Authority and Tradition in First Century Judaism and Christianity

Abstract

In first century Judaism and Christianity authority and tradition served as stability factors at a time when these communities experienced dynamic growth and internal development. Studies by cultural anthropologists of first century Mediterranean societies provide a key to understanding these stability factors. The present study focuses on such questions as how religion functioned institutionally, how Judaism and early Christian communities adaptively expressed their religious traditions, and what impact Jesus had on his followers as an authority figure. In conclusion, drawing out implications for biblical theology, it is suggested that a progressive principle of adaptability is typically at work in both Jewish and Christian communities, which shapes tradition and authority, both of which might otherwise become static and peripheral as the types of awareness and needs of the believing communities change.