I notice that the only other reviewer complains about this being an academic book written mainly for other academics. He then suggests that such books should not be offered in the same market as "books for laymen". Shocking attitude if you ask me. In a world such as he wishes for, truth would be available only to the wealthy elite, I suppose.
Yes, this is a tough book to read and one has to have at least a smattering of Greek and Latin and dictionaries or interlinear translations. But it truly is a "killer" book to my way of thinking; but then, I've been researching Christianity and ancient history for over 30 years. And I tell you, I am really, really glad to have this book available to me for less that 400 bux or more; serious academic books that are not published "in the same market as boos for the laymen" cost that much. So the other reviewer should be overjoyed to get this much dense information at such a bargain price!
And no, the book is not about "how to write a book, research a book, and organize a book"... I guess the other reviewer really was unable to get anything out of it, but that isn't the fault of the book or the author in this case. 'Nuff said.
Anyway, onto the book: Mason is more or less a historical minimalist: if there's no proof to corroborate a text, proceed with extreme caution. In the field of Biblical studies, this is a rather novel idea. He examines some specific problems with Josephus as a historian who was heavily influenced by the rhetorical norms of the time and he takes up the issue of Josephus' audience who more or less determined for him the shape and contents of his writing. This must be what confused the previous reviewer because Mason DOES discuss how ancient books were written and published which is a fascinating process in itself.
In the "Judean" part of the book, Mason takes up the problem of when, where, and how the term "Judaism" came to be utilized and that, too, is a rather fascinating topic. It seems that it was coined for a specific type of persuasive activity and carried pejorative connotations. This word was later adopted by the early Church Fathers, beginning with Tertullian, as a description of something limited, static, and without redeeming value. The ramifications of that were far reaching.
I'll add more to this later when I actually finish the book. I'm 2/3 way through and just came to purchase another copy for an interested friend and saw the ridiculous review and felt I had to add a corrective. So far, I'm getting as much out of this book as if I had taken a college course so believe me, it is worth WAY MORE than the price! But then, as the previous reviewer reveals, not everybody wants to go to college!
ADDED after completing the book: I still feel that this book is a five star work in an of itself. There is so much detailed background information that Mason provides that it is worth reading carefully just for that. However, one gets the feeling toward the end that he is preparing wiggle room in his examination of the agreements between the Lukan author and Josephus. He writes:
"Luke was familiar with the later volumes of Josephus's 'Antiquities'. Whether he knew Josephus's work or not, *Luke's account of Jesus'* relationship with the Pharisees and chief priests *is independent, reflecting assumptions that he at least partly acquired from elsewhere*. It is important for historical consideration that these agreements are in matters assumed by Luke and Josephus: neither author is interested in the Pharisees, Sadducees, or Sanhedrin in and of themselves; they use these figures as part of the understood scenery of first-century Palestine. Far from inflating the Pharisees' influence out of a desire to support them, for example, both authors assume it in order to complain about it. ...
"This summary of agreements between Luke and Josephus is of course not yet historical reconstructtion. My goal has been to help prepare for historical reasoning about the Judean leadership groups by clarifying their functions in two of the most important narrative collections on the issue."
I have placed asterisks on either side of the problematic statement. Considering the fact that Mason undertakes long and detailed arguments about everybody else's failures of historical methodology, this stands out like a sore thumb. How can Mason, the arch methodologist, with such a vast repertoire of data about the period in question, even suggest that Luke is independent of Josephus? Or, for that matter, Matthew as well?
Nevertheless, as I said, a book well worth reading; well-written, clear and just chock full of info and references for more extensive study of the topic.
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