Martin Hengel

An Investigation of the Collection and Origin of the Canonical Gospels

The Four Gospels and the One Gospel of Jesus Christ

Crucifixion in the ancient world and the folly of the message of the cross

Aspects of the Hellenization of Judaism in the Pre-Christian Period

Jews, Greeks, and Barbarians

Characteristically scholarly examination of the origin and authorship of the Fourth Gospel, within the context of the community to which it relates. Skilful detective work traces the trail back to a figure who witnessed the death of Jesus in Jerusalem.

The Johannine Question

Anna Maria Schwemer

Siegfried Mittmann

English summary: This book is a collection of articles from a Tubingen symposium held by professors of the Universities of Strasbourg, Tubingen and Uppsala in 1998. This collection was preceded by the symposium volumes 'Le Trone de Dieu/Der Thron Gottes/The Throne of God' (1993) and 'La Main de Dieu/Die Hand Gottes/The Hand of God' (1997). The articles deal with the complex subject of 'The City of God' from the aspects of the history of the Oriental, Hellenistic-Jewish and Islamic religions, biblical exegesis and patristics and of synagogal and Christian iconography. German description: Ce livre rassemble des contributions presentees par des professeurs des universites de Strasbourg, de Tubingen et d'Uppsala a un colloque qui eut lieu a Tubingen en 1998. Il fait suite a des volumes de colloques sur 'Le Trone de Dieu' (1993) et sur 'La Main de Dieu' (1997).Les articles traitent le sujet complexe de la 'Cite de Dieu' sous des aspects d'histoire des religions orientale, juive-hellenistique et islamique, d'exegese biblique, de patristique et d'iconographies synagogale et chretienne. Das Buch versammelt die Beitrage eines Tubinger Symposiums von Wissenschaftlern der Universitaten Strassburg, Tubingen und Uppsala im Jahre 1998. Dem Sammelwerk gingen die Symposionsbande 'Le Trone de Dieu/ Der Thron Gottes' (1993) und 'La Main de Dieu/Die Hand Gottes' (1997) voraus.Die Studien behandeln das komplexe Thema der 'Stadt Gottes' unter Aspekten der orientalischen, hellenistisch-judischen und islamischen Religionsgeschichte, der Bibelexegese und Patristik, der synagogalen und christlichen Ikonographie.

La cité de Dieu

"The debate over the extent of Jewish influence upon early Christianity rages on. At the heart of this argument lies the question of Jesus: how does the fate of a first-century Galilean Jew inspire and determine the nature, shape, and practices of a distinct religious movement? Vital to this first question is another equally challenging one: can the four Gospels be used to reconstruct the historical Jesus? In Jesus and Judaism, Martin Hengel and Anna Maria Schwemer seek to untangle the complex relationships among Jesus, Judaism, and the Gospels in the earliest Christian movement. Jesus and Judaism, the first in a four-volume series, focuses on the person of Jesus in the context of Judaism. Beginning with his Galilean origin, the volume analyzes Jesus' relationship with John the Baptist and the Jewish context of Jesus' life and work. Hengel and Schwemer argue that there never was a nonmessianic Jesus. Rather, his messianic claim finds expression in his relationship to the Baptist, his preaching in authority, his deeds of power, and his crucifixion as king of the Jews, and in the emergence of the earliest Christology. As Hengel and Schwemer reveal, Jesus was not only a devout Jew, nor merely a miracle worker, but the essential part of the earliest form of Christianity. Hengel and Schwemer insist that Jesus belongs within the history of early Christianity, rather than as its presupposition. Christianity did not begin after Jesus' death; Christianity began as soon as a Jew from Galilee started to preach the word of God."--

Jesus and Judaism

'Victory over Violence' This book, 'Victory over Violence', deals with Òpolitical theologyÓ - as it developed within Palestinian Judaism between 334 B.C. and the time of Christ, and as it is being advocated now by radical theologians and groups within the Christian community. The book is, therefore, not simply an academic discussion of a bygone era. It is an attempt to bridge the gap between New Testament theology and contemporary Christian social ethics. Hengel clearly intends to speak to the contemporary situation, which forces Christians to debate the possible use of violence in revolution. He is appalled that those who advocate a Òtheology of revolutionÓ pay so little attention to the political situation of Jesus and primitive Christianity. According to Hengel's interpretation, the position of Jesus and the early Christians on the question of violence was radically different from that of the Zealots: Jesus was the model of nonviolence who demanded of his followers that they renounce violence and love their enemies. Further, since the situation today is similar to the situation in Jesus' time, Hengel argues that the Christian response should be similar too. 'Was Jesus a Revolutionist?' Jesus has often been portrayed as a forerunner of modern revolutionary movements. Martin Hengel believes that this judgment must be scrutinized carefully to determine if revolutionists are reading their own views back into Jesus. The author considers the political background at the time of Jesus, especially the Zealot movement, then looks at key passages in the Gospels that seem to support the revolutionist label. This study shows that Jesus' ethical system was revolutionary, but his political actions were not. Students of politics and religion will want to read Hengel's comments on Jewish movements, depth psychology, and today's theology of revolution.

