The New Testament Moses: Christian Perceptions of Moses and Israel in the Setting of Jewish Religion

John Lierman investigates the ways in which the New Testament writings, read within the context of ancient Judaism, envisage the relationship of Moses to Israel and to the Jewish people. His study shows how New Testament material can illuminate aspects of ancient Judaism and at the same time throws fresh light on the importance of the figure of Moses for NT religion and theology, especially Christology. The book contributes to the study of Judaism by broadening the understanding of ancient Jewish conceptions of Moses. It also illuminates points of contact between the New Testament books and other ancient Jewish writings, and confirms that central elements in New Testament religion and theology can be understood as Jewish interpretations of the biblical tradition. By supplying a fresh assessment of Moses as envisaged in the early Church the author sets the study of NT Christology on more solid footing. He suggests that Christology developed from the first in closer connection with the figure of Moses than has been generally recognized.