General Editors' Preface

Summary

The three general editors of the Cambridge Bible Commentary series have all, in their teaching, experienced a lack of readily usable texts of the literature which is often called pseudepigrapha but which is more accurately defined as extra-biblical or para-biblical literature. The aim of this new series is to help fill this gap.

The welcome accorded to the Cambridge Bible Commentary has encouraged the editors to follow the same pattern here, except that carefully chosen extracts from the texts, rather than complete books have normally been provided for comment. The introductory material leads naturally into the text, which itself leads into alternating sections of commentary.

Within the severe limits imposed by the size and scope of the series, each contributor will attempt to provide for the student and general reader the results of modern scholarship, but has been asked to assume no specialized theological or linguistic knowledge.

The volumes already planned cover the writings of the Jewish and Christian World from about 200 BC to AD 200 and are being edited as follows:

1. Jews in the Hellenistic World – J. R. Bartlett, Trinity College, Dublin

2. The Qumran Community – M. A. Knibb, King's College, London

3. Early Rabbinic Writings – H. Maccoby, Leo Baeck College, London

4. Outside the Old Testament – M. de Jonge, University of Leiden

5. Outside the New Testament – G. N. Stanton, King's College, London

6. Jews and Christians: Graeco-Roman Views – M. Whittaker, University of Nottingham

A seventh volume by one of the general editors, A. R. C. Leaney, The Jewish and Christian World 200 BC to AD 200, examines the wider historical and literary background to the period and includes tables of dates, relevant lists and maps.