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Israel’s Lord

YHWH as “Two Powers” in Second Temple Literature

David E. Wilhite and Adam Winn

Israel’s Lord: YHWH as “Two Powers” in Second Temple Literature addresses the nature of Jewish monotheism in Second Temple literature, advancing an argument that much of the literature reflects the existence of two powers in heaven that are both rightly understood as YHWH. To this end, Wilhite and Winn review various figures such God’s Word, God’s Wisdom, the Angel of the Lord, the Son of Man, and others that bear features closely associate with the God of Israel. Using criteria related to these features they argue that most, though not all, of these figures are rightly identified as the figure who appeared in Israel’s scriptures and was called YHWH. Such a “two powers” paradigm is relevant for understanding early Christian commitments regarding Jesus. The debate about Jesus’ divinity depends in large part on what options were available for the earliest Christians when considering his titles and status. The authors contend that with such a “two powers” paradigm available to the earliest Christians, it should inform any reading of New Testament texts and their varying depictions of Jesus as “Lord.”

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Lexington Books / Fortress Academic
Pages: 310 • Trim: 6¼ x 9¼
978-1-9787-1230-0 • Hardback • July 2024 • $120.00 • (£92.00)
978-1-9787-1231-7 • eBook • July 2024 • $50.00 • (£38.00)
Subjects: Religion / Biblical Studies / History & Culture, Religion / Judaism / History, Religion / Judaism / Sacred Writings

David Wilhite is professor of historical theology at Baylor University’s Truett Seminary.

Adam Winn is professor and chair for the Department of Biblical and Religious Studies at Samford University.

Chapter 1: Re-assessing Monotheism in Light of a Two Powers Paradigm

Chapter 2: God’s Word in Second Temple Literature

Chapter 3: God’s Word’s as a Second Power in Heaven

Chapter 4: God’s Wisdom

Chapter 5: The Angel of the Lord

Chapter 6: Other Abstract Figures

Chapter 7: The Son of Man

Chapter 8: Melchizedek and Enoch

Chapter 9: Exalted Humans

Chapter 10: Conclusions and Looking Forward

David Wilhite and Adam Winn have embarked on an epic enterprise to tell the story of the background, origins, and development of early Christology. This volume proceeds with remarkable acumen and attention to detail as it explores various mediator figures in second temple Judaism who were something of the petri dish from which Christian devotion to Jesus organically emerged from its Jewish and Greco-Roman environs. A landmark publication.


— Rev. Michael F. Bird, Ridley College


Wilhite and Winn propose “a two powers paradigm” for understanding the Jewish monotheism within which the Christology found in early Christianity came to be expressed. While their “two powers” label for this complex monotheism may not be welcomed by all, the evidence from Second Temple Jewish texts that they present about the Word, Wisdom, the Angel of the Lord, and other figures is certainly important pieces for solving the puzzle of how some Jews rapidly came to understand and confess Jesus to be within the mystery of YHWH.


— Charles A. Gieschen, Concordia Theological Seminary


Israel’s Lord

YHWH as “Two Powers” in Second Temple Literature

Cover Image
Hardback
eBook
Summary
Summary
  • Israel’s Lord: YHWH as “Two Powers” in Second Temple Literature addresses the nature of Jewish monotheism in Second Temple literature, advancing an argument that much of the literature reflects the existence of two powers in heaven that are both rightly understood as YHWH. To this end, Wilhite and Winn review various figures such God’s Word, God’s Wisdom, the Angel of the Lord, the Son of Man, and others that bear features closely associate with the God of Israel. Using criteria related to these features they argue that most, though not all, of these figures are rightly identified as the figure who appeared in Israel’s scriptures and was called YHWH. Such a “two powers” paradigm is relevant for understanding early Christian commitments regarding Jesus. The debate about Jesus’ divinity depends in large part on what options were available for the earliest Christians when considering his titles and status. The authors contend that with such a “two powers” paradigm available to the earliest Christians, it should inform any reading of New Testament texts and their varying depictions of Jesus as “Lord.”

Details
Details
  • Lexington Books / Fortress Academic
    Pages: 310 • Trim: 6¼ x 9¼
    978-1-9787-1230-0 • Hardback • July 2024 • $120.00 • (£92.00)
    978-1-9787-1231-7 • eBook • July 2024 • $50.00 • (£38.00)
    Subjects: Religion / Biblical Studies / History & Culture, Religion / Judaism / History, Religion / Judaism / Sacred Writings
Author
Author
  • David Wilhite is professor of historical theology at Baylor University’s Truett Seminary.

    Adam Winn is professor and chair for the Department of Biblical and Religious Studies at Samford University.

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
  • Chapter 1: Re-assessing Monotheism in Light of a Two Powers Paradigm

    Chapter 2: God’s Word in Second Temple Literature

    Chapter 3: God’s Word’s as a Second Power in Heaven

    Chapter 4: God’s Wisdom

    Chapter 5: The Angel of the Lord

    Chapter 6: Other Abstract Figures

    Chapter 7: The Son of Man

    Chapter 8: Melchizedek and Enoch

    Chapter 9: Exalted Humans

    Chapter 10: Conclusions and Looking Forward

Reviews
Reviews
  • David Wilhite and Adam Winn have embarked on an epic enterprise to tell the story of the background, origins, and development of early Christology. This volume proceeds with remarkable acumen and attention to detail as it explores various mediator figures in second temple Judaism who were something of the petri dish from which Christian devotion to Jesus organically emerged from its Jewish and Greco-Roman environs. A landmark publication.


    — Rev. Michael F. Bird, Ridley College


    Wilhite and Winn propose “a two powers paradigm” for understanding the Jewish monotheism within which the Christology found in early Christianity came to be expressed. While their “two powers” label for this complex monotheism may not be welcomed by all, the evidence from Second Temple Jewish texts that they present about the Word, Wisdom, the Angel of the Lord, and other figures is certainly important pieces for solving the puzzle of how some Jews rapidly came to understand and confess Jesus to be within the mystery of YHWH.


    — Charles A. Gieschen, Concordia Theological Seminary


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