This article considers the range of meanings of “Torah” in first century Jewish writings from Philo, Josephus, Paul, and texts including 4 Ezra and 2 Baruch. I argue that the use of “Torah” is variegated and ranges even in writings from the same author, and therefore scholars should not assume that “Torah” or its various synonyms can mean only one thing.

This chapter asks what the depiction of Ezekiel 37 on the walls of the Dura synagogue can tell us about conceptions of resurrection and dis- ability among the Jewish community at Dura. Bodily resurrection is a common theme among ancient Jewish literature, and while text is a useful medium for conveying conceptions of revivification and life after…[Read more]

Paulus war wahrscheinlich nicht sehr groß oder sogar kleinwüchsig. Einen ersten Anhaltspunkt bietet der Ausdruck σαργάνη in 2Kor 11,33. Neutestamentler haben das Fassungsvermögen dieses »Korbs« bisher eher überschätzt. Eine Analyse antiker Quellen zeigt, dass ein σαργάνη das Durchschnittsgewicht eines Mannes nicht hätte tragen können. Diese…[Read more]