Topics in Early Christian Literature: The Book of Isaiah in Early Jewish and Christian Interpretation - Translating and interpreting Isaiah in the Second Temple Period

The Second Temple period saw a dramatic increase in literature springing from, or dependent upon, earlier scriptural works that would eventually constitute the Rabbinic Bible and Christian Old Testament. These early Jewish texts provide insight into ancient Jewish modes of scriptural reception, interpretation, and the formation of the biblical texts themselves. In this seminar we will examine a variety of early Jewish texts, focused on the prophetic book of Isaiah. This will include an extended period of time dedicated to the Septuagint, one of the major literary achievements of Hellenistic-period Judaism, which had lasting effects on Greek-speaking Judaism and early Christianity. We will also explore texts dealing with Isaiah from among the Dead Sea Scrolls, and elsewhere. The seminar will include a time dedicated to reading the relevant texts in their original languages, Greek and Hebrew (and perhaps Aramaic).