The Akedah Servant complex : the soteriological linkage of Genesis 22 and Isaiah 53 in ancient Jewish and early Christian writings / Paba Nidhani De Andrado.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

De Andrado, Paba Nidhani.

Series:

Contributions to biblical exegesis and theology ; 69.

Contributions to biblical exegesis and theology

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bible.

Isaac (Biblical patriarch)--Sacrifice.

Isaac.

Isaac (Biblical patriarch).

Sacrifice.

Servant of Jehovah.

Bible. Genesis XXII--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Bible. Isaiah LIII--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Rabbinical literature--Criticism, Textual.

Rabbinical literature.

Christian literature, Early--Criticism, Textual.

Christian literature, Early.

Criticism, Textual.

Physical Description:

xii, 294 pages ; 23 cm.

Other Title:

Soteriological linkage of Genesis 22 and Isaiah 53 in ancient Jewish and early Christian writings

Place of Publication:

Leuven : Peeters, 2013.

Summary:

This thesis project involves tracing the convergence of two biblical texts, Akedah (Genesis 22) and the Fourth Servant Song (Isaiah 53) in ancient Jewish and early Christian textual traditions. The passages share conceptual and verbal resonances, including the suffering of a righteous individual, God's direct complicity in willing or commanding an unjust death, unresisting compliance with God's will, notions of cultic sacrifice, exaltation and reward, among other mutual features. Given their intertextual connections, the two passages have been associated together in some ancient Jewish and Early Christian texts, within a context of suffering righteousness and sacrifice (i.e. martyrdom, persecution, Christ's death). My thesis labels this apparent convergence of the primary texts as the Akedah Servant complex, and develops a dialogic method of intertextuality to determine the presence of the complex in selected passages. The texts are grouped into two periods: 1) Stage I or pre-Christian Jewish writings (pre-70CE); 2) Stage II or New Testament, in order to facilitate a comparative study of patterns and influences within and between each group. This thesis confirms the presence of the Akedah Servant complex in a range of texts in each stage, with an increasing tendency to be allied with soteriological motifs. This study indicates that the linking of Isaiah 53 and Genesis 22 is a long-standing tradition which resulted in shaping an early Christian model of atonement.

Contents:

Chapter 1 Overview 1

1.1 Introduction 1

1.2 Background to Primary Texts 4

1.2.1 Genesis 22 4

1.2.2 Isaiah 53 6

1.3 Methodology 9

1.4 The Akedah Servant Complex 15

1.5 Texts and Structure 18

1.6 Justification for this Project 22

Chapter 2 Critical Background 23

2.1 The New Testament Conundrum 23

2.2 Influence of the Akedah Tradition on Early Christianity 27

2.3 Exegetical Encounters: Patristic and Rabbinic Responses 35

2.4 Soteriology of Isaiah 53 37

2.5 Conclusion 41

Chapter 3 Text Critical Issues 43

3.1 Genesis 22: Textual Sources and Variants 43

3.1.1 Masoretic Text 44

3.1.2 The Septuagint 44

3.1.3 Comparison of MT and LXX Versions on Akedah 46

3.1.4 Samaritan Pentateuch on Genesis 52

3.1.5 Dead Sea Scrolls 52

3.1.6 Implications 53

3.2 Isaiah 53: Textual Sources and Variants 54

3.2.1 Masoretic Text 54

3.2.2 The Septuagint 54

3.2.3 Dead Sea Scrolls 55

3.2.4 Fourth Servant Song and Textual Variations 57

3.2.5 Implications 64

Chapter 4 The Akedah Servant Complex in the Primary Texts 67

4.1 Analysis of Primary Texts According to the Nine Motifs 68

4.1.1 The Portrayal of a Righteous Figure who Suffers Unjustly 68

4.1.2 The Suffering is Instigated by a Supernatural Being 70

4.1.3/4 The Sufferer does not Protest but Cooperates / Gives a Voluntary Response 71

4.1.5 Suffering is Framed as a Test or Demonstration of Obedience or Faithfulness 73

4.1.6 The Sufferer Receives Reward and Exaltation 75

4.1.7 The Recompense has Universal Consequences and Involves the Nations 78

4.1.8 The Relationship between the Sufferer and Instigator/ Permitter 80

4.1.9 Association with Ideas of Atonement and Sacrifice 82

4.2 The Akedah Servant Complex 94

Chapter 5 The Akedah Servant Complex in Stage I Texts 99

5.1 The Book of Jubilees 100

5.1.1 The Akedah Servant Complex in Jubilees' Akedah 101

5.1.2 Implications 107

5.2 4Q225 (Pseudo-Jubilees) 108

5.2.1 The Akedah Servant Complex in 4Q225 110

5.2.2 Implications 114

5.3 De Abrahamo 115

5.3.1 The Akedah Servant Complex in Philo's De Abrahamo 116

5.3.2 Implications 121

5.4 2 Maccabees 122

5.4.1 The Akedah Servant Complex in 2 Maccabees 123

5.4.2 Implications 128

5.5 Wisdom of Solomon 129

5.5.1 The Akedah Servant Complex in Wisdom of Solomon 130

5.5.2 Implications 135

5.6 Conclusion 137

Chapter 6 The Akedah Servant Complex in Stage II Texts 141

6.1 The Gospel According to John 141

6.1.1 John 3:16 and the Akedah Servant Complex 143

6.1.2 Implications 151

6.2 The Letter to the Romans 153

6.2.1 Romans 8:32 and the Akedah Servant Complex 154

6.2.2 Implications 163

6.3 The Epistle to the Hebrews 164

6.3.1 Hebrews 9:28 and the Akedah Servant Complex 165

6.3.2 Implications 175

6.4 Conclusion 176

Chapter 7 The Akedah Servant Complex in Stage III Texts 181

7.1 Jewish Akedah Tradition 183

7.1.1 Dating Akedah Texts 184

7.1.2 Methodology 187

7.1.3 Basic Group 189

7.1.4 Intermediate Group 190

7.1.5 Advanced Group 194

7.1.6 Implications 208

7.1.7 The Akedah Servant Complex 210

7.2 Evidence of Exegetical Interactions in Patristic Texts 215

7.2.1 Analysis of Features 219

7.2.2 The Akedah Servant Complex 227

7.3 Conclusion 229

Chapter 8 Conclusion 233

8.1 Research Findings 233

8.2 Soteriological Implications 238

8.3 Critical Debates 243

8.4 Conclusion 246.

Notes:

Derived from the authors thesis (doctoral)--Durham University, 2012, under title: The Akedah servant complex : tracing the linkage of Genesis 22 and Isaiah 53 in ancient Jewish and early Christian texts.

Includes bibliographical references (page 259-276) and indexes.

ISBN:

9789042929043

9042929049

OCLC:

857407363