An understanding of the Jewish Pseudepigrapha forms an integral part of all courses on New Testament background and Christian origins. This is a concise yet comprehensive guide to the Pseudepigrapha: the Jewish texts of the late Second Temple Period (circa 250BCE100CE) that are not included in the Hebrew Bible or standard collections of the Apocrypha. Each chapter deals with a specific literary genre (e.g. apocalyptic, testaments, rewritten Bible), encouraging readers to appreciate the texts as literature as well as furthering their understanding of the content and significance of the texts themselves. As well as providing helpful introductions to the different genres, the book surveys key issues such as: date, authorship, original language; purpose; overview of contents; key theological themes and significance.
About the author
Having studied Theology at the University of Cambridge, specialising in Biblical Studies and Second Temple Judaism, Susan Docherty undertook her Ph D on the use of the Old Testament in Hebrews at the University of Manchester, under the supervision of Professor Philip Alexander. Her main research interests are in early Jewish and early Christian biblical interpretation. Susan holds a number of external examiner positions for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Christian theology, including at the Universities of Wales and Cumbria, and is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy.