The DOI matches its Crossref record; 4 of the 4 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 28 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.
Jesus and Purity: An Ongoing Debate
Open accessAbstract
The importance of purity legislation and the ‘separateness’ that it implied within Second Temple Judaism confirms the significance of the renewed interest in purity issues in ‘historical Jesus’ research. The relevance of John the Baptist's ‘baptism’ is less clear than at first appears. But that Jesus himself shared at least some purity priorities is implied by Mark 1.44 and by his ‘cleansing of the Temple’. Yet he also sat loose to the purity halakhoth regarding clean and unclean and table-fellowship, which suggests that Jesus did not regard such concerns as central to the definition of Israel and its practice.
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33 Own interpretation · 22 Sources not found · 4 No basis given · 1 Not checked yet
The paper states this without a source or data behind it here, so there is nothing to check it against. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“It cannot be doubted that purity was a major preoccupation in the Judaism of Jesus' time.”
§ Jesus and Purity: An Ongoing Debate* > 1. The importance of purity in Second Temple Judaism
boosted- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
In the paper
“it is clear from his description that John was known as one who linked his baptism closely to the 'excusing' of the sins of those baptized (ej piv tinwn aJ martav dwn paraithv sei) (Ant.18.117).”
§ Jesus and Purity: An Ongoing Debate* > 2. John the Baptist
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites Josephus, Ant.18.117
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
boostedstates an association- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
- Not matched
The paper states this without a source or data behind it here, so there is nothing to check it against. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“We should also observe that no memory of Jesus eating pork or non-kosher food is preserved in any Jesus tradition.”
§ Jesus and Purity: An Ongoing Debate* > 4. Mark 7.1-23
plain- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: unclear — It is unclear why the paper says it holds.
None of the sources cited for this claim have been checked yet.
In the paper
“The archaeological evidence provides surprisingly robust confirmation that such logic was widely practised in the Judaism of Jesus' day.”
§ Jesus and Purity: An Ongoing Debate* > 1. The importance of purity in Second Temple Judaism
boostedstates a cause- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: unclear — It is unclear whether the paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Since the point being made in Mark 7.15 is that impurity (not purity) comes from within, it is hard to see how Chilton can maintain his argument by appeal to this text.”
§ Jesus and Purity: An Ongoing Debate* > 4. Mark 7.1-23
plainstates a cause- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
In the paper
“For it was already established as a term of condemnation within the factionalism of Second Temple Judaism, and precisely as a way denying the validity of halakhoth (interpretations and practices) which diverged from those held dear by the speaker's faction.74”
§ Jesus and Purity: An Ongoing Debate* > 5. Table-fellowship
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites [74]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
boostedstates a cause- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
- Not matched
In the paper
“Pace Sanders, the symbolism cannot be limited to that of destruction.75”
§ Jesus and Purity: An Ongoing Debate* > Additional information
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites [75]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
plain- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
- Not matched
In the paper
“There is, therefore, no real reason to dispute the testimony (for that is what it is) of Mark 7 that the concern for purity of hands was already active in Pharisaic halakhoth at the time of Jesus; it was a matter of concern for at least some (note 7.1).60”
§ Jesus and Purity: An Ongoing Debate* > 4. Mark 7.1-23
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites [60]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
boosted- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
- Not matched
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“The implication, then, is that Jesus may well have abandoned a practice that would have most associated him with the Baptist, and also with the purification imagery which John's practice evoked, even when John gave it his own distinctive slant.”
§ Jesus and Purity: An Ongoing Debate* > 2. John the Baptist
hedgedstates an association- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
- The authors state this as an assumption: Jesus initially practised baptism.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“So we cannot say that Jesus touched the leper (1.41) in defiance of the purity code.52”
§ Jesus and Purity: An Ongoing Debate* > 3. Did Jesus go out of his way to undermine purity rules?
plain- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
- It may state two separate claims as one. 8
- Probably not a substantial claim. 5
The paper states this without a source or data behind it here, so there is nothing to check it against. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“There is no doubt that the Temple was the focal point and reason for purity: if one was to approach the holy God one had to be holy/pure oneself.Strictly speaking, purification was only necessary for those who wished to attend the Temple.”
§ Jesus and Purity: An Ongoing Debate* > 1. The importance of purity in Second Temple Judaism
boostedstates a cause- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: unclear — It is unclear whether the paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
It may state two separate claims as one.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“The starting point for the discussion, however, is that purity/impurity was regarded as a matter of primary concern for Judaism as a whole, with the implication that Jesus the devout Jew would have shared that concern.”
§ Jesus and Purity: An Ongoing Debate* > 1. The importance of purity in Second Temple Judaism
hedgedstates a cause- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: fails — The paper may give no reason why it holds.
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds. It may state two separate claims as one.
- The authors state this as an assumption: Jesus was raised as a devout Jew.
- The authors state this as an assumption: Jesus kept the laws of clean and unclean and purity, and observed Temple purity rituals when he attended.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“In this case, to eat with 'sinners' was to transgress what the critics regarded as the 'obvious' implications of the purity code.”
§ Jesus and Purity: An Ongoing Debate* > 5. Table-fellowship
plainstates a cause- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
Probably not a substantial claim.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“There should be no doubt that table-fellowship was bound up with purity concerns and regulated by purity halakhah.”
§ Jesus and Purity: An Ongoing Debate* > 5. Table-fellowship
boostedstates an association- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
It may state two separate claims as one.
In the paper
“Since the Temple was the focal point and raison d'être for the purity code, it is simply impossible to avoid the purity overtones of Jesus' symbolic action in the Temple (Mark 11.15-17 pars.), whatever precisely it consisted of.”
§ Jesus and Purity: An Ongoing Debate* > Additional information
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites Mark 11.15-17 pars.
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
boosted- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: fails — It may be too vague to check against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence.
- Rests on an assumption: The Temple was the focal point and raison d'être for the purity code.
- Rests on an assumption: Jesus' action in the Temple was symbolic.
- Not matched
None of the sources cited for this claim could be matched to a paper in Crossref, so there is nothing to check it against.
In the paper
“We can conclude, then, that Jesus was recalled as speaking on the subject of purity, and as insisting that purity of heart is more important than ritual purity (cf.Matt 5.8; Matt 23.25/Luke 11.39).”
§ Jesus and Purity: An Ongoing Debate* > 4. Mark 7.1-23
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites Matt 5.8
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Not matchedcites Matt 23.25/Luke 11.39
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
boosted- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
It may state two separate claims as one.
- Not matched
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Second, the fact that John is distinguished as 'the baptizer' reminds us that in ritual immersion individuals immersed themselves.John was distinctive precisely because he immersed others.”
§ Jesus and Purity: An Ongoing Debate* > 2. John the Baptist
plain- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: unclear — It is unclear whether the paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
It may state two separate claims as one.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“That is ultimately the frustration of the Temple episode for an enquiry into Jesus and purity: the episode is heavy with purity overtones, but the symbolical significance remains unclear.”
§ Jesus and Purity: An Ongoing Debate* > Additional information
plain- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: fails — It may be too vague to check against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. It may state two separate claims as one.
- Rests on an assumption: The Temple was the focal point and raison d'être for the purity code.
- Rests on an assumption: Jesus' action in the Temple was symbolic.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“On the other hand, the fact that he sat loose to the purity halakhoth regarding clean and unclean and table-fellowship suggests equally, if not more strongly, that he did not regard such concerns as central to his understanding of what constituted the Israel of God and what should regulate Jews' social praxis of their religion.”
§ Jesus and Purity: An Ongoing Debate* > Additional information
hedgedstates a possible cause- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
It may state two separate claims as one.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“On the one hand, Jesus' association with the Baptist and acceptance of his baptism, as also his conformity with the regulations regarding pronouncement of freedom from skin disease, both attest a recognition of the importance of purity concerns within the community.”
§ Jesus and Purity: An Ongoing Debate* > Additional information
plainstates an association- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
It may state two separate claims as one.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“And that means also some kind of transformation of the purity system of which the Temple was the heart.”
§ Jesus and Purity: An Ongoing Debate* > Additional information
hedgedstates a possible cause- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
Probably not a substantial claim.
- Rests on an assumption: The Temple was the focal point and raison d'être for the purity code.
- Rests on an assumption: Jesus' action in the Temple was symbolic.
The authors state this as an assumption.
Jesus was raised as a devout Jew.
