#9: What Bible? Scripture, Canonization & Interpretation in the Second Temple Period

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In this episode, I discuss:

The different biblical texts discovered at Qumran
The nature of “Scripture” during the Second Temple period
The process of canonization and why “canon” can mean something different for Jews and for Christians
The importance of interpretation for a “Scripturized” Bible
And as a special bonus, learn about the Masoretes! (Who were they, and what did they do?)

As always, I look forward to your questions and comments!

20 Responses to "#9: What Bible? Scripture, Canonization & Interpretation in the Second Temple Period"

Miryam Brand says:

March 23, 2016 at 10:59 pm

Note: This episode has been updated. A previous version repeated the old idea that the Samaritan Bible includes the book of Joshua.
In fact, the Samaritan Bible only includes the Pentateuch (the “Five Books of Moses”).
Chris says:

March 26, 2016 at 5:33 pm

So you’re saying they used the Geneva, not the King James version? (Just kidding!)

I thought you overviewed the situation pretty well. I would like to encourage/remind people to, when considering the canonization issue, consider the actual contents of the text in light of its predecessors, especially the Torah. Deuteronomy 13:1-6 (12:32-13:5 in Christian bibles) is an important passage to keep in mind.
1. Miryam Brand says:
  
  March 31, 2016 at 12:44 am
  
  Absolutely. And of course, those verses themselves have been the subject of wildly disparate interpretations…
Daniel Herman says:

March 26, 2016 at 6:34 pm

Thank you so much for these fantastic presentations. It is a real blessing to us and you challange our “understandings” in a most wonderful way. Every topic is brought to life, and this episode was no exception, your excitement about canonization is infectious and i learned so much today! Your work is most appreciated.
1. Miryam Brand says:
  
  March 31, 2016 at 12:43 am
  
  Thank you so much! Your feedback means a lot.
Rocky Jackson says:

March 27, 2016 at 3:15 am

I have tried twice to listen BUT it has stopped both times at 31 minute mark most likely my Android …
But just wondering if anyone else had a cell issue….
1. Miryam Brand says:
  
  March 31, 2016 at 12:42 am
  
  Hi, Rocky. I couldn’t detect a problem – did you manage to listen to it in the end?
Erin says:

May 4, 2016 at 6:52 pm

What an exciting time of life we are in!!!

As I study at home I am realizing many falsities taught since young child.
I hope to find a people to expound with and I listen to Nehemiah’s wall weekly with some participation.

I sense that YHVH is bringing about much awakening in His creation both spiritual and human. Hence, joining two sticks… into His plan!!!

Shalom to all and thanks for getting us all the information in historic ideal as we here in America have so MANY religions and I am out of that, for confession before all to see.

Ahavah in YHVH in my heart to you!
1. Miryam Brand says:
  
  May 5, 2016 at 11:48 am
  
  I’m glad you’re enjoying the episodes. 🙂
  1. Erin Hunter says:
    
    September 13, 2016 at 10:52 pm
    
    I MOST DEFINITELY DO, MIRYAM.
    
    YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN A GIFT TO HELP US SEE INTO THE WORLD PAST, TO UNDERSTAND THE MISCONCEPTIONS WE HAVE BEEN HANDED DOWN.
    
    IN CHURCHIANITY , MY WORD FOR CHRISTIANITY – WHICH WILL MOST DEFINITELY UPSET SOME GROUPS, NONE INTENDED ON MY PART THOUGH, WE’RE TOLD ALL IS DONE AWAY WITH SINCE YSHWH CAME…
    TORAH TELLS ME YSHWH IS, WAS AND ALWAYS WILL BE THE LAW UNDER YHWH’S ESTABLISHED PLAN. THEREFORE I STAND ON HIS REDEMPTION IN MY HEART, MIND AND SOUL WATCHING EVERYTHING THAT I SENSE IN ME TO BE ABLE TO CONFRONT AND CONFESS MY OWN SIN TO HIM WHO LIVES FOREVER!
    
    THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE INSIGHT FROM STUDY TIME ON AIR. YHWH BLESS YOU ALWAYS AND IN ALL HIS BLESSING GRANT YOU SHALOM/ PEACE…
Pär Stenberg says:

May 5, 2016 at 3:07 pm

Greetings from Sweden.

