A First-Century Synagogue in Capernaum? Issues of Historical Method in the Interpretation of the Archaeological and Literary Data
(2021) In Judaisme Ancien - Ancient Judaism 9. p.7-48- Abstract
- The question with which I am centrally concerned in this article is whether a first-century synagogue, understood as both a purpose-built structure and a formal institution of assembly, once stood in Capernaum beneath the site of its later limestone synagogue. I assess the question anew by providing methodological reflection from the perspective of Collingwoodian critical historiography. In section 2, I briefly present some of the most important aspects of Collingwood’s historical method, as well as a model of first-century synagogues based upon recent synagogue scholarship. I then use the method and the model to weigh the archaeological evidence in section 3 and the literary evidence of the Gospels in section 4. In section 5, I present my... (More)
- The question with which I am centrally concerned in this article is whether a first-century synagogue, understood as both a purpose-built structure and a formal institution of assembly, once stood in Capernaum beneath the site of its later limestone synagogue. I assess the question anew by providing methodological reflection from the perspective of Collingwoodian critical historiography. In section 2, I briefly present some of the most important aspects of Collingwood’s historical method, as well as a model of first-century synagogues based upon recent synagogue scholarship. I then use the method and the model to weigh the archaeological evidence in section 3 and the literary evidence of the Gospels in section 4. In section 5, I present my conclusion, which, while not novel in and of itself, emerges from the application of a method that, I suggest, helps to reset the terms of the debate over the presence of a first-century synagogue in Capernaum. (Less)
- Abstract (Swedish)
- Abstract in French
La question qui m’occupe dans cet article est de savoir si une synagogue du premier siècle, comprise à la fois comme une structure construite à cet effet et une institution formelle d’assemblée, se trouvait autrefois à Capharnaüm sous le site de la dernière synagogue en calcaire. J’évalue la question à frais nouveaux en apportant une réflexion méthodologique dans la perspective de l’historiographie critique collingwoodienne. Dans la section 2, je présente brièvement quelques-uns des aspects les plus importants de la méthode historique de Collingwood, ainsi qu’un modèle de synagogues du premier siècle fondé sur l’état récent de la recherche sur les synagogues. J’utilise ensuite la méthode et le modèle pour examiner... (More) - Abstract in French
La question qui m’occupe dans cet article est de savoir si une synagogue du premier siècle, comprise à la fois comme une structure construite à cet effet et une institution formelle d’assemblée, se trouvait autrefois à Capharnaüm sous le site de la dernière synagogue en calcaire. J’évalue la question à frais nouveaux en apportant une réflexion méthodologique dans la perspective de l’historiographie critique collingwoodienne. Dans la section 2, je présente brièvement quelques-uns des aspects les plus importants de la méthode historique de Collingwood, ainsi qu’un modèle de synagogues du premier siècle fondé sur l’état récent de la recherche sur les synagogues. J’utilise ensuite la méthode et le modèle pour examiner les données archéologiques dans la section 3 et les preuves littéraires des Évangiles dans la section 4. Dans la section 5, je présente ma conclusion, qui, bien que n’étant pas nouvelle en soi, provient de l’application d’une méthode qui, je suggère, aide à reposer les termes du débat sur la présence d’une synagogue du ier siècle à Capharnaüm. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/1790b33c-830a-4143-a1b7-93b626a3dd6c
- author
- Cirafesi, Wally V. LU
- publishing date
- 2021
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Judaisme Ancien - Ancient Judaism
- volume
- 9
- pages
- 42 pages
- publisher
- Brepols Publishers
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85126662206
- ISSN
- 2294-9321
- DOI
- 10.1484/J.JAAJ.5.127562
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 2021, Brepols Publishers. All rights reserved.
- id
- 1790b33c-830a-4143-a1b7-93b626a3dd6c
- date added to LUP
- 2024-01-24 12:31:29
- date last changed
- 2025-04-04 15:11:20
@article{1790b33c-830a-4143-a1b7-93b626a3dd6c,
abstract = {{The question with which I am centrally concerned in this article is whether a first-century synagogue, understood as both a purpose-built structure and a formal institution of assembly, once stood in Capernaum beneath the site of its later limestone synagogue. I assess the question anew by providing methodological reflection from the perspective of Collingwoodian critical historiography. In section 2, I briefly present some of the most important aspects of Collingwood’s historical method, as well as a model of first-century synagogues based upon recent synagogue scholarship. I then use the method and the model to weigh the archaeological evidence in section 3 and the literary evidence of the Gospels in section 4. In section 5, I present my conclusion, which, while not novel in and of itself, emerges from the application of a method that, I suggest, helps to reset the terms of the debate over the presence of a first-century synagogue in Capernaum.}},
author = {{Cirafesi, Wally V.}},
issn = {{2294-9321}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{7--48}},
publisher = {{Brepols Publishers}},
series = {{Judaisme Ancien - Ancient Judaism}},
title = {{A First-Century Synagogue in Capernaum? Issues of Historical Method in the Interpretation of the Archaeological and Literary Data}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1484/J.JAAJ.5.127562}},
doi = {{10.1484/J.JAAJ.5.127562}},
volume = {{9}},
year = {{2021}},
}