“If Jesus was brought up as a devout Jew, as I believe we can safely assume, 31”
The authors state this as an assumption.
Jesus kept the laws of clean and unclean and purity, and observed Temple purity rituals when he attended.
“then we can also assume, unless there is evidence to the contrary, that he observed the laws of clean and unclean and purity, and that when he attended the Temple he naturally observed the required purity ritual.”
The authors state this as an assumption.
The designation 'the Baptist' did not originate in Greek.
“And since we can hardly assume that the title 'the Baptist' was first coined in Greek”
The authors state this as an assumption.
John's name in Hebrew or Aramaic was hattobel or tabela.
“we must assume that John was known as hattobel (Hebrew) or tab e la (Aramaic).”
The authors state this as an assumption.
Jesus initially practised baptism.
“Had Jesus continued to practise baptism (assuming that he had initially)”
The authors state this as an assumption.
Markan priority (Mark was written before Matthew and used by Matthew) is assumed for the argument.
“Many have concluded, on the assumption of Markan priority, that Jesus abrogated the law of clean and unclean and abandoned the whole notion of impurity.61”
The paper relies on this without support.
The Temple was the focal point and raison d'être for the purity code.
“Since the Temple was the focal point and raison d'être for the purity code, it is simply impossible to avoid the purity overtones of Jesus' symbolic action in the Temple (Mark 11.15-17 pars.), whatever precisely it consisted of.”
The paper relies on this without support.
Jesus' action in the Temple was symbolic.
“it is simply impossible to avoid the purity overtones of Jesus' symbolic action in the Temple (Mark 11.15-17 pars.), whatever precisely it consisted of.”
Citations
Cites
The Concept of Purity at Qumran and in the Letters of Paul
Newton, M. J. (1985) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511555022 · Cited by 92
John the Baptizer and Prophet: A Socio-Historical Study
Cotter, W. J., & Webb, R. L. (1993) · Journal of Biblical Literature · doi:10.2307/3267765 · Cited by 63
Jesus and purity Halakhah : was Jesus indifferent to impurity?
Kazen, T. (2002) · Diva portal (Dalarna University Library) · Cited by 19
John the Baptist and His Relationship to Jesus
Webb, R. L. (1994) · BRILL eBooks · doi:10.1163/9789004379893_011 · Cited by 8
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- [12]12. L. H. Schiffman, 'At the Crossroads: Tannaitic Perspectives on the Jewish-Christian Schism', in Jewish and Christian Self-Definition, vol. 2 (ed. E. P. Sanders; Philadelphia: Fortress, 1981) 115-56 (here 127-31);
- [19]19. See e.g. B. Lindars, 'All Foods Clean: Thoughts on Jesus and the Law', in Law and Religion. Essays on the Place of the Law in Israel and Early Christianity (ed. B. Lindars; Cambridge: James Clarke, 1988) 61-71.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Health Care and Christian Ethics
Gill, R. (2006) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511488344 · Cited by 19
The Jewishness of Jesus and ritual purity
Wassén, C. (1970) · Scripta Instituti Donneriani Aboensis · doi:10.30674/scripta.66567 · Cited by 18
Purity and the Dead Sea Scrolls—Current Issues
Harrington, H. K. (2006) · Currents in Biblical Research · doi:10.1177/1476993x06064630 · Cited by 7
The Impact of Jesus in First-Century Palestine
Luff, R. M. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108612364 · Cited by 4
Luff, R. M. (2019) · Cited by 1
Metadata
- Authors
- DUNN, J. D. G.
- Affiliations
- Durham University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- DUNN, JAMES D. G.
- Venue
- New Testament Studies
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2002-10
- Volume
- 48
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 449-467
- ISSN
- 0028-6885 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-8145
- OpenAlex
- W2089326449
- Cited by
- 26
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2020: 1 · 2019: 14 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 7.07
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- New Testament Studies (publishedVersion)
- Durham Research Online (Durham University) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- Durham Research Online (Durham University) (acceptedVersion)
- Durham Research Online (Durham University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Religious studies › Biblical Studies and Interpretation
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Religious studies › Religion, Theology, History, Judaism, Christianity
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Karl Barth and Christian Theology
- Keywords
- Second Temple Judaism, historical Jesus, John the Baptist, baptism, cleansing of the Temple, table fellowship, Jewish dietary laws
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