The Myth of a Gentile Galilee

A thorough investigation of the nature of first-century CE Galilee's population.

Mark A. Chancey (Author)

9780521814874, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 23 May 2002

248 pages, 3 maps
22.4 x 14.6 x 2 cm, 0.41 kg

'… an important and useful contribution to current debates … a detailed and well-documented account … this study undoubtedly fills a real lacuna in the library of many New Testament scholars by providing them with a detailed and up-to-date account of Galilean archaeology of the early Roman period as this is relevant for the study of both Jesus and Early Christianity in the region. C. writes clearly and compresses a lot of detail into a succinct and readable account … unusually good and well-presented.' Proceedings of the Irish Biblical Association

The Myth of a Gentile Galilee is the most thorough synthesis to date of archaeological and literary evidence relating to the population of Galilee in the first-century CE. The book demonstrates that, contrary to the perceptions of many New Testament scholars, the overwhelming majority of first-century Galileans were Jews. Utilizing the gospels, the writings of Josephus, and published archaeological excavation reports, Mark A. Chancey traces the historical development of the region's population and examines in detail specific cities and villages, finding ample indications of Jewish inhabitants and virtually none for gentiles. He argues that any New Testament scholarship that attempts to contextualize the Historical Jesus or the Jesus movement in Galilee must acknowledge and pay due attention to the region's predominantly Jewish milieu. This accessible book will be of interest to New Testament scholars as well as scholars of Judaica, Syro-Palestinian archaeology, and the Roman Near East.

Preface
List of abbreviations
Note on dating
List of maps
Introduction
1. Images of Galilee's population in biblical scholarship
2. The political and demographic history of Galilee
3. Galilean communities in the late Hellenistic and early Roman periods
4. Galilee and the circle of nations
Conclusion
Bibliography
Indices.

Subject Areas: Biblical studies & exegesis [HRCG]