W. D. Davies – författare

The Territorial Dimension of Judaism by W. D. Davies investigates one of the most enduring and contested questions in Jewish thought: whether the Land of Israel is incidental or essential to the Jewish faith. Davies frames the inquiry around the doctrine that posits a special relationship among God, the People of Israel, and the Land of Israel, asking whether Judaism without this territorial connection could remain true to itself. Through a critical analysis of biblical, rabbinic, and Hellenistic sources, as well as Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha, and the Qumran scrolls, he demonstrates that the theme of the Land is one of the most persistent and passionately defended aspects of Jewish tradition. At the same time, he shows how historical, theological, and cultural forces—particularly the dominance of Christianity in shaping interpretive categories—have obscured or marginalized the significance of the Land within both Jewish and Christian scholarship.The book argues that Christian theology, long preoccupied with universal abstractions such as sin, revelation, and creation, often neglected Judaism’s geographical and particularistic commitments, leading Jewish scholars in turn to underplay the Land in defending their faith against Christian critiques. Davies traces how this marginalization persisted well into the twentieth century, as major biblical reference works offered scant treatment of the subject despite its prominence in the sources. Yet he insists that the territorial dimension is indispensable for a full understanding of Judaism and early Christianity alike, given that the Church had to grapple directly with Jewish territorial claims. By re-centering the doctrine of the Land, Davies not only clarifies its theological importance but also exposes how interpretive frameworks shaped by Christian dominance have long distorted the study of Judaism.This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1982.

The Territorial Dimension of Judaism by W. D. Davies investigates one of the most enduring and contested questions in Jewish thought: whether the Land of Israel is incidental or essential to the Jewish faith. Davies frames the inquiry around the doctrine that posits a special relationship among God, the People of Israel, and the Land of Israel, asking whether Judaism without this territorial connection could remain true to itself. Through a critical analysis of biblical, rabbinic, and Hellenistic sources, as well as Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha, and the Qumran scrolls, he demonstrates that the theme of the Land is one of the most persistent and passionately defended aspects of Jewish tradition. At the same time, he shows how historical, theological, and cultural forces—particularly the dominance of Christianity in shaping interpretive categories—have obscured or marginalized the significance of the Land within both Jewish and Christian scholarship.The book argues that Christian theology, long preoccupied with universal abstractions such as sin, revelation, and creation, often neglected Judaism’s geographical and particularistic commitments, leading Jewish scholars in turn to underplay the Land in defending their faith against Christian critiques. Davies traces how this marginalization persisted well into the twentieth century, as major biblical reference works offered scant treatment of the subject despite its prominence in the sources. Yet he insists that the territorial dimension is indispensable for a full understanding of Judaism and early Christianity alike, given that the Church had to grapple directly with Jewish territorial claims. By re-centering the doctrine of the Land, Davies not only clarifies its theological importance but also exposes how interpretive frameworks shaped by Christian dominance have long distorted the study of Judaism.This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1982.

These essays presented to Dr Dodd to honour a great teacher and scholar are on two themes. Part I systematically surveys the present state of research on the background of the New Testament. (Dr Dodd's studies in the Septuagint and Hermetica suggested this theme.) Part II is on the particular problem of eschatology in the new Testament (with which his name is chiefly identified).

In The Setting of the Sermon on the Mount, first published by the Cambridge University Press in 1964 and issued as a paperback in 1976, Professor Davies made a new approach to the Sermon, placing it in its historical setting within the context of the world from which it originated. This shorter book sets out the main lines of his argument in a more accessible form so as to interest the widest possible readership. The Sermon has been described both as a pernicious document, and as the finest statement of the highest morality ever produced. Professor Davies examines it in five settings. First he considers how Matthew himself intended the Sermon to be understood, placing it in its setting within the Gospel as a whole and showing that Matthew presented Jesus as a second Moses and lawgiver. He then considers it in the setting of Jewish Messianic expectation and the contemporary Judaism, where he shows that there were certain forces at work which led to the presentation of Jesus in this light. He discusses whether this concept was an innovation or whether forces in the early church prepared the way for this interpretation, and finally he debates whether Matthew was departing from the mind of Jesus himself.

