Theology

John Granger Cook

The Interpretation of the Old Testament in Greco-Roman Paganism

[Die Interpretation des Alten Testaments aus der Perspektive griechisch-römischer Heiden.]

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According to the available evidence not many pagans knew the Greek Bible (Septuagint) before the advent of Christianity. The pagans who reacted to biblical texts include Celsus (II C.E.), Porphyry (III C.E.), and Julian the Apostate (IV C.E.). 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.
According 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.
Authors/Editors

John Granger Cook Born 1955; 1976 BA, Davidson College; 1979 M.Div., Union Theological Seminary (VA); 1985 PhD, Emory University; currently Professor of Religion at LaGrange College.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4874-6368

Reviews

The following reviews are known:

In: Review of Biblical Literature — Www.bookreviews.org (David Lincicum)
In: Vigiliae Christianae — Jg.59 (2005), H.4, S.465ff (P.W.van der Horst)
In: Journal of Septuagint and Cognate Studies — 44 (2011), S. 127–129 (Christopher Grundke)
In: Adamantius — 14 (2008), S. 587–598 (Fabio Ruggiero)
In: Journal for the Study of the OT — 30.5 (2006), S. 168 (R.W.L. Moberly)
In: The Expository Times — Vol.117 (2006), H.5, S.211 (Tobias Nicklas)
In: New Testament Abstracts — Vol.49 (2005), H.2, S.432
In: Theologische Literaturzeitung — Jg.130 (2005), H.11, S.1167ff (Jan Dochhorn)
In: Theologische Revue — 102 (2006), S. 377–378 (Horacio E. Lona)