This is the fascinating story of a group of reformers who tried to go too fast, bungled their reform, and so changed the course of history. Hengel's thesis is that Hellenistic influences were, and had been for centuries, smoothly penetrating Judaism even in Jerusalem; there was respect on both sides between Jew and Greek. Then the Greek party tried to go too fast, make Hellenization obligatory and outlaw the Law. This occasioned a furious defensive reaction; Judaism clammed up, became xenophobic and rigoristic, producing the attitude which in its turn created the defensive reaction of anti-Semitism which has stained so many centuries. The defensive rigidity set up in Judaism made it unable to respond to Jesus' creative reinterpretation of the Law, and so led to the rejection of Christianity. This is a truly important scholarly work. The exhaustive collection of evidence will make it a fundamental textbook for the period' (The Tablet). `A foundation book and essential as a source book and as a guide to trends in present research' (The Expository Times). Martin Hengel was Professor of New Testament and Early Judaism in the University of Tubingen.

English summary: The first volume of this history of early Christianity, which will be published in four volumes, describes the path Jesus took and the work he did against the backdrop of contemporary Judaism in Palestine. Martin Hengel and Anna Maria Schwemer begin with a study of Jesus' Galilean origins and then deal with his relationship to John the Baptist and the historical context of his work. This is followed by the form of his preaching as well as its content, which was determined by the beginning kingdom of God, the will of God and the love of the Father. The authors also focus on Jesus as a miracle worker and the problem of his messianic claim, which must not be limited to the question of the title itself. At the end of the book, they deal with the last struggle in Jerusalem, his passion and the appearances of the Risen One. German description: Der erste Band dieser auf vier Bande geplanten Geschichte des fruhen Christentums umfasst den Weg und das Wirken Jesu vor dem Hintergrund des zeitgenossischen Judentums in Palastina. Dass die Darstellung Jesu selbst bereits Teil einer solchen Geschichte sein muss, sollte heute nicht mehr bestritten werden. Jesu Wirken und Leiden muss in engem Zusammenhang mit dem palastinischen Judentum und seinen religios-politischen Gruppen gesehen werden. Bei der Uberfulle der Jesusbilder kommt den Vorfragen nach den Quellen und den Kriterien einer historischen Untersuchung besondere Bedeutung zu. Hier ist wesentlich, dass aufgrund der Quellenlage nur Annaherungen moglich sind und die historische Gestalt Jesu von sehr verschiedenen Aspekten aus gesehen werden kann. Martin Hengel und Anna Maria Schwemer untersuchen zunachst die galilaische Herkunft Jesu, und behandeln dann weiter das Verhaltnis zu Johannes dem Taufer und den historischen Rahmen seines Wirkens. Es folgen die Form seiner Verkundigung sowie deren Inhalt, der von der anbrechenden Gottesherrschaft, dem gottlichen Willen und der Liebe des Vaters bestimmt ist. Weitere Schwerpunkte bilden Jesus als Wundertater und das umstrittene Problem seines messianischen Anspruchs, der nicht auf die Titelfrage beschrankt werden darf. Am Ende stehen der letzte Kampf in Jerusalem, seine Passion und die Erscheinungen des Auferstandenen.

This volume conveniently collects together three related short studies by Professor Hengel, The Son of God, Crucifixion and The Atonement. Together they form an important introduction to the crucial period of Christian belief between the crucifixion of Jesus and the writings of Paul.

This short but highly significant study is the first real sequel to Professor Martin Hengel's classic and monumental work Judaism and Hellenism. It demonstrates from a wealth of evidence, much of it made readily available here for the first time, that in the New Testament period Hellenization was so widespread in Palestine that the usual distinction between 'Hellenistic' Judaism and Palestinian' Judaism is not a valid one and that the word Hellenistic' and related terms are so vague as to be meaningless. The consequences of this for New Testament study are, of course, considerable. Martin Hengel was Professor of New Testament and Early Judaism in the University of Tuebingen.

Starting with "Let the dead bury the dead", (Mt.8.22), Professor Hengel subjects Jesus's discipleship sayings to a rigorous historical scrutiny, and considers other contemporary forms of discipleship -- Cynic, Rabbinic and Zealot. Hengel gives a remarkable series of historical insights into the character of Jesus's ministry and his work with his disciples.

These seminal essays by two leading New Testament scholars of our day focus on the interface between Judaism and Christianity in the New Testament. Professor Hengel writes in a broad and incisive manner on "Early Christianity as a Jewish-Messianic Universalist Movement." He argues that Christianity grew entirely out of Jewish soil and that pagan influences in the New Testament were mediated through Hellenistic Judaism. With an increasing number of Jewish scholars, he therefore contends that the New Testament must be considered an important source for our knowledge of ancient Judaism. In a final portion of his essay, he comments in some detail on "the final separation" of Christianity and Judaism. Professor Barrett's "Paul: Councils and Controversies" addresses a more specific topic, though one with wide-ranging implications. His focus is the council described in Galatians 2 and Acts 15. What is the gospel of Jesus Christ for Jews and what is it for the Gentiles of the Pauline mission? Barrett explores the historical circumstances and the theological issues at stake. He traces the weakness of the initial compromise agreement between Paul and Peter to take the gospel to the uncircumcision and the circumcision respectively, as well as the significance of the later compromise decree of the council that made minimal demands upon the Gentiles. The inadequacy of both approaches is found in their failure to refer to the center or core of the gospel, that is, to Jesus Christ. A brief concluding chapter draws together some of the essays' themes, by summarizing responses to them by Fuller Seminary's New Testament department and proposing prospects for future discussion. An annotated bibliography is also included. Donald A. Hagner is George Eldon Ladd Professor of New Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary.

