Focusing on early Christian intellectuals, the book delves into their cosmological perspectives and highlights the significant contributions of women. It examines the vibrant influence of Jewish thought and the enduring legacy of Greek philosophy during the formative years of Christianity, showcasing the interplay of these diverse intellectual traditions.
This work first addresses the unity of 2 Maccabees, arguing that the epitome is a unified piece, separate from the prefixed letters. The author then explores the syntax and style of the epitome, noting rhetorical features and arguing that the work uses a nicety of syntax associated with classical, literary writers. The analysis of the narrative reveals a three-fold structure: (a) 2 Macc 3--the attack of Heliodorus; (b) 2 Macc 4:1--10:9--the profanation of the temple and its purification; (c) 2 Macc 10:10--15:36--the defense of the temple. Besides the theme of the defense of the temple, this analysis also revealed the theme defending the Jews against attacks that they are anti-social. Finally, the author explores the epitome in relation to Hellenistic historiography. He argues against the notion that the epitome of 2 Maccabees belongs to the genre of 'pathetic history,' and instead demonstrates that the work belongs to the sub-genre of the defense of a temple by its god.
Focusing on the Maccabean revolt against Seleucid rule, Robert Doran's commentary on 2 Maccabees delves into the historical and literary significance of this pivotal moment in early Jewish history. Through meticulous philological analysis of the text's elegant Greek, Doran evaluates the authenticity of the events described while highlighting the narrative's dramatic and rhetorical elements. This exploration offers insights into both the historical context and the historiographical methods used in the document.
Doran works out a starting point for a contemporary theology of history and proposes a new application of the 'psychological analogy' for understanding the Christian doctrine of the Trinity.