michael Peppard, Commonweal

(Michael Peppard Commonweal )

"In Resurrection, Madigan and Levenson provide a unique and groundbreaking entry into the concept of resurrection. As such the book is truly a landmark work."—Gary A. Anderson, First Things

(Gary A. Anderson First Things )

"An important, even urgent book that comes with vigor and passion."—Walter Brueggemann, The Christian Century

(Walter Brueggemann The Christian Century )

"Provides subtle readings of important biblical passages relating to life and death, and is extremely helpful to anyone looking to understand resurrection and immortality in Judaism."—Jewish Book World

(Jewish Book World ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Kevin J. Madigan is professor of the history of Christianity, Divinity School, Harvard University. His previous books include The Passions of Christ in the High Middle Ages. Jon D. Levenson is Albert A. List Professor of Jewish Studies, Divinity School and Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University. He is the author of Resurrection and the Restoration of Israel: The Ultimate Victory of the God of Life, published by Yale University Press.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (April 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300151373
• ISBN-13: 978-0300151374
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #160,679 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Development of the Doctrine of the Resurrecion, September 27, 2008

By 

David Roemer "David Roemer" (Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Resurrection: The Power of God for Christians and Jews (Hardcover)

This book is a scholarly analysis of the development of the doctrine of the resurrection of the body for Christianity and Judaism. It analyzes the Old and New Testament, the Talmud, the writings of Gnostics, and the Christian Fathers about the resurrection. Though it is written for believers and non-believers, the authors believe God's justice requires the resurrection of the body and the book is a strong apology for faith. For example:

"Tertullian and Irenaeus firmly believed that if the Gnostic notions of the body and resurrection were true, this meant that Christians had not really been saved. The stakes were that high. To suggest that such men were really more interested in securing thier own comfortable existence or power is to misrepresent or misunderstand them woefully, to present them falsely, and to obscure how seriously and conscientiously such thinkers wrestled with the truth of the claim that Christ had been raised and that all of his followers would be raised on the last day."(page 234)

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The development of the concept of personal salvation, June 23, 2011

By 

W. Cheung "FRACP" (Adelaide, Australia) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Resurrection: The Power of God for Christians and Jews (Paperback)

Penned by two Harvard Univerity professors, this is a scholarly and informative work.

The following is a summary:

It describes, sometimes in a painstaking way, the gradual and slow gestation of the modern concept of resurrection in Judaism and Christianity, which is quite different from that in antiquity, but importantly and crucially, does derive from and possess developmental continuity from the earlier and much older ideas.

Before Ezekiel and Daniel, passages in the Old Testament seldom discuss a personal resurrection. It is suggested that in the past, a person's life was inextricably related to his or her family, community, and society. Therefore the emphasis was on the continuation and perpetuation of his or her name, family line, tribe and people. The aspiration was to die accomplished, namely under the blessing of God, at least figuratively if not literally.

Around the time Ezekiel and Daniel were written, the development of the concept of a personal type of resurrection started to materialize. Yet even then this personal type of resurrection was still linked to the older concepts of revival, and healing of the community and the people as a group.

With time, other ideas and concepts from other cultures gave some indirect influence on the Jewish concepts of resurrection, namely Platonism and Zoroastrianism. At and after the times of Jesus, finally a kind or type of concept of resurrection that more closely resembles our modern conceptualization appeared. This is described very nicely in the final three chapters of the book (pages 201-257).

So overall it is a satisfying book but it does requires some patience as a large part of the book is on the historical development and background and is very scholarly indeed.