Studies in Early Germanic Biblical Literature: Medieval Rewritings, Medieval Receptions, and Modern Interpretations

Part 1 Of This Dissertation Concentrates On Textual Deviations In Germanic Translations Of The New Testament. Part 2 Focuses On The Reception Of Eastern Mediterranean Culture In Medieval England And Iceland And Its Literary Implications. Part 3 Addresses The Extent To Which Presuppositions Have Influenced Modern Interpretations Of Medieval Germanic Biblical Literature. Ch. 1 Examines A Reading In The Old High German Tatian (john 2.4) And, After Reviewing The Translation History Of The Phrase, Its Patristic Interpretations, Germanic Counterparts, And Tatianic Background, Proposes An Augustinian Source For The Rendering. Ch. 2 Is Concerned With The Translation History Of Greek Sygchraomai. It Offers An Etymology For An Old English Word And Presents A Medieval Germanic Reading Scenario For John 4.27. Ch. 3 Discusses Genealogies As Places Of Textual Tension, The Genealogy Of Jesus In Arian Theology, Specific Gothic Deviations From Greek, And Argues That Homoian Theology Has Influenced The Gothic Text Of Luke 3.23-38. Ch. 4 Accounts For A Reading In Various Old English Gospels---'twelve' Instead Of 'eleven' Disciples At Mark 16.14---with Reference To The Germanic Practice Of Inclusive Counting. Ch. 5 Concerns Verbal Dueling And Its Role In Honor-driven Societies. Verbal Duels Pervade Both The Nt And Medieval Scandinavian Texts, And Thus The Nt Example---despite Stereotypes That Might Suggest Otherwise---does Not Undermine The Icelandic Expectation For Agonistic Interaction. Ch. 6 Locates The Conflicting Attitudes Of Anglo-saxons Toward Their Healing Charms Within A Narrative Of Christian History In Which Jesus Is Represented As Folk Healer, Made Divine, And Imposed Upon The North As A Deity. Ch. 7 Concerns The Reception Of The Old High German Muspilli In Literary History; It Brings To Light An Unarticulated Anxiety About The Literary Status Of The Poem That Has Roots In The Tradition Of Forcing Vernacular Marginalia Into A Dominant Literary Discourse. Ch. 8: The Discovery Of The Nag Hammadi Codices Led To Concern About The Authority Of The Gospels. An Offshoot Of This Concern Was A Debate Over Connections Between The Heliand And The Gospel Of Thomas. It Is Shown How The Debate Was Driven By Orientalist And Nationalistic Motivations.