DESCRIPTION
Philo, Josephus, and the Testaments on Sexuality is the fourth of five scholarly volumes by William Loader exploring attitudes toward sexuality in Judaism and Christianity during the Greco-Roman era. In this volume Loader examines three substantial and historically important sets of documents -- the writings of Philo of Alexandria, the writings of Josephus, and the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs. Challenging stereotypes of both Philo's and Josephus's perspectives on sexuality, Loader's in-depth, detailed analyses provide an unprecedentedly comprehensive investigation of this subject.
REVIEWS
Review of Biblical Literature
"Loader's research is both detailed and comprehensive in matters related to sexual behavior in these texts. . . A valuable resource for those interested in exploring sexual attitudes in Hellenistic Jewish literature."
John J. Collins
"Loader's ongoing inventory of passages relating to sexuality in ancient Jewish literature is enriched by sensitive exegetical discussion, making his work an exceptional resource for an emerging field of study."
Harold Attridge
"William Loader's ambitious project — to study sexuality in the world of ancient Jews and early Christians — is timely and potentially significant for contemporary debates about sexual morality. His rigorous historical approach provides an in-depth study of the primary sources, with attention to all of the concerns that they express about human sexual behavior and identity."
Toronto Journal of Theology
"To be commended for the scope of the study and for applying numerous approaches to the task of discerning attitudes toward sexuality in texts with overlapping but sometimes dissimilar authorial concerns. . . Loader's thought-provoking and significant contribution has opened a conversation that is certain to provoke further questions concerning attitudes toward sexuality in the Hellenistic era."