Jewish and Christian Scriptures

Over the past four decades many scholars have focused on the expanding collection of alleged extra-canonical documents that were deemed inspired by God in numerous early Jewish and Christian groups. Eventually these texts ceased to have an authoritative role in Judaism and Christianity and were branded extra-canonical. Now these documents once considered sacred are recognized as fundamental in understanding antiquity and the development of the canon. Many scholars are now according an authority to some of these texts This volume draws attention to these ancient religious texts especially the so-called non-canonical texts by focusing on how they were used or functioned in early societies. The contributors also warn us about the assumed barriers between canon and extra-canon texts and traditions and they suggest that we should be careful with labels such as Jewish and Christian. The contributors also indicate intermittently or implicitly the importance of combining disciplines that had been isolated especially the study of texts the exploration of the canonical process and the relevance of sociology in studying ancient groups.