Understanding the Gospels as ancient Jewish literature

Introduction

Sources for understanding the gospels ; The Hebrew Bible ; Jewish literature outside the Bible ; The Dead Sea Scrolls of Qumran ; Josephus ; Rabbinic literature ; Targumim ; Philo of Alexandria

Geography of the land of Israel in the Gospels

Jewish political history in the Gospels

Jewish life in the Gospels ; Languages of the first century AD ; The birth of Jesus and Jewish home life ; Jewish clothing and the Gospels ; The Pharisees, Sadducees, and Jesus ; The baptism and ritual immersion ; The synagogue at Nazareth and the Sabbath ; Prayer ; Women in Jesus' ministry ; A pre-70 Passover meal, but not a Seder ; Jerusalem's temple ; Crucifixion and death

Jewish styles of teaching in the Gospels ; Parables ; Halakhah ( Jewish law/commandments) ; Jewish styles of Biblical interpretation

Charity, deeds of reciprocal kindness, and the image of God in the Gospels

The Gospels as the first literary witness to Jewish practice ; Naming on the eighth day ; Abraham's bosom ; The reading of the Haftarah ; Preservation of life (pikuach nefesh) ; Ritual fringes (tzizit) ; Attendance of Synagogue on the Sabbath ; Narration of Passover pre-70 meal ; Narration of Jewish pilgrimage

Notes and references.