Peter Schafer is the Ronald O. Perelman Professor of Jewish Studies and professor of religion at Princeton University, where he directs the Program in Judaic Studies. His books include The Origins of Jewish Mysticism and Jesus in the Talmud (both Princeton). He received a Distinguished Achievement Award from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in 2007.

Peter Schafer, Winner of the 2007 Distinguished Achievement Award from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation "This volume combines several provocative theses. Schafer suggests that arguments in the Talmud against ostensibly heretical teachings are aimed not only at opponents of the rabbis but also at circles among the ancient rabbis themselves that found such teachings attractive... The author is a highly respected scholar of ancient Judaism, and the present book continues lines of thought that appeared in his earlier writings, including Jesus in the Talmud. This volume's presentation is erudite yet accessible. The arguments against scholars with other views are especially robust and forthright."--Choice "Schafer's book is very illuminating and fascinating. The author examines a rich collection of rabbinic texts, which shed light and better understanding on many concepts included in the Old and New Testaments. His emphasis on the geographical distinction between Palestine and Babylonia, in the evaluation of the rabbinic sources is worthy of attention... [T]he book is an excellent presentation of the mutual interaction between the sister religions and deserves an important place amongst the studies about early Judaism and Christianity."--Miroslaw S. Wrobel, Biblical Annals "There have been a number of revelatory books in recent decades on the relations between early Christianity and Judaism, especially on how each influenced the other. This book by Peter Schafer ... is among them."--Glenn W. Olsen, European Legacy

• List of Figures ix Acknowledgments xi Abbreviations xiii Introduction 1 Chapter 1. Different Names of God 21 Offerings 22 Creation 24 R. Simlai's Collection of Dangerous Bible Verses 27 The Bavli Collection 37 R. Simlai and Christianity 42 Chapter 2. The Young and the Old God 55 Chapter 3. God and David 68 Aqiva in the Bavli 70 The David Apocalypse 85 David in Dura Europos 94 Chapter 4. God and Metatron 103 Rav Idith and the Heretics 104 Metatron the Great Scribe 115 The Celestial High Priest 116 The Prince of the World 123 The Instructor of Schoolchildren in Heaven 125 Two Powers in Heaven 127 Akatriel 131 Metatron in Babylonia 138 Metatron and Christianity 141 Chapter 5. Has God a Father, a Son, or a Brother? 150 Chapter 6. The Angels 160 When Were the Angels Created? 160 God's Consultation with the Angels 165 Angels and Revelation 179 Veneration of Angels 188 Chapter 7. Adam 197 Chapter 8. The Birth of the Messiah, or Why Did Baby Messiah Disappear? 214 The Arab 220 Elijah 222 The Messiah 223 The Mother of the Messiah 227 Christianity 228 Chapter 9. The Suffering Messiah Ephraim 236 Pisqa 34 238 Pisqa 36 242 Pisqa 37 261 Christianity 264 Notes 273 Bibliography 329 Index 343