Fourth Maccabees and the Promotion of the Jewish Philosophy: Rhetoric, Intertexture, and Reception
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
Fourth Maccabees is a superbly crafted oration that presents a case for the Jewish way of life couched almost entirely in terms of Greek ethical ideals. Its author delights in the Torah, the Law of Moses, as the divinely given path to becoming our best selves now. In this collection of essays spanning two decades of study, David deSilva examines the formative training that produced such an author, the rhetorical crafting and effect of his work, the author's creative use of both Jewish and Greek literary resources, and the book's enduring message and legacy in the Christian church.
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- Examines how the author has used both Greek and traditional Jewish resources to advance his goals for his audience
- Focuses more fully on the question of the author’s relationship to his Jewish identity and community and his Hellenistic-Roman context
- Gives attention to the ongoing contributions of 4 Maccabees to theological reflection in general and the early church’s responses to pastoral needs in particular
Rhetorical Situation and Strategic Response
- The Author of 4 Maccabees and Greek Paideia: Facets of the Formation of a Hellenistic Jewish Rhetor
- Honor and Shame as Argumentative Topoi in 4 Maccabees
- Fourth Maccabees as Acculturated Resistance Literature
The Rhetorical Contributions of Intertexture
- The Strategic Retelling of Scripture in 4 Maccabees: David's Thirst (4 Macc 3:6-18)
- Engagement with Greco-Roman Intertexture: Conversations about Maternal Affections
- "Father Knew Best": Intertextuality and Argumentation in 4 Macc 18:6-19
The Legacy of 4 Maccabees
- The Human Ideal, the Problem of Evil, and Moral Responsibility in 4 Maccabees
- Fourth Maccabees and Early Christian Martyrdom: The Influence of 4 Maccabees on Origen's Exhortatio ad Martyrium
- Ambrose’s Use of 4 Maccabees in De Jacob et Vita Beata
- Beyond the Eclectic Text of 4 Maccabees: reading 4 Maccabees in Codex Sinaiticus
This collection of essays is from a world-leading scholar on 4 Maccabees and the Apocrypha. The contributions represent two decades of deSilva’s research and are essential reading for those interested in Jewish engagement with Greek literary culture, rhetoric, and education.
—Sean A. Adams, University of Glasgow
In his third major scholarly contribution to 4 Maccabees, deSilva masterfully offers new insights into the study of this literary and philosophical jewel of ancient wisdom. Often overlooked by Christians and Jews, the text comes back to life as a fundamental testimony for understanding the intersection between Hellenistic Judaism and Christian origins.
—Gabriele Boccaccini, University of Michigan
- Title: Fourth Maccabees and the Promotion of the Jewish Philosophy: Rhetoric, Intertexture, and Reception
- Author: David A. deSilva
- Publisher: Cascade Books
- Print Publication Date: 2020
- Logos Release Date: 2022
- Pages: 252
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
- Subjects: Bible › Maccabees, 4th--Criticism, interpretation, etc; Fourth book of Maccabees › Criticism, interpretation, etc; Codex Sinaiticus (Biblical manuscript); Greek literature › Jewish authors--History and criticism; Judaism › History--Post-exilic period, 586 B.C.-210 A.D; Bible › Apocrypha--Criticism, interpretation, etc; Rhetoric, ancient; Philosophy, ancient
- ISBNs: 9781725270688, 9781725270695, 9781725270701, 1725270684, 1725270692, 1725270706
- Resource ID: LLS:FRTHMCCBSNRCPTN
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-11-27T19:31:03Z
Dr. David A. deSilva, PhD, is the Trustees’ Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek at Ashland Theological Seminary in Ohio, where he’s taught since 1995.
He’s written over 20 books in the areas of New Testament and Second Temple Judaism, including Unholy Allegiances: Heeding Revelation's Warning (Hendrickson, 2013), The Jewish Teachers of Jesus, James, and Jude (Oxford, 2012),Seeing Things John’s Way: The Rhetoric of the Book of Revelation (WJKP, 2009), An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods & Ministry Formation (IVP, 2004), Introducing the Apocrypha (Baker Academic, 2002), and Perseverance in Gratitude: A Socio-rhetorical Commentary on the Epistle “to the Hebrews” (Eerdmans, 2000). He’s also interested in spiritual formation, having written Sacramental Life: Spiritual Formation through the Book of Common Prayer (IVP, 2008) and Praying with John Wesley (Discipleship Resources, 2001).
He’s ordained in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church, and serves as director of music and organist at Christ United Methodist Church in Ashland. He and his wife, Donna Jean, have three sons.