Excellent4.8 out of 5On Trustpilot
  1. Theology Books/
  2. Christology

Lex Talionis in Early Judaism and the Exhortation of Jesus in Matthew 5.38-42

by James Davis

  • Hardback
  • 210 pages
  • Publisher: Continuum
  • 15.6 x 23.4 x 1.3 cm

£153.62

Free UK Delivery

Available - Usually dispatched within 4 days

Buying for a school or church? Upgrade to a FREE Eden Advance Account

Free delivery on orders over £10

In Matthew 5:38-42, Jesus overrides the Old Testament teaching of 'an eye for eye and a tooth for a tooth' - the Lex Talionis law - and commands his disciples to turn the other cheek. James Davis asks how Jesus' teaching in this instance relates to the Old Testament talionic commands, how it relates to New Testament era Judaism and what Jesus required from his disciples and the church. Based on the Old Testament texts such as Leviticus 24, Exodus 22 and Deuteronomy 19, a strong case can be made that the Lex Talionis law was understood to have a literal application there are several texts that text of Leviticus 24 provides the strongest case that a literal and judicial application. However, by the second century AD and later, Jewish rabbinic leadership was essentially unified that the OT did not require a literal talion, but that financial penalties could be substituted in court matters. Yet there is evidence from Philo, Rabbi Eliezer and Josephus that in the first century AD the application of literal talion in judicial matters was a major and viable Jewish viewpoint at the time of Jesus. Jesus instruction represents a different perspective from the OT lex talionis texts and also, possibly, from the Judaism of his time. Jesus commands the general principle of not retaliation against the evil person and intended this teaching to be concretely applied, as borne out in his own life. JSNTS
Lex Talionis in Early Judaism and the Exhortation of Jesus in Matthew 5.38-42 and Living Water
Living WaterLex Talionis in Early Judaism and the Exhortation of Jesus in Matthew 5.38-42

  • Author

    James Davis

  • Book Format

    Hardback

  • Publisher

    Continuum

  • Published

    February 2005

  • Weight

    473g

  • Page Count

    210

  • Dimensions

    15.6 x 23.4 x 1.3 cm

  • ISBN

    9780567041500

  • ISBN-10

    0567041506

  • Eden Code

    1152111

Over 14,000 churches and schools have upgraded to an Advance Account and we‘d love to welcome you into this free program. We know that church volunteers and school teachers often use their own money, then have claim it back on on an expense form. We can take all of that hassle away by invoicing your church or school directly and delivering your order straight away.

Opening an account is quick and easy, with most accounts being approved and setup within a few hours of filling in the form below (on weekdays, not weekends). As soon as we‘ve approved the application we‘ll send you an email to let you know that its done.

Upgrade to a FREE Eden Advance Account
Write a review
      Ask a question