Bookstore Home > History > Patristic Studies

Impurity and Sin in Ancient Judaism

Jonathan Klawans, New York, New York: Oxford University Press, 2004, 6.25x9.25" softbound, 272 pages.

Co-winner of the AAR Best First Book in the History of Religions award and Awarded the Salo Wittmayer Baron Book Prize by the American Academy for Jewish Research.

This book examines the ways in which two distinct biblical conceptions of impurity-"ritual" and "moral"-were interpreted in the Hebrew Bible, the Dead Sea Scrolls, rabbinic literature, and the New Testament. In examining the evolution of ancient Jewish attitudes towards sin and defilement, Klawans sheds light on a fascinating but previously neglected topic.

Review Excerpts:

"This volume makes a major contribution to the study of Ancient Judaism and Christianity. Professor Klawans has disentangled some confusing threads of ancient thinking about purity and has revealed a complex, nuanced array of perspectives to be found in our documentation. Those who wish to homogenize ancient Jewish thinking on the subject will hence forth be without excuse." --Anglican Theological Review

"Jonathan Klawans makes an important contribution to scholarship on ancient Judaism by providing a fresh look at the relationship between sin and impurity. Klawans writes well; he is concise, well-organized, and usually very clear. I recommend this book for all professors or students of ancient Judaism or early Christianity." --Review of Biblical Literature

"Klawans has offered some very helpful illumination, particularly to the study of the New Testament. The clarity and simplicity of his thought is very attractive, and throws light into some very obscure corners of ancient thought." --Journal of Theological Studies

Jonathan Klawans, Associate Professor of Religion, Boston University

Title: Impurity and Sin in Ancient Judaism

Retail Price: $24.95

Your Price: Only $24.95

FAIR is not owned, controlled by or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All research and opinions provided on this site are the sole responsibility of FAIR, and should not be interpreted as official statements of LDS doctrine, belief or practice.

Last Updated [an error occurred while processing this directive]
Copyright © 2006 by The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research. All Rights Reserved.

You can send comments/suggestions using our contact page.