In this monograph, Alex W. Muir shows how Paul and Seneca were significant contributors to an ancient philosophical and rhetorical tradition of consolation. Each writer's consolatory career is surveyed in turn through close readings of key primary texts: chiefly Seneca's three literary consolations and 'Epistles'; and Paul's letters, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Corinthians, and Philippians. A final comparative dialogue highlights the pair's adaptations and innovations within this tradition.

For those of you who like jargon, this book is about propaganda, protreptics, apologetics and polemics. For those of you who don't, this is a study of ancient religious discourse and the interaction between different religious groups.

In Synagogues in the Works of Flavius Josephus, Andrew Krause examines the historiographical tendenz and spatial rhetoric of Flavius Josephus, in order to clarify how his writings may be used responsibly in the reconstruction of first-century synagogues.

Shows the unique perspective of Talmudic rabbis as they navigate between platonic objective truth and the realm of rhetorical argumentation.

An extremely important Jewish writer and thinker of the first century AD, Philo of Alexandria exercised through his ideas and language a lasting influence on the development and growth of Christianity in the New Testament period and later. This book provides an introduction to the major themes and ideas in the religious and philosophical thinking of Philo and outlines the importance of his thought by means of introductory treatments and sections of freshly translated text and commentary. Dr Williamson illustrates in his work the place and significance of Philo within Judaism and as part of the background to Christianity, and so provides a valuable resource for scholars and students in this area of study.

A collection of twelve essays on the Jewish encounter with Hellenism, both in the Diaspora and in the land of Israel, including studies of several individual texts.