The Interpretation of the Old Testament in Greco-Roman PaganismAccording to the available evidence not many pagans knew the Greek Bible (Septuagint) before the advent of Christianity. Those pagans who later became aware of Christian texts were among the first, according to the surviving data, to seriously explore the Septuagint. They found the Bible to be difficult reading. The pagans who reacted to biblical texts include Celsus (II C.E.), Porphyry (III C.E.), and Julian the Apostate (IV C.E.). These authors thought that if they could refute one of the primary foundations of Christianity, namely its use or interpretation of the Septuagint, then the new religion would perhaps crumble. John Granger Cook analyzes these pagans' voice and elaborates on its importance, since it shows how Septuagint texts appeared in the eyes of Greco-Roman intellectuals. Theirs was not an abstract interest, however, because they knew that Christianity posed a grave danger to some of their dearest beliefs, self-understanding, and way of life. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Celsus | 55 |
and his Repentance | 97 |
Cain and Abel | 106 |
Exegete of Magic | 115 |
Porphyry | 150 |
Julian | 248 |
Conclusion | 345 |
Bibliography | 351 |
368 | |
386 | |
Common terms and phrases
Abraham abst allegorical Ambrosiaster ancient angels Antichrist Antiochus Antiochus IV antiquity Aphrahat Apion argues argument attack believed BETZ Bibbia dei pagani BIDEZ BORRET CASEY Cels Celsus CHADWICK Christ Christians circumcision concerning COOK creation creator criticism Cyril Daniel Deut Diodorus discussion divine Egypt Egyptian Ephraem Eusebius evil Exod exodus FELDMAN fragments GAGER Genesis God's gods GOULET Greco-Roman Greek Magical Papyri HARNACK heaven Hebrews Hecataeus Hellenism Hippolytus HOLLADAY human Iamblichus includes Interpretation Israel Jerome Jerome's Jerusalem Jesus Jew and Gentile Jewish Jews Josephus Judaism Julian Justin Lysimachus Macarius Macarius Magnes Macc magicians MALLEY Manetho MARC Marcion MASARACCHIA mentions MØRKHOLM Moses myths narrative notes Numenius oracles Origen pagan PÉLAGAUD Philo philosopher Plato Polychronius Porphyry Posidonius probably prophecy prophets Ptolemy Quaest quotes reference RINALDI sacrifice says scriptures STERN Stoic story Syriac Tacitus temple things tradition translation words worship writes καὶ