The first three volumes of The Cambridge History of Judaism cover the history of the Jews from the Exile in 587 BCE to the early Roman period extending into the third century CE. A comprehensive examination is made of all the relevant literary and archeological sources, and special attention is given to the interaction of Iranian, Semitic, Hellenistic and Roman cultures. The contributors include both Jewish and Gentile scholars from many countries, and this History thus helps to deliver the study of Jewish history and Christian origins from geographical and religious limitations, and contributes to a deeper understanding and a broader tolerance. This first volume opens with three introductory chapters to the work as a whole dealing with the geographical background, the chronology and the numismatic history of Judaism. The remainder of this volume concentrates on the Persian period, the two and a half centuries following the Babylonian Exile.

This is the second of four volumes covering the history of Judaism from the Persian period, roughly 539-322 BCE, to the Tannaitic period, which culminated in the codification of the Mishnah around 250 CE. It deals with the encounter of Judaism with the Hellenistic culture spread throughout the Mediterranean world and beyond by Alexander the Great and his successors. The volume describes both the rejection and adoption of Hellenism by Judaism. Religiously the rejection provoked new developments and politically the Maccabaean Revolt, which resulted in the creation of the independent Hasmonean state, 142-63 BCE. Culturally, the adoption of Hellenistic forms by Judaism led to a significant Jewish-Greek and Hebrew and Aramaic literature. At the same time, the tensions in the religious, intellectual, social and political life of Jews spawned apocalyptic thought and literature. In the light of the interpenetration of Judaism and Hellenism in this period the volume questions some established dichotomies.

This work is an abbreviated version of the monumental, three-volume 'Matthew, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary' in the International Critical Commentary series (ICC). Davies and Allison's magisterial work is considered to be the standard work on Matthew and is still a best-selling title. Retaining all the important features of the ICC volumes, this Shorter Commentary includes the new translation of the Gospel as well as a condensed introduction and a summary of the main exegetical points in a non-technical verse-by-verse commentary. For those who lack the linguistic and historical grounding, or the time, to deal with the ICC volume, this shorter volume is an accessible, affordable and practical alternative.

"For over one hundred years, the International Critical Commentary series has held a special place among works on the Bible. It has sought to bring together all the relevant aids to exegesis - linguistic and textual no less than archaeological, historical, literary and theological-with a level of comprehension and quality of scholarship unmatched by any other series. No attempt has been made to secure a uniform theological or critical approach to the biblical text: contributors have been invited for their scholarly distinction, not for their adherence to any one school of thought. The first paperback editions to be published cover the heart of the New Testament, providing a wealth of information and research in accessible and attractive format."

For over one hundred years, the International Critical Commentary series has held a special place among works on the Bible. It has sought to bring together all the relevant aids to exegesis - linguistic and textual no less than archaeological, historical, literary and theological-with a level of comprehension and quality of scholarship unmatched by any other series. No attempt has been made to secure a uniform theological or critical approach to the biblical text: contributors have been invited for their scholarly distinction, not for their adherence to any one school of thought. The first paperback editions to be published cover the heart of the New Testament, providing a wealth of information and research in accessible and attractive format.

For over one hundred years, the International Critical Commentary series has held a special place among works on the Bible. It has sought to bring together all the relevant aids to exegesis — linguistic and textual no less than archaeological, historical, literary and theological—with a level of comprehension and quality of scholarship unmatched by any other series.No attempt has been made to secure a uniform theological or critical approach to the biblical text: contributors have been invited for their scholarly distinction, not for their adherence to any one school of thought. The first paperback editions to be published cover the heart of the New Testament, providing a wealth of information and research in accessible and attractive format.

How should this massive work of scholarship be assessed? The three volumes stand as one of the major commentaries on the Gospel of Matthew in which all future interpreters of the Gospel will find a source of fruitful dialogue and helpful ideas. It is a "must have", both in libraries and in footnotes. Davies and Allison are to be thoroughly commended on the fruits of their considerable toil.' Robert K. McIver, Seminary Studies