Naked Bible 019: Taking the Bible’s Own Context Seriously, Part 4: 2nd Temple Texts in Translation

The Naked Bible Podcast

The series on Bible study continues with the emphasis on interpreting the Bible in its own context. The context we’re discussing is the world of the ancient Near East (with respect to the OT) and the Second Temple period with respect to the NT. Interpreting the Bible in these contexts means thinking like a person living at these times. The best way to do that is to immerse yourself in the worldview of the civilizations of these eras with which the biblical writers had regular contact. That is accomplished by immersion in the written sources of these civilizations. The last episode of the podcast dealt with the need to tap into the written material of the ANE since that is the context for the OT. In this episode we’ll turn attention to the NT context, the Second temple period (6th century BC-1st century AD). As in the last episode, all print and online sources I mention in the podcast are found (with links) at the “Bibliography and Resources” tab here on the podcast website.

Ancient Texts in English Translation: Second Temple Period of Judaism (5th century BC – 1st century AD)

Books:

Old Testament Apocrypha

King James Version of the Apocrypha

digital version

The New Oxford Annotated Apocrypha: New Revised Standard Version

digital version

R.H. Charles’ edition: The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament: Apocrypha

digital version (Logos has Charles’ Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha in one set)

New Testament Apocrypha (less relevant, as these come from after the apostolic period):

one-volume edition of M. R. James: The New Testament Apocrypha

two-volume scholarly compendium by Schneemelcher

New Testament Apocrypha, Vol. 1: Gospels and Related Writings Revised Edition

New Testament Apocrypha, Vol. 2: Writings Relating to the Apostles Apocalypses and Related Subjects

Old Testament Pseudepigrapha

1. H. Charles’ edition: The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament, Pseudepigrapha

digital version (Logos has Charles’ Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha in one set)

James H. Charleworth’s two-volume edition (with introductions to each book): The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha ( 2 Volume set)

digital version

Dead Sea Scrolls (non-biblical texts)

Wise, Abegg, & Cook: The Dead Sea Scrolls: A New Translation

digital version

Geza Vermes: The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English (Penguin Classics)

Garcia-Martinez: The Dead Sea Scrolls Translated: The Qumran Texts in English

digital version (English translations are included in the two volume Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition, which also has the Hebrew texts)

Dead Sea Scrolls (the biblical scrolls in the Hebrew Bible, in English translation)

Abegg, Ulrich, Flint: The Dead Sea Scrolls Bible: The Oldest Known Bible Translated for the First Time into English

digital version

Josephus

Whiston edition: The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged, New Updated Edition

digital version

Paul Maier: The New Complete Works of Josephus

Philo

Yonge, updated by Scholer: The Works of Philo

digital version

Websites (free material, but dated translations from old, public domain sources)

Old Testament Apocrypha

Sacred Texts Archive

Non-Canonical Homepage

Biblos / Apocrypha.org

Pseudepigrapha.com (includes links to OT Apocrypha)

Old Testament Pseudepigrapha

Sacred Texts archive (labels the Pseudepigrapha “other apocrypha”)

Pseudepigrapha.com

Non-canonical Homepage

New Testament Apocrypha

Early Christian Writings

Philo

Early Jewish Writings

Josephus

Early Jewish Writings