Cecilia Wassen | Uppsala University (original) (raw)

Papers by Cecilia Wassen

Scholars usually take for granted that the sectarian members of the Qumran movement ate their com... more Scholars usually take for granted that the sectarian members of the Qumran movement ate their common meals in full purity at a level that is often compared to that of the priests serving in the temple. This assumption rests on the interpretation of hatohorah, “the purity,” as pertaining to common meals. But a careful study of a range of texts, including the important Tohorot A, leads to a more nuanced picture. Accordingly, it is important to distinguish between the common,
everyday meals of the movement and the special meals. Whereas a mild level of impurity of the participants was accepted at the ordinary type of communal meals, special meals required purity. Even at these pure meals, there were variations concerning the required level of purity
depending on the occasion.

Jesus' attitude towards purity practices is a hotly debated issue. The majority of scholars argue... more Jesus' attitude towards purity practices is a hotly debated issue. The majority of scholars argue that Jesus challenged purity halakhah in some way. One of the proofs cited to support the position that Jesus allegedly disregarded purity laws is that he ate with " tax collectors and sinners. " Whereas purity concerns are not explicit on the story level in the texts, many scholars still find Jesus' actions contradictory to the norms. This paper discusses if purity plays a part, and if so how, in Jesus' sharing meals with people considered sinners. As I will show, purity concerns only play a minor role in Jesus' meal practice and there is nothing in his behaviour that indicates that he somehow challenged purity norms, only social norms.

Essays on Septuagint, Hebrew Bible, and Dead Sea Scrolls in Honour of Raija Sollamo, 2008

T oday it is commonplace for historical Jesus scholars to emphasize Jesus' Jewishness. at the sam... more T oday it is commonplace for historical Jesus scholars to emphasize Jesus' Jewishness. at the same time most new Testament scholars deny that he cared about the Jewish purity system, which was a central aspect of early Judaism. This article examines how such a reconstruction of the historical Jesus would influence his Jewishness, arguing that it indeed would make such a Jesus figure 'less Jewish'. The article also investigates questions concerning what Jewish identity in the late second Temple period entails and how we may characterize the Judaism of Jesus' time, especi­ ally in relation to purity concerns. Finally, i examine key Gospel texts that are commonly used as evidence to prove Jesus' alleged disinterest in purity laws. On the basis of a proper understanding of how the purity system functioned in Jesus' time, i conclude that there is no evidence for the view that Jesus was disinterested in matters of purity; quite the opposite.

1.1. Occurrences and Semantic Field – 1.2. Morphology and Frequency of Construct Forms – 1.3. Sy... more 1.1. Occurrences and Semantic Field – 1.2. Morphology and Frequency of Construct Forms – 1.3. Synonyms – 2. Usage –2.1 Affinity between Angels and Humans – 2.2. Various Functions of Angels – 2.3. Biblical Stories Retold – 2.4. Evil Angels and Principal Powers

Angels in the Dead Sea Scrolls. An article in English about: Limites et synergies entre les anges... more Angels in the Dead Sea Scrolls. An article in English about: Limites et synergies entre les anges et les humains Selon la tradition biblique, en tant que messagers de Dieu, les anges jouent un rôle important dans les rapports de celui-ci avec le monde. À l'époque du Second Temple, l'intérêt pour les anges s'est développé de façon considérable; les sectaires de Qumrân ont partagé cet intérêt et, comme d'autres auteurs juifs, ils ont élaboré des spéculations détaillées à propos des habitants de la sphère céleste. Ce chapitre présente une vue d'ensemble des idées sur les anges dans les manuscrits de la mer Morte, en s'attardant particulièrement à leurs divers rôles et aux fonctions qui leur sont assignées. Les spéculations sur les anges inclu-ent des idées à propos des hiérarchies angéliques dans lesquelles les archanges, qui sont parfois nommés, apparaissent comme des forces puissantes. Les anges remplissent diff érentes tâches telles que celles de servir comme prêtres dans un temple céleste et de constituer l'armée céleste. Ils peuvent aussi apporter des bienfaits aux justes en les protégeant contre les forces du mal et en les guidant dans le droit chemin. Un phénomène important est celui de l'intersection des domaines céleste et terrestre: cela apparaît dans plusieurs documents qui présentent la communion entre les anges et les humains comme une réalité. Pour ces auteurs, les anges représentent d'une certaine manière l'immanence du divin, ce qui est en contraste avec la nature transcendante de Dieu.