Victory Over Violence and Was Jesus a Revolutionist?

This short but highly significant study is the first real sequel to Professor Martin Hengel's classic and monumental work 'Judaism and Hellenism'. It demonstrates from a wealth of evidence, much of it made readily available here for the first time, that in the New Testament period Hellenization was so widespread in Palestine that the usual distinction between Hellenistic Judaism and Palestinian Judaism is not a valid one and that the word Hellenistic and related terms are so vague as to be meaningless. The consequences of this for New Testament study are, of course, considerable.

The 'Hellenization' of Judea in the First Century after Christ

Originally presented as the author's thesis, Tèubingen, 1959.

Untersuchungen zur Jüdischen Freiheitsbewegung in der Zeit von Herodes I. bis 70 n. Chr

Die Zeloten

Martin Hengel gathers an encyclopedic amount of material, ancient and modern, to present an exhaustive survey of the early course of Hellenistic civilization as it related to developing Judaism. The result is a highly readable account of a largely unfamiliar world which is indispensable for those interested in Judaism and the birth of Christianity alike. An extensive section of notes and bibliography is included.

Studies in their Encounter in Palestine during the Early Hellenistic Period

Judaism and Hellenism

Here Professor Hengel argues with a wealth of documentation that the traditional views of the origin and tradition of the Gospel of Mark have far more to be said for them than has been usually allowed by modern New Testament scholars. He argues that the tradition contained in the Gospel is that handed down by Peter through Mark, and that the Gospel was written in Rome in AD 69. The famous note by Papias quoted in Eusebius' 'Church History' is not to be dismissed, but has every appearance of being reliable. Further evidence in support of this view can be found in a detailed consideration of the titles of the Gospels, which must have been attached to the Gospels at a very early stage, if only to identify them. An appendix, by the distinguished classical philologist Wolfgang Schadewaldt, on 'The Reliability of the Synoptic Tradition,' is used to add further weight to the case. With his customary learning, Professor Hengel has produced a powerful argument which those who have held more radical views than his own will have to consider very carefully indeed if they are to continue to carry conviction.

Studies in the Gospel of Mark

English summary: The seventh and final volume of Martin Hengel's Selected Essays contains 32 texts, among which two are hitherto unpublished. The first section includes the small monograph on Christ and Power, a new and programmatic essay on Heilsgeschichte (salvation history), as well as reflections on New Testament methodology. The second section is devoted to biographical sketches and investigations into the history of the discipline. The articles on Kurt Aland, Elias Bickerman, Henry Chadwick, Joseph Barber Lightfoot and Gunther Zuntz are particularly comprehensive. Some small contributions to the author's own scholarly vita conclude the essays. Jorg Frey continues the author's bibliography. An alphabetical listing of the essays contained in the seven volumes of the Selected Essays and extensive indexes on Volumes V to VII complete the volume. German description: Der siebte und letzte Band der eKleinen Schriften' umfasst 32 Texte, darunter zwei unveroffentlichte. Der erste, grossere Teil enthalt unter anderem die kleine Monographie Christus und die Macht, einen neuen, programmatischen Aufsatz zur Heilsgeschichte sowie Uberlegungen zur Methodik der neutestamentlichen Wissenschaft. Ein zweiter Teil ist biographischen und wissenschaftsgeschichtlichen Untersuchungen gewidmet; hervorzuheben sind hier umfangreiche Beitrage uber Kurt Aland, Elias Bickermann, Henry Chadwick, Joseph Barber Lightfoot und Gunther Zuntz. Einige kurze Beitrage zur eigenen wissenschaftlichen Vita des Autors runden die Aufsatzsammlung ab.Jorg Frey fuhrt die Bibliographie des Autors fort. Ein alphabetisches Verzeichnis der in den 'Kleinen Schriften' enthaltenen Aufsatze erleichtert die Orientierung, ausfuhrliche Indizes erschliessen die Bande V-VII.

Theologische, historische, und biographische skizzen

English summary: This volume contains 13 studies written by Martin Hengel between 1967 and 2004 on the subject of New Testament theology. In these studies, the author deals mainly with the origins of Christology in the early Christian community. His subjects are the meaning of Jesus' death for salvation, Easter, Psalm 110 and the kyrios title, the son of God, the early Christian hymns and the relationship between the development of Christology and early Christian chronology. He attaches considerable importance to the Jewish background of Christology and its connection with Jesus' claim to be the Messiah, which led to his crucifixion. German description: Dieser Band enthalt 13 Studien von Martin Hengel zur neutestamentlichen Theologie, die zwischen 1967 und 2004 entstanden sind. In ihnen befasst er sich vor allem mit der Entstehung der Christologie in der fruhen Urgemeinde. Themen sind unter anderem die Heilsbedeutung des Todes Jesu, das Osterereignis, Psalm 110 und der Kyriostitel, der Sohn Gottes, der fruhe christliche Hymnus und die Entwicklung der Christologie im Rahmen der urchristlichen Chronologie. Von entscheidender Bedeutung ist der judische Hintergrund der Christologie und ihre Verbindung mit dem messianischen Anspruch Jesu, der zu seiner Kreuzigung fuhrte.

