Jewish and Christian Scripture as Artifact and Canon constitutes a collection of studies that reflect and contribute to the growing scholarly interest in manuscripts as artifacts and witnesses to early stages in Jewish and Christian understanding of sacred scripture.

Scholars and textual critics have in recent years rightly recognized the contribution that ancient manuscripts make to our understanding of the development of canon in its broadest and most inclusive sense. The studies included in this volume shed significant light on the most important questions touching the...

These essays explore new methods and overlooked traditionsthat appear to shed light on how the founders of the Christian movementunderstood the older sacred tradition and sought new and creative ways to letit speak to their own times.

Gurtner discusses the Matthean version of the temptation narrative. Chandlerinvestigates the exhortation to 'love your neighbour as yourself' from Lev.19.18b. Talbot re-examines Jesus' offer of rest in Mt. 11.28-30. Myers exploresthe ways Matthew's appeal to Isa. 42.1-4 in Mt. 12.17-21 affects thecharacterization of Jesus in his...