Bøker av Jonathan (York St. John University Knight

This is the most thorough investigation yet published on the early Christian apocalypse called the 'Ascension of Isaiah'. Knight examines all the critical issues in the study of this document, including matters of date, provenance and purpose. Particular attention is paid to the book's concepts of christology (with a view both to that christology's Jewish mediatorial background and to its relationship with wider Christianity) and millenarianism (with a view to the social setting of the writer and his readers). Questions concerning the author as haggadist and exegete are also addressed.

The Ascension of Isaiah is an important but neglected apocalypse from the early second century CE. Its author wrote at a time when charismatic prophecy was falling into decline and when the experience of oppression from the Roman government was causing deep problems for pious Christians. He responded by providing assurance about the promised parousia and also by offering theoretical attempt to explain how the heavenly Christ had defeated the cosmic powers who inspired hatred of the Christians. The Ascension of Isaiah gives a badly-needed insight into the state of Syrian Christianity just after the death of Ignatius and it shows an early knowledge of some of the New Testament writings. This Sheffield guide examines the life-setting of the apocalypse and also offers a commentary on the complete text.

Setting Jesus in a radical apocalyptic context, this volume draws attention to the eschatological significance of the journey to Jerusalem and Jesus' arrival there.

Dealing with the Jewish background to Jesus, this book provides an introductory account of the emergence of Christianity. It presents eschatology as the mainstay of early Christian belief, and uses this as a lens through which to view the development of the Early Church, the writings of Paul and the further growth of the Church.