Studien zur Christologie

Claus-Jürgen Thornton

English summary: The fifth volume of Martin Hengel's Selected Writings contains 27 studies which concern Jesus as a person, his works and the four Gospels. These studies were written over a period of 55 years. They focus on the historical Jesus and also deal with the trends in the Gospels and the circumstances surrounding their origins. The studies evolved primarily from lectures given by the author and thus reflect a part of his scholarly development, his arguments and his interests. At the same time they show that the way he deals with philology and history, the question concerning the truth of the Gospel and his opinions of contemporary issues cannot be separated from the author's theological existence, and that it is this interaction which makes his exegetical and theological work so productive. German description: Der funfte Band der Kleinen Schriften von Martin Hengel enthalt in chronologischer Reihenfolge ihrer Entstehung 27 Studien, die die Person und das Wirken Jesu und die vier Evangelien betreffen. Samtliche Beitrage sind durchgesehen und einzelne auch teilweise erganzt. Entstanden sind sie in einem Zeitraum von 45 Jahren. Sie behandeln sowohl besondere, oft umstrittene Texte als auch ubergreifende Probleme und konzentrieren sich dabei auf Jesus selbst, fragen aber auch nach der Tendenz der Evangelien und den Umstanden ihrer Entstehung. Die ersten beiden Untersuchungen entstanden zu einer Zeit, als der Autor noch nicht wusste, ob er aus den opera aliena der Wirtschaft in die wissenschaftliche Theologie zuruckkehren konnte. Dem dritten Beitrag liegt die Probevorlesung bei der Habilitation im Januar 1967 zugrunde, der vierte enthalt die Tubinger Antrittsvorlesung im Mai desselben Jahres, der achte geht auf die Antrittsvorlesung in Erlangen im Mai 1973 zuruck. Diese Studien spiegeln so auch ein Stuck der wissenschaftlichen Entwicklung des Autors, seiner Auseinandersetzungen und Interessen wider, und sie zeigen zugleich, dass strenge philologische und historische Arbeit, die Frage nach der Wahrheit des Evangeliums und die Stellungnahme zu brennenden Zeitfragen sich von der etheologischen Existenz' des Verfassers nicht trennen lassen, sondern stets in einem inneren Bezug zu dieser stehen. Nur durch diese enge Verbindung wird exegetische und theologische Arbeit in gegenseitiger Wechselwirkung fruchtbar.

Jesus und die Evangelien

Thomas Trapp

Given that Peter fades from view halfway through the book of Acts and that he left no gospel account in his name, it is tempting for many biblical scholars to dismiss him as a vague figure in Christian history and downplay his influence in the early church. Martin Hengel rejects this underestimation of the apostle and argues that Peter was in fact the Rock, central to the development of both the Jewish and the Gentile Christian communities. Hengel clearly shows how each of the four gospels specifically highlights Peter's foundational role. He considers what Peter's message must have been as an eyewitness of Christ, reflects on Peter's theology, and draws attention to Peter's work as an organizer and mission strategist. Hengel also examines the contributions of married apostles ù like Peter ù and their family communities to the rapid and enduring spread of the Christian message.

The Underestimated Apostle

Saint Peter

im Judentum, Urchristentum und in der hellenistischen Welt

Königsherrschaft Gottes und himmlischer Kult

This is the fascinating story of a group of reformers who tried to go too fast, bungled their reform, and so changed the course of history. Hengel's thesis is that Hellenistic influences were, and had been for centuries, smoothly penetrating Judaism even in Jerusalem; there was respect on both sides between Jew and Greek. Then the Greek party tried to go too fast, make Hellenization obligatory and outlaw the Law. This occasioned a furious defensive reaction; Judaism clammed up, became xenophobic and rigoristic, producing the attitude which in its turn created the defensive reaction of anti-Semitism which has stained so many centuries. The defensive rigidity set up in Judaism made it unable to respond to Jesus' creative reinterpretation of the Law, and so led to the rejection of Christianity. This is a truly important scholarly work. The exhaustive collection of evidence will make it a fundamental textbook for the period' (The Tablet). `A foundation book and essential as a source book and as a guide to trends in present research' (The Expository Times). Martin Hengel was Professor of New Testament and Early Judaism in the University of Tubingen.

Martin Hengel

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