Judiska renhetsregler under Jesus tid Nya testamentet är både välbekant och främmande för de som ... more Judiska renhetsregler under Jesus tid Nya testamentet är både välbekant och främmande för de som predikar och de som deltar i gudstjänst överhuvud-taget. Till det välbekanta hör berättelserna om hur hur Jesus möter människor, botar sjukdom och för människor in i gemenskap. Men i dessa välbekanta berättelser möter vi hela tiden det främmande, till exempel föreställningar om rent och orent med ursprung i Tredje och Fjärde Mosebok. I predikan kan föreställningar om rent och orent, särskilt när de kopplas till kvinnor, framställas som exkluderande och diskriminerande. Men vad säger forskningen idag om hur dessa föreställningar kan förstås och vad betydde de i vardagen för Jesus och hans samtida. I denna artikel ger docent Cecilia Wassén en översikt över aktuell forskning om dessa frågor. I nästa nummer av Svensk Kyrkotid-ning följer vi upp med en artikel om Jesu förhållande till judisk lag mer generellt av Thomas Kazen.

Pages 173–203 in Northern Lights on the Dead Sea Scrolls: Proceedings of the Nordic Qumran Network 2003–2006. Eds. A. K. Petersen, et al. STDJ 80. Leiden: Brill, 2009., 2009

Books by Cecilia Wassen

In this newly translated and expanded version of a volume previously published in Swedish, Cecili... more In this newly translated and expanded version of a volume previously published in Swedish, Cecilia Wassén and Tobias Hägerland consider Jesus as an apocalyptic prophetic figure within the context of first-century Judaism and reconstruct the life of Jesus from his birth to his death, with a focus on understanding him in the context of his own time and place. Engaging critically with the sources, they examine key events of Jesus’ life in order and draw together the threads of scholarly discussion on the history, archaeology and geography of first-century Galilee, forming a complete picture of Jesus' world suitable for non-specialists and university students.

Wassén and Hägerland provide a strictly historical reconstruction, distinguishing between the rhetorical aims of the New Testament texts and the information about the past these texts contain. They enhance the texts surrounding Jesus in the context of first-century Galilee with historical and archaeological reflections and discussion, including penetrating insights from the Dead Sea Scrolls. Illustrated throughout with photographs taken by the authors specifically to offer insights into the world of Jesus and the New Testament writings, Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet provides a deeply informed introduction to Jesus in his first-century context.

Scholars usually take for granted that the sectarian members of the Qumran movement ate their com... more Scholars usually take for granted that the sectarian members of the Qumran movement ate their common meals in full purity at a level that is often compared to that of the priests serving in the temple. This assumption rests on the interpretation of hatohorah, “the purity,” as pertaining to common meals. But a careful study of a range of texts, including the important Tohorot A, leads to a more nuanced picture. Accordingly, it is important to distinguish between the common,
everyday meals of the movement and the special meals. Whereas a mild level of impurity of the participants was accepted at the ordinary type of communal meals, special meals required purity. Even at these pure meals, there were variations concerning the required level of purity
depending on the occasion.

Jesus' attitude towards purity practices is a hotly debated issue. The majority of scholars argue... more Jesus' attitude towards purity practices is a hotly debated issue. The majority of scholars argue that Jesus challenged purity halakhah in some way. One of the proofs cited to support the position that Jesus allegedly disregarded purity laws is that he ate with " tax collectors and sinners. " Whereas purity concerns are not explicit on the story level in the texts, many scholars still find Jesus' actions contradictory to the norms. This paper discusses if purity plays a part, and if so how, in Jesus' sharing meals with people considered sinners. As I will show, purity concerns only play a minor role in Jesus' meal practice and there is nothing in his behaviour that indicates that he somehow challenged purity norms, only social norms.

Essays on Septuagint, Hebrew Bible, and Dead Sea Scrolls in Honour of Raija Sollamo, 2008

T oday it is commonplace for historical Jesus scholars to emphasize Jesus' Jewishness. at the sam... more T oday it is commonplace for historical Jesus scholars to emphasize Jesus' Jewishness. at the same time most new Testament scholars deny that he cared about the Jewish purity system, which was a central aspect of early Judaism. This article examines how such a reconstruction of the historical Jesus would influence his Jewishness, arguing that it indeed would make such a Jesus figure 'less Jewish'. The article also investigates questions concerning what Jewish identity in the late second Temple period entails and how we may characterize the Judaism of Jesus' time, especi­ ally in relation to purity concerns. Finally, i examine key Gospel texts that are commonly used as evidence to prove Jesus' alleged disinterest in purity laws. On the basis of a proper understanding of how the purity system functioned in Jesus' time, i conclude that there is no evidence for the view that Jesus was disinterested in matters of purity; quite the opposite.

