Jesus, the Sabbath and the Jewish Debate

Nina Collins lectured on Judaism and Modern and Classical Hebrew at the University of Leeds. Her publications include The Library in Alexandria and the Bible in Greek (2000).

• Chapter 1. The ProblemChapter 2. An Overview of the Sabbath Events in the GospelsChapter 3. The Sabbath and Post-Sabbath Healing Events in the GospelsChapter 4. Sabbath healing in the gospels - Summary of conclusions of Chapter 3Chapter 5. Terms and arguments of R. Eleazar b. Azariah, R. Akiva and R. Ishmael and their schoolsChapter 6. Direct Interaction between R. Akiva and Matthew?Chapter 7. 2nd century interpretations of biblical verses based on Pentateuchal Jewish lawChapter 8. Two symbolic seals of approval from the amoraimChapter 9. Specificity versus generalityChapter 10. Other Indications for DatingChapter 11. The Earliest Dates of Composition of Tannaitic directives on Healing and/or Saving LifeChapter 12. A summary of the history of the early Jewish debate on acts of healing and/or saving life, and the contribution of the gospels and the historical Jesus to this Jewish debate

This is a huge piece of work, the significance of which goes far beyond the particular issues of healing and saving life on the sabbath. It demonstrates, in great detail, the potential contribution which the New Testament sources may make to the internal history of Jewish law; it also contributes to our understanding of the development of Jewish law between the canonisation of the Pentateuch and the formulation of the Mishnah ... [Collins] is to be commended for the thoroughness of her investigation.