In the Shadow of the Temple: Jewish Influences on Early Christianity

Oskar Skarsaune is professor of church history at Norwegian Lutheran School of Theology in Oslo, Norway. He is the author of Incarnation: Myth or Fact? and The Proof from Prophecy: A Study in Justin Martyr's Proof-Text Tradition and editor (with Reidar Hvalvik) of Jewish Believers in Jesus.

"[O]ffers surprising insights into how much interaction took place between early Christians and Jews. It supplements standard textbooks on early church history as it reconnects the 'disconnect' between New Testament history and early church history. It also contains 'snapshots' of thematic developments rather than continuous historical narrative and includes helpful annotated bibliographies by topic for further reading and research."

" In the Shadow is an outstanding and illuminating book. And it is not for specialists by any means but for those who simply like the Bible and reading. Every chapter sheds intense light not only on the pages of the New Testament but also on the entire faith of the early church through the second and third centuries. Skarsaune has written a work on early Christian history with special attention to the often neglected Jewish background. If you are looking for something that can add significant depth to the pages of the New Testament then I recommend this fine work."

"Skarsaune's fine book is balanced and rich with insight. It is highly recommended."