Rebecca's Children: Judaism and Christianity in the Roman World

by Alan F. Segal

Book Overview

Renowned scholar Alan F. Segal offers startlingly new insights into the origins of rabbinic Judaism and Christianity. These twin descendants of Hebrew heritage shared the same social, cultural, and ideological context, as well as the same minority status, in the first century of the common era.

Through skillful application of social science theories to ancient Western thought, including Judaism, Hellenism, early Christianity, and a host...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0674750764
• ISBN13: 9780674750760
• Release Date: January 1986
• Publisher: Harvard University Press
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.2" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

I liked it too

Unlike the only other reviewer so far, I read this book from a Jewish perspective - that is, primarily looking for insight about the evolution of Judaism. I was not disappointed. Segal argues that classical, rabbinic Judaism (as enunciated in the Talmud and post-Talmud halacha) did not arise fully formed from Sinai. Rather, it arose out of the Pharisees, which in turn was just one sect out of many (though probably the most popular sect) until the Second Temple was destroyed in 70. Segal suggests that the dominance of the Mishnah (a law code written by the Pharisees' intellectual heirs, which was adopted by nearly all Jews) arose not just because it was intellectually compelling but for political reasons: the Romans had an interest in a unified Jewish community governed by one law, the Mishnah, and governed by rabbis who did not expect the Messiah to come any time soon. Interesting theory, though it doesn't explain why the Mishnah survived Jewish movement away from Israel.

Claiming Our Religious Sibling

The first five chapters of Professor Segal's book contain little that is new. However, since the goal of this or any other academic text is truth rather than novelty, the book is still quite useful. In those first five chapters, Segal more than adequately summarizes the curricula of many a good undergraduate survey of religion, or comparative religion course. The material that Professor Segal presents on Palestinian cultures, politics, the life and message of Jesus of Nazareth, the role of Paul of Tarsus, and the ascendancy of rabbinical Judaism is not new. However, he does bring all that material together in one book that forms a handy reference for any would-be Biblical or Talmudic scholar.Professor Segal's most valuable contribution occurs in the last two chapters of his book, where he demonstrates that rabbinical Judaism and Christianity are (fraternal) twin religions born of the same political, social, and religious stimuli. Facing the crises of the wars of independence begun in 66 and 132 c.e., and their consequences, the religious and political systems which centered on the temple at Jerusalem were no longer viable. Thus, Christianity (which in many ways was still a Jewish sect) traveled one road to survival, while rabbinical Judaism took another. The result was two different religions. Nevertheless, Professor Segal does well to remind us that those religions were born of one mother: historical, pre-rabbinical, temple-centered Judaism. Because Segal's claim is true, it is incumbent upon all Christians and Jews to realize that the differences between them are not schisms between believers and infidels, but a continuing discussion within the household of faith.