Oral and Written Communication and Transmission of Knowledge in Ancient Judaism and Christianity

Main author: Hezser, Catherine
Format: Journal Article           
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id eprints-10435
recordtype eprints
institution SOAS, University of London
collection SOAS Research Online
language English
language_search English
description This paper examines the contexts of oral communication and the use of written messages in Josephus’ writings, the New Testament, and rabbinic literature, and discusses the possible reasons for using orality or writing in the respective Jewish and Christian contexts in antiquity. It is argued that an individual’s social power depended on his position within the communication network and his ability to control and manipulate the dissemination of knowledge among his co-religionists. Mobility was an important means of creating these networks and the most mobile rabbis would have been the most well-connected.
format Journal Article
author Hezser, Catherine
author_facet Hezser, Catherine
authorStr Hezser, Catherine
author_letter Hezser, Catherine
title Oral and Written Communication and Transmission of Knowledge in Ancient Judaism and Christianity
publisher Harvard University
publishDate 2010
url https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/10435/