Shared Scripture – Divided Faiths: The Medieval Jewish-Christian Encounter over the Hebrew Bible / Old Testament

This work explores the ambivalent and often troublesome relationship that Jews and Christians had in the Middle Ages, focusing specifically on scriptural exegesis. While the shared scriptural tradition of Jews and Christians could lead to mutual understanding and rapprochement, it also inspired sharp polemic on the “right” interpretation of those same Scriptures. Even the exact text of those shared Scriptures was hard to agree on. The essays in this volume show that the meaning of Scripture is not self-evident; it is created within a faith community. The result was a lively discussion on the meaning of Scripture between Jews and Christians. Sharp polemic and cross-fertilization occurred simultaneously. The essays in this volume will add new details and perspectives to the rich tradition of scholarship on this topic, and, in some cases, will even challenge its parameters. Contributors are Deeana Copeland Klepper, Robert A. Harris, Franklin T. Harkins, Görge Hasselhoff, Johannes Heil, Daniel Joslyn-Siemiatkoski, Christopher Ocker, Judith Olszowy-Schlanger, Devorah Schoenfeld, Boyd Taylor Coolman, and Frans van Liere.