I am loving these podcast. They really appeal for those of us that are in love with academics 🙂

I must however take issue with a claim made in this show, viz. that the Council of Nicaea had a role in determining the canon if the New Testament. Such a claim is baseless in my opinion. What are your primary sources for this?

I myself do not hold the New Testament as Scripture in anyway, but the formation of its canon is in my opinion roughly fixed near the end of the second century, if not earlier.

Now having said that, I wish to add one further note: Please do more shows!! At once!!! This podcast is my new addicition. 🙂
1. Miryam Brand says:
  
  May 6, 2016 at 12:02 am
  
  Thank you! I’m so glad you’re enjoying them.
  
  Regarding the Council of Nicea, you are right — the issue is not nearly so clear-cut. Thank you for pointing this out.
  
  Of course, Jerome does say in his prologue to Judith: “But because this book is found by the Nicene Council to have been counted among the number of the Sacred Scriptures, I have acquiesced to your request, indeed a demand, and works having been set aside from which I was forcibly curtailed, I have given to this (book) one short night’s work translating more sense from sense than word from word.” This implies that which books were to be included in Scripture was at least discussed at the Nicene Council. But, as you note, there is no concrete record of this.
  
  Regarding a list of what was included in the New Testament and what wasn’t, Eusebius’ Church History (dating to about 330 of the common era) lists which books were, in his opinion, accepted, in dispute, or heretical. He lists Revelation as both accepted and in dispute, which indicates at least a little fluidity in the canon during that period. But as I have noted, I am not a New Testament scholar per se, and I welcome anything you would like to add.
  
  I look forward to your comments on future episodes! A new one is coming soon, never fear. 🙂
Edward Jones says:

January 18, 2017 at 12:46 pm

Great listening to your research.

Can you tell me if their is a complete listing of the books (scrolls) used and accepted during the second temple period and what this list is?

Thank you.
1. Miryam Brand says:
  
  February 9, 2017 at 10:57 am
  
  Hi Edward! Do you mean a list of Dead Sea Scrolls, or a list of all Jewish books written and read during this period? In general, compiling a list like that would include:
  
  1) The later books of the Hebrew Bible (e.g. Chronicles)
  2) The Apocrypha
  3) The Dead Sea Scrolls
  4) Certain books of the Pseudepigrapha, specifically 1 Enoch and Jubilees. Many consider the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs to be part of this list as well.
  5) Books written by Josephus and Philo, both Jews who were later read more by Christians than Jews.
  
  Note that most of these books were not accepted by all Jews, but only by particular subgroups. If you would like a list, I recommend you take a look at the Table of Contents in Outside the Bible, put out by the University of Nebraska press together with JPS.
Joshua says:

December 31, 2019 at 5:13 pm

I am interested in tracking down Gene Olric’s article on the difference between Jewish and Christian scholarship on cannon. Would you be willing to provide the proper spelling and title? I’ll be able to access it through my local library.
1. Miryam Brand says:
  
  June 17, 2020 at 7:26 pm
  
  Hi Joshua. The article is:
  The Notion and Definition of Canon
  In: The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Developmental Composition of the Bible
  Author: Eugene Ulrich
  Pages: 265–279
  DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004296039_018
  
  Enjoy!
Rafael Diniz says:

March 25, 2020 at 7:59 pm

Dear Dr. Brand, can you pls spell the word used for describe when you do not read as writen, I heard something like; “Kriuhd”, tks!
1. Miryam Brand says:
  
  June 17, 2020 at 7:23 pm
  
  Sure. In English it’s written “Qere u’ketiv” (pronounced “kri u’khtiv”), which literally means “read and written.” 🙂
Daniel Waller says:

August 13, 2020 at 11:36 pm

Thank you. I always, mistakenly, understood that the Hebrew Bible was ‘ cannonised at בו היום in Yavneh around 90 ce. I am still not sure I quite understand the various Hebrew Bibles from a philosophical point of view.

Thank you for your hard work and research behind each episode.

Be well

Daniel
1. Miryam Brand says:
  
  September 16, 2020 at 2:31 pm
  
  Thank you! I’m glad you’re enjoying them.

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