NTT Journal for Theology and the Study of Religion - Volume 73, Issue 4, 2019

Abstract In this article I examine Arnold A. van Ruler’s sharp criticism of Augustine’s adage that the world may only be used, because God alone deserves to be enjoyed. Van Ruler does not focus on the already extensively discussed question of whether ‘using the world’ can be applied to intercourse between human beings. Rather he proposes that Augustine denigrates God’s material creation when he discourages people Read More

Abstract The introduction to the ninth-century commentary on the Psalms by Išo‘dad of Merv contains a chapter on historical versus allegorical explanation. The first half of this chapter is about Origen and the Greek origin of allegorical explanation. The second half shows the inadequacy of allegorical explanation on the basis of Paul’s interpretation of the rock in the desert as Christ (1 Cor. 10:4). This article contains a Dutch t Read More

Abstract Birgir Gerhardsson’s Memory and Manuscript (1961) challenged the field of New Testament Studies by arguing that both the New Testament and rabbinic traditions were originally oral traditions that – even after being written down – continued to be transmitted orally. Although Gerhardsson’s book met severe criticism initially, this article shows that more than half a century after its first publication, Gerhardsson’ Read More