Includes bibliographical references and index.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS -- ABBREVIATIONS -- INTRODUCTION TO P.OXY. 840 -- I. History of Interpretation -- A. Initial Interest (1908-1914); B. Subsequent Neglect (1914-1986); C. Occasional Attention (1986-2003); D. Summary -- II. Purpose of this Study -- CHAPTER ONE: THE CODICOLOGY AND PALAEOGRAPHY OF P.OXY. 840 -- I. The Form of P.Oxy. 840: Codex -- II. The Material of P.Oxy. 840: Parchment -- III. The Size of P.Oxy. 840 -- A. Amulets; B. Miniature Codices; C. Blau and Preuschen; D. Summary -- IV. The Hand of P.Oxy. 840 -- V. The Punctuation of P.Oxy. 840 -- A. Enlarged First Letter; B. Spaces Between Sentences; C. Coloring; D. Points; E. Accents/Breathing Marks; F. Diplh; G. Diairesis; H. Summary -- VI. Scribal Habits of P.Oxy. 840 -- A. Corrections; B. Inconsistencies -- VII. Abbreviations in P.Oxy. 840 -- A. Nomina Sacra; B. Omitted -- VIII. Conclusions -- CHAPTER TWO: TEXT AND TRANSLATION OF P.OXY. 840 -- I. The Text -- A. Diplomatic Text; B. Reading Text; C. English Translation -- II. Commentary -- A. Line 1; B. Lines 2-3; C. Lines 3-7; D. Lines 7-12; E. Lines 12-16; F. Lines 16-21; G. Lines 21-24; H. Lines 24-30; I. Lines 30-34; J. Lines 34-41; K. Lines 41-45 -- CHAPTER THREE: THE HISTORICAL PROBLEMS OF P.OXY. 840 -- I. Pharisaic High Priest -- A. Definition of arciereuj; B. The Combination of Pharisee and Chief Priest -- II. Temple Layout and the "Holy Vessels" -- A. agia skeuh; B. agneuthrion -- III. Ceremonial Washing and the "Pool of David" -- A. The Pool of David as a Miqveh; B. Dogs and Pigs in the Pool of David -- IV. Restrictions on Entering the Temple -- A. Immersion Before Entering the Temple; B. Dressing in White Garments; C. The Essenes; D. Foot Washing -- V. Conclusion -- CHAPTER FOUR: THE RELATIONSHIP OF P.OXY. 840 TO THE CANONICAL GOSPELS -- I. Pericope 1 (l.1-7) -- A. Textual Relationships: Vocabulary, Phraseology, Grammar; B. Literary Form/Structure; C. Origins of the Tradition -- II. Pericope 2 (l.7-45) -- A. Textual Relationships: Vocabulary, Phraseology, Grammar; B. Five Canonical Passages (1. Luke 11:37-52;2. Matt 23:13-22; 3. John 7:1-52; 4. John 13:10; 5. Mark 7:1-23; 6. Summary)C. Literary Form/Structure; D. Origins of the Tradition -- III. Conclusion -- CHAPTER FIVE: TOWARDS PLACING P.OXY. 840 WITHIN EARLY CHRISTIANITY -- I. The Community of P.Oxy. 840 -- A. Early Heretical Groups; B. Jewish-Christian; C. Which Jewish-Christian Community?; D. Who Were the Opponents of P.Oxy. 840?; E. Summary and Conclusions -- II. Comparison of P.Oxy. 840 to Analogous Apocryphal Gospels -- A. Gospel of Peter; B. P. Egerton 2; C. Jewish-Christian Gospels; D. The Long Ending of Mark; E. The Pericope of the Adulterous Woman -- III. Summary and Conclusions -- APPENDIX -- FIGURE 1 -- FIGURE 2 -- IS P.OXY. 840 A REDACTION OF AN EARLIER APOCRYPHAL STORY? -- BIBLIOGRAPHY -- INDICES.

This volume is the first complete analysis of the apocryphal gospel fragment P.Oxy. 840 since its initial discovery nearly a century ago. The fragment recounts a dispute over ritual purity between Jesus and a Pharisaic chief priest in the temple. After an examination of prior research, this work explores the various palaeographical and historical questions raised by this apocryphal story and also offers a new Greek edition and English translation. In particular, P.Oxy. 840's controversial descriptions of ritual purity practices in Herod's temple are evaluated in light of what is known of first-century Judaism. After comparing the text with similar passages in the canonical gospels, the origins of this non-canonical story are traced to second-century Jewish-Christian groups that shared its theological and polemical thrust.

Description based on print version record.