“It Is Not Right For a Man Who Worships God to Repay His Neighbor Evil For Evil”: Christian Ethics in Joseph and Aseneth (Chapters 22–29)

Full title
“It Is Not Right For a Man Who Worships God to Repay His Neighbor Evil For Evil”: Christian Ethics in Joseph and Aseneth (Chapters 22–29)
Updated By
Research notes

NR\Reader Checked\12/11/2014

Reference type
Author(s)
Nir, Rivka
Year
2013
Journal / Book Title || Series Title
Journal of Hebrew Scriptures
Volume
13
Abbreviated Series Name
JHS
Pages
http://www.jhsonline.org/Articles/article_185.pdf
Work type
Label
27/10/2014
Abstract

This article argues for the Christian provenance of chapters 22–29 of Joseph and Aseneth. In particular, the article interprets these chapters as promoting the adoption of Christian ethics toward enemies as a means for obtaining salvation in the Church, which is personified by Aseneth. Framing this notion is the recurring formula, “It is not right for a man who worships God to . . .” This repetitive pattern draws the whole book into a coherent literary and ideological unit, and highlights the key principles of Christian ethics that it intends to convey.