Jesus and the Forces of Death: The Gospels' Portrayal of Ritual Impurity Within First-Century Judaism Paperback - 2021

From the rear cover

"Compelling and wonderfully written"

"Thiessen's masterful study puts to rest the pervasive and false view that Jesus--as portrayed in the canonical Gospels--opposed the ancient Jewish purity laws. Thiessen argues convincingly that the Gospels depict Jesus not as dismantling the Jewish purity system but as destroying the forces of death that result in ritual impurity. The book is compelling and wonderfully written--a must-read for anyone interested in Jesus, the Gospels, and the ins and outs of ancient Jewish law and practice. It also makes a powerful case for the ongoing relevance of the Hebrew Bible for a historical understanding of Christianity and for Christians today."
--Adele Reinhartz, University of Ottawa

"Matthew Thiessen's Jesus and the Forces of Death is a much-needed historical and theological intervention. For far too long, constricted ideas and damaging misinterpretations of first-century Judaism and Jesus's ministry have severely limited interpretation of the Gospels. From scholars to students, preachers to everyday Christians, readers will encounter a Jesus here who is far more faithful to his context and thus far more life-giving in his teaching and healing alike."
--Eric D. Barreto, Princeton Theological Seminary

"Matthew Thiessen has written a thought-provoking and in-depth study on the Gospels' depiction of Jesus's work in relation to purity laws. Importantly, he demonstrates that the authors portray Jesus as acting wholly in accordance with Jewish laws. Thiessen's innovative interpretation of the Gospel stories is a welcome addition to the scholarship on purity in the New Testament. This study is sure to generate much discussion and debate."
--Cecilia Wassén, Uppsala University

"For centuries interpreters of the Gospels have mistakenly thought that Jesus battled the Jewish ritual purity system, when, in fact, he battled ritual impurity itself. For Jesus and the Evangelists, as for most ancient people, ritual impurity was a real substance, a miasma. And according to the Gospel accounts, Jesus came to destroy it--so argues Matthew Thiessen in this brilliant book. If you read this book, you will learn a thousand new things."
--Matthew V. Novenson, University of Edinburgh