The Myth of a Gentile GalileeThe Myth of a Gentile Galilee is the most thorough synthesis to date of archaeological and literary evidence relating to the population of Galilee in the first-century CE. The book demonstrates that, contrary to the perceptions of many New Testament scholars, the overwhelming majority of first-century Galileans were Jews. Utilizing the gospels, the writings of Josephus, and published archaeological excavation reports, Mark A. Chancey traces the historical development of the region's population and examines in detail specific cities and villages, finding ample indications of Jewish inhabitants and virtually none for gentiles. He argues that any New Testament scholarship that attempts to contextualize the Historical Jesus or the Jesus movement in Galilee must acknowledge and pay due attention to the region's predominantly Jewish milieu. This accessible book will be of interest to New Testament scholars as well as scholars of Judaica, Syro-Palestinian archaeology, and the Roman Near East. |
Contents
INTRODUCTION | 1 |
1 IMAGES OF GALILEES POPULATION IN BIBLICAL SCHOLARSHIP | 11 |
2 THE POLITICAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC HISTORY OF GALILEE | 28 |
3 GALILEAN COMMUNITIES IN THE LATE HELLENISTIC AND EARLY ROMAN PERIODS | 63 |
4 GALILEE AND THE CIRCLE OF NATIONS | 120 |
CONCLUSION | 167 |
| 183 | |
INDEX OF PASSAGES | 219 |
| 227 | |
| 229 | |
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Common terms and phrases
Adan-Bayewitz Agrippa Agrippa II Anafa Ancient Synagogues Antipas Arav Assyrian Aviam Beth She'arim Bethsaida Biblical Byzantine Caesarea Maritima Capernaum century BCE ceramic Christianity City-Coins city’s coins culture Decapolis deities depict discussion Early Roman period Ehud Netzer Eric Excavations first-century Freyne Gadara Galilee from Alexander Galilee's Galilee’s population gentiles Gerasa Golan Gospels Greco-Roman Greek inscription Gush Halav Hammath Hasmonean Hellenism Hellenistic period Herod Herodian History Horsley Ibid images inhabitants Israel Itureans James F Jerusalem Jesus Jesus's Jews Josephus Josephus's Jotapata Judaism Judea Kedesh Kefar Hananyah Khirbet Late Hellenistic Lower Galilee Luke Maccabees Matthew Meiron Meshorer Meyers Nazareth NEAEHL OEANE pagan Palestine Pella Phoenician pottery presence Press probably Ptolemais rabbinic references reflect region remains reports Revolt Samaria scholars Scythopolis Sea of Galilee second century Seleucid Sepphoris Sidon stone vessels Strange suggests synagogue Syria temple territory Testament third century Tiberias Tyche Tyre Upper Galilee villages