Jonathan Numada is Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at
Northwest Seminary and College in Langley, British Columbia,
Canada.
"Jonathan Numada offers a brave and fascinating study of Jewish
self-categorizations found in Hellenistic Diaspora Jewish
literature. Using social identity theory and self-categorization
theory, Numada asks--What did it mean to be a 'jew' in Egypt, Asia
Minor, and Rome. He then turns to John's Gospel to examine the
presentation of 'the Jews' in this text. At a time when Judaism was
still attractive to the Jewish believers in Jesus, the Gospel's
polemic sets up a clear choice for Jews--choose Jesus and his
fidelity to ancestral teaching, or choose Caesar. This study
changes the usual 'two-level drama' paradigm."
--Mary Coloe, University of Divinity, Melbourne
"How can John's Gospel so frequently speak of 'the Jews' overall in
a negative light, especially as those who rejected Jesus? Numada
applies social identity theory to this vexed question, making
substantial progress toward a solution. While still using
thoroughly Jewish categories, the Fourth Gospel selects different
elements (or at least refocuses existing elements) from those
individuals who most opposed Jesus, in order to depict what most
constituted Judaism. In so doing, he shows that those truest to
their Jewish heritage have good reasons for following Jesus, while
the differences between unbelieving Jews and Gentiles diminish in
the process. This is an important study that repays careful
reading."
--Craig L. Blomberg, Denver Seminary
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