In this classic study of the Zealots Martin Hengel draws on Josephus, the discoveries of the Qumran texts, the pseudepigrapha, and later rabbinic traditions, to examine the religious, social and political context which led to the Jewish insurrections of 66 A.D. This meticulous and illuminating work makes a major contribution to our understanding of the era which witnessed an eclipse of Judaism and the birth of Christianity.

This important new book covers the time between Paul's conversion in Damascus and his arrival in Antioch, set against a detailed background of the early Christian world, the church in Damascus to which Paul was introduced on his conversion, the methods of the first Christian mission, the situation in Arabia during Paul's first mission, the mission territory in Tarsus and Cilicia to which he then moved, and the nature of the church in Antioch. Martin Hengel once more challenges the overly skeptical assessments of the New Testament record and provides powerful support for his position on Paul.

Crucifixion - in the ancient world and the folly of the message of the cross.

How should Christians live in what is still an affluent society? What should be their attitude to money and to possessions ? How far has the welfare state relieved the church of its obligations ? Is anything short of a complete renunciation of possessions a compromise with Christian teaching ? While the experience of the early church cannot be applied directly to our modern situation, it is by no means irrelevant to these questions. In a brief and lucid study, Professor Hengel looks at the views of property and riches to be found in the teaching of Jesus, the early church and Christian fathers down to the fourth century. He compares Christian ideals with those to be found in Judaism and ancient philosophy, and sets what was taught alongside what was achieved in practice. A final chapter summarizes the relevance his book might have to Christianity today, and an annotated reading list indicates how further study might be carried on. Martin Hengel, author of the monumental Judaism and Hellenism, was Professor of New Testament and Early Judaism in the University of Tuebingen. Translated by John Bowden.

This volume brings together two important historical studies by Professor Hengel, Acts and the History of Earliest Christianity, and Property and Riches in the Early Church. Together they give a vivid and clearly written picture of life and values in the first days of Christianity. 'Remarkably easy reading and well within the reach of those who are shy of works of scholarship' (Expository Times). Martin Hengel was Professor of New Testament and Early Judaism in the University of Tubingen.

Here Professor Hengel argues with a wealth of documentation that the traditional views of the origin and content of the Gospel of Mark have far more to be said for them than has been usually allowed by modern New Testament scholars. He argues that the tradition contained in the Gospel is that handed down by Peter through Mark, and that the Gospel was written in Rome in AD 69. The famous note by Papias quoted in Eusebius' Church History is not to be dismissed, but has every appearance of being reliable. Further evidence in support of this view can be found in a detailed consideration of the titles of the Gospels, which must have been attached to the Gospels at a very early stage, if only to identify them. An appendix, by the distinguished classical philologist Wolfgang Schadewaldt, on 'The Reliability of the Synoptic Tradition', is used to add further weight to the case. With his customary learning, Professor Hengel has produced a powerful argument which those who have held more radical views than his own will have to consider very carefully indeed if they are to continue to carry conviction. Martin Hengel was Professor of New Testament and Early Judaism in the University of Tubingen.

In recent years it has been increasingly suggested in some quarters that the doctrine of the atoning death of Christ did not come into being in the earliest stages of Christianity; the first interpretation of Jesus is said to have been the image of him as the eschatological prophet, or the innocent man suffering wrongly. Against such views which might seem to devalue the doctrine of the atonement, Professor Hengel argues forcefully and with great scholarship that the doctrine of the atonement can be traced back to the earliest church, indeed to the sayings of Jesus himself. The second part of the book is devoted to this quest, moving back from the letters of Paul, through the pre-Pauline tradition, to Jesus. It is fascinating in itself. However, what gives the book even greater appeal is its first part, in which Professor Hengel examines a wider area of classical antiquity. Would it have made sense to Greeks and Romans of the first-century to say that Jesus had died for them? Were there points of contact in their traditions? Surveying Greek and Latin literature, Professor Hengel shows just how widespread a theme 'dying for' actually was, from Homer, through the Greek tragedians and orators, to Plutarch, Livy and Caesar. Once again, he sheds new light on areas which might be thought to have been long since worked to death.

-You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my community.- -- Matthew 16:18, author's translation Given that Peter fades from view halfway through the book of Acts and that he left no gospel account in his name, it is tempting for many biblical scholars to dismiss him as a vague figure in Christian history and downplay his influence in the early church. Martin Hengel rejects this underestimation of the apostle and argues that Peter was in fact the Rock, central to the development of both the Jewish and the Gentile Christian communities. Hengel clearly shows how each of the four gospels specifically highlights Peter's foundational role. He considers what Peter's message must have been as an eyewitness of Christ, reflects on Peter's theology, and draws attention to Peter's work as an organizer and mission strategist. Hengel also examines the contributions of married apostles -- like Peter -- and their family communities to the rapid and enduring spread of the Christian message.