1.1. Occurrences and Semantic Field – 1.2. Morphology and Frequency of Construct Forms – 1.3. Sy... more 1.1. Occurrences and Semantic Field – 1.2. Morphology and Frequency of Construct Forms – 1.3. Synonyms – 2. Usage –2.1 Affinity between Angels and Humans – 2.2. Various Functions of Angels – 2.3. Biblical Stories Retold – 2.4. Evil Angels and Principal Powers

Angels in the Dead Sea Scrolls. An article in English about: Limites et synergies entre les anges... more Angels in the Dead Sea Scrolls. An article in English about: Limites et synergies entre les anges et les humains Selon la tradition biblique, en tant que messagers de Dieu, les anges jouent un rôle important dans les rapports de celui-ci avec le monde. À l'époque du Second Temple, l'intérêt pour les anges s'est développé de façon considérable; les sectaires de Qumrân ont partagé cet intérêt et, comme d'autres auteurs juifs, ils ont élaboré des spéculations détaillées à propos des habitants de la sphère céleste. Ce chapitre présente une vue d'ensemble des idées sur les anges dans les manuscrits de la mer Morte, en s'attardant particulièrement à leurs divers rôles et aux fonctions qui leur sont assignées. Les spéculations sur les anges inclu-ent des idées à propos des hiérarchies angéliques dans lesquelles les archanges, qui sont parfois nommés, apparaissent comme des forces puissantes. Les anges remplissent diff érentes tâches telles que celles de servir comme prêtres dans un temple céleste et de constituer l'armée céleste. Ils peuvent aussi apporter des bienfaits aux justes en les protégeant contre les forces du mal et en les guidant dans le droit chemin. Un phénomène important est celui de l'intersection des domaines céleste et terrestre: cela apparaît dans plusieurs documents qui présentent la communion entre les anges et les humains comme une réalité. Pour ces auteurs, les anges représentent d'une certaine manière l'immanence du divin, ce qui est en contraste avec la nature transcendante de Dieu.

Judiska renhetsregler under Jesus tid Nya testamentet är både välbekant och främmande för de som ... more Judiska renhetsregler under Jesus tid Nya testamentet är både välbekant och främmande för de som predikar och de som deltar i gudstjänst överhuvud-taget. Till det välbekanta hör berättelserna om hur hur Jesus möter människor, botar sjukdom och för människor in i gemenskap. Men i dessa välbekanta berättelser möter vi hela tiden det främmande, till exempel föreställningar om rent och orent med ursprung i Tredje och Fjärde Mosebok. I predikan kan föreställningar om rent och orent, särskilt när de kopplas till kvinnor, framställas som exkluderande och diskriminerande. Men vad säger forskningen idag om hur dessa föreställningar kan förstås och vad betydde de i vardagen för Jesus och hans samtida. I denna artikel ger docent Cecilia Wassén en översikt över aktuell forskning om dessa frågor. I nästa nummer av Svensk Kyrkotid-ning följer vi upp med en artikel om Jesu förhållande till judisk lag mer generellt av Thomas Kazen.

Pages 173–203 in Northern Lights on the Dead Sea Scrolls: Proceedings of the Nordic Qumran Network 2003–2006. Eds. A. K. Petersen, et al. STDJ 80. Leiden: Brill, 2009., 2009

In this newly translated and expanded version of a volume previously published in Swedish, Cecili... more In this newly translated and expanded version of a volume previously published in Swedish, Cecilia Wassén and Tobias Hägerland consider Jesus as an apocalyptic prophetic figure within the context of first-century Judaism and reconstruct the life of Jesus from his birth to his death, with a focus on understanding him in the context of his own time and place. Engaging critically with the sources, they examine key events of Jesus’ life in order and draw together the threads of scholarly discussion on the history, archaeology and geography of first-century Galilee, forming a complete picture of Jesus' world suitable for non-specialists and university students.

Wassén and Hägerland provide a strictly historical reconstruction, distinguishing between the rhetorical aims of the New Testament texts and the information about the past these texts contain. They enhance the texts surrounding Jesus in the context of first-century Galilee with historical and archaeological reflections and discussion, including penetrating insights from the Dead Sea Scrolls. Illustrated throughout with photographs taken by the authors specifically to offer insights into the world of Jesus and the New Testament writings, Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet provides a deeply informed introduction to Jesus in his first-century context.