Language:
English
Year of publication:
2020
Titel der Quelle:
Journal for the Study of Judaism in the Persian, Hellenistic and Roman Period
Angaben zur Quelle:
51,1 (2020) 67-96
Keywords:
Bible. Criticism, interpretation, etc.
;
Midrash rabbah. Criticism, interpretation, etc.
;
Wisdom Religious aspects Early church, ca. 30-600
;
Christianity
;
History of doctrines
;
Christianity History of doctrines
;
Pre-existence History of doctrines
Abstract:
This article argues that the opening of Genesis Rabbah 1 can be read productively in conversation with Christian controversies which raged from the middle of the third century to the fourth century. In rabbinic literature, it is not until the Amoraic period, in Palestine, that Proverbs 8 began to be employed as a proof of Torah’s pre-existence. This is precisely the same time that Christians engaged in heated debate as to the pre-existence of the Son, also based on Proverbs 8, not least in Palestine. By way of a broad reading of the christological controversies of this era, and a close reading of the exegesis of Proverbs 8 in Genesis Rabbah 1, the obscure debate partners of Genesis Rabbah 1 come to light: Christians who were debating the pre-existence of Wisdom.
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