The Parting of the Ways or the Ways that Never Parted? Jews and Christians in the first centuries CE - Einzelansicht

Did Jews and Christians ever part? The seminar will discuss this topic against the background of recent discussion which has questioned the im­age of ”the parting(s) of the ways” between Juda­ism and Christianity. One objection against this model is that it accentuates the differences at the expense of commonalities. Another critique is that it looks from a later perspective on histori­cal developments which can hardly be grasped by such a model. Perhaps distinctions between Jews, Christians, Jewish Christians, Christian Jews and the like are more blurred than the image of ”the parting of ways” might suggest. Maybe the ways never parted ?

In light of these considerations the seminar will discuss the cogency of the ‘parting of the ways’-model and ask whether there might be more appropriate metaphors to describe the rela­tionships of Jews and Christians in the first two centuries C.E.

Dear Students,

these are exceptional times. As you know the semester will begin on the 20. April. Since by then we most likely will not yet be able to meet for class on campus - online provisions are being prepared. For this seminar this means that I will discuss with the group when best to hold online seminars via Zoom. In order for me to know who is interested to participate in this seminar please register either via

• the moodle site for the seminar ( it will be open access for the time being and you can self-enrol there). Please do this as soon as possible - before the 20. April; I will then get in touch with you - and discuss how to proceed. Zoom meetings will be complemented by periods of self-study - the material will be availble for you on moodle. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact me via e-mail - kehrensp@uni-potsdam.de.
• of course you can also register on the 20.4. via PULS - but again do this on the day so I can get in touch with you.

Stay healthy - best wishes - Kathy Ehrensperger

NEW INFORMATION:

THE SEMINAR WILL MEET VIA ZOOM ON WEDNESDAYS FROM 12.15-13.30 ! Anybody interested can still join!

• Becker, Adam, Reed Annette Y., The Ways that Never Parted. Jews and Christians in Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages.Tübingen 2003
• Boyarin, Daniel,Borderlines. The Partition of Judaeo-Christianity. Philadelphia 2004.
• Cohen, Shaye D. The Beginnings of Jewishness. Berkley 1999
• Fredriksen, Paula,When Christians were Jews. The First Generation. New Haven, CT 2018
• Tomson, Peter, Schwartz, Joshua eds., Jews and Christians in the First and Second Centuries. How to Write their History. Leiden: Brill 2014
• Tomson, Peter, Schwartz, Joshua, eds., Jews and Christians in the First and Second Centuries. The Interbellum 70-132 CE, Leiden 2018

The texts discussed in the seminar will be availble on moodle.

Regular participation - also online, self-directed study, one short essay (ca 10 pages) or an online presentation (via zoom).