oa Enkele kanttekeningen bij het gebruik van archeologische vondsten in recente nieuwtestamentische studies (deel 1)

This is the first part of an article that reviews recent developments in the study of first century Judaism. While focussing on the pros en cons of the notion of ‘common Judaism’ as developed by E.P. Sanders, the author discusses various types of archaeological evidence that have been collected by M. Hengel and R. Deines in a critique of Sanders’ work. Analyzing archaeological evidence bearing on synagogues, Jewish burial customs, and notions of ritual purity as reflected in the use of miqvaot and chalk stone vessels, the author maintains that there is no good archaeological or literary evidence to argue that the Pharisees formed the single most important group in Jewish society during the first centuries B.C. and A.D.