A Documentary History of Jewish–Christian Relations
From Antiquity to the Present Day

Founded upon a broad collection of primary documents and commentaries, this global study spans 2000 years of Jewish–Christian relations.

Edward Kessler (Edited by), Neil Wenborn (Edited by)

9781009292160, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 17 October 2024

618 pages
26.2 x 18.5 x 3.8 cm, 1.3 kg

'An invaluable anthology of material from two millennia of debate. The very varied texts are presented in first-class translations and accompanied by judicious and erudite commentary. At a time of resurgent prejudice and ignorance about Judaism in the Christian and post-Christian West, this is a deeply important work.' Rowan Williams, Honorary Professor of Contemporary Christian Thought, University of Cambridge

Jews and Christians have interacted for two millennia, yet there is no comprehensive, global study of their shared history. This book offers a chronological and thematic approach to that 2,000-year history, based on some 200 primary documents chosen for their centrality to the encounter. A systematic and authoritative work on the relationship between the two religions, it reflects both the often troubled history of that relationship and the massive changes of attitude and approach in more recent centuries. Written by a team leading international scholars in the field, each chapter introduces the context for its historical period, draws out the key themes arising from the relevant documents, and provides a detailed commentary on each document to shed light on its significance in the history of the Jewish–Christian relationship. The volume is aimed at scholars, teachers and students, clerics and lay people, and anyone interested in the history of religion.

Introduction
Part I. To 900 CE: 1. The New Testament: the first to the early second centuries Matthew V. Novenson
2. Eastern and western writings until the ninth century James Carleton Paget
3. Classic rabbinic literature until the ninth century Philip Alexander
Appendix to Part I: Exegetical encounters Edward Kessler
Part II: 900 to 1800: 4. The medieval period: the tenth to the fifteenth centuries Marc Saperstein and Edward Kessler
5. From the Reformation to the Enlightenment: the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries Paul Kerry
Part III. 1800 to the Present Day: 6. The rise of antisemitism to early Zionism: 1800–1914 Edward Kessler
7. From World War I to the Holocaust: 1914–1947 Victoria Barnett
8. The State of Israel to the election of Pope John Paul II: 1948–1978 Karma Ben-Johanan
9. The flourishing of Jewish–Christian relations: 1978 to the present day Mary Boys
Appendix to Part III. Institutional statements: 1947 to the present day Edward Kessler.

Subject Areas: History of religion [HRAX]