Haggadah in Early Judaism and the New Testament

Book Description

This scholarly exploration unveils a fascinating dimension of ancient spiritual literature that has long been overlooked in biblical studies. Roger David Aus brings together nineteen distinguished scholars to examine haggadah, a rich tradition of creative biblical interpretation that flourished in early Judaism and influenced the development of New Testament writings.

Haggadah encompasses a vibrant array of storytelling techniques including symbolic exaggeration, the weaving of specific names and dates into sacred narratives, the elevation of biblical figures, illustrative parables, and the crafting of speeches and entire scenes. Rather than viewing these elements as mere embellishments, this collection reveals them as sophisticated interpretive tools that ancient Jewish writers and early Jewish Christians used to breathe new life into sacred texts.

The volume addresses a persistent challenge in religious scholarship by moving beyond the limiting framework of "true versus false" or "historical versus fictional" when examining ancient spiritual writings. Instead, it demonstrates how these creative interpretive methods served deeper purposes in transmitting wisdom and meaning across generations.

For readers interested in understanding how spiritual traditions evolve and adapt while preserving their essential truths, this work offers valuable insights into the dynamic relationship between sacred text and creative interpretation. The essays illuminate the sophisticated ways ancient communities engaged with their foundational stories, revealing techniques that continue to inform spiritual understanding today.