After antiquity : Joseph and Aseneth in manuscript transmission : a case study for engaging with what came after the original version of Jewish Pseudepigrapha
The story of Joseph and Aseneth expands a few verses from the book of Genesis into a novella-length work. In recent years, the story has attracted considerable scholarly attention. Interest has focused on questions of provenance: whether the 'longer' or 'shorter' version of the text has priority, and what this means for its interpretation. Like other works of the so-called 'Jewish Pseudepigrapha', it is increasingly used as a source for Judaism and Christianity at the turn of the Common Era. But few have engaged with the story's manuscript witness and transmission. This thesis returns to the sources. It considers how the redaction and translation of Joseph and Aseneth affected its interpretation, and looks at the interests of the redactors and copyists. It warns against placing too much weight on details that lack such an importance in the manuscript tradition. The introduction surveys modern secondary literature on the story. Section 1 investigates the translation and transmission context of the two earliest preserved versions, the Syriac and Armenian translations. Despite their text-critical importance, they have received little attention. Section 2 focuses on the Greek manuscripts of the three longest families
Wright, Jonathon
Manuscript transmission ; Joseph and Aseneth ; Jewish Pseudepigrapha ; Pseudepigrapha ; Armenian ; Latin ; transmission history ; Syriac
After antiquity : Joseph and Aseneth in manuscript transmission : a case study for engaging with what came after the original version of Jewish Pseudepigrapha. The story of Joseph and Aseneth expands a few verses from the book of Genesis into a novella-length work. In recent years, the story has attracted considerable scholarly attention. Interest has focused on questions of provenance: whether the 'longer' or 'shorter' version of the text has priority, and what this means for its interpretation. Like other works of the so-called 'Jewish Pseudepigrapha', it is increasingly used as a source for Judaism and Christianity at the turn of the Common Era. But few have engaged with the story's manuscript witness and transmission. This thesis returns to the sources. It considers how the redaction and translation of Joseph and Aseneth affected its interpretation, and looks at the interests of the redactors and copyists. It warns against placing too much weight on details that lack such an importance in the manuscript tradition. The introduction surveys modern secondary literature on the story. Section 1 investigates the translation and transmission context of the two earliest preserved versions, the Syriac and Armenian translations. Despite their text-critical importance, they have received little attention. Section 2 focuses on the Greek manuscripts of the three longest families
antiquity joseph_aseneth manuscript transmission case_study engage come original version jewish story joseph_aseneth expand verse book genesis length work story attract considerable scholarly_attention interest focus question provenance whether longer shorter version text priority mean interpretation like work so_called jewish increasingly use source judaism_christianity turn common era engage story manuscript witness transmission return source considers redaction translation joseph_aseneth affect interpretation look interest place much weight detail lack importance manuscript_tradition introduction_survey modern secondary_literature story section investigate translation transmission context early preserve version syriac armenian translation despite text critical_importance receive_little_attention section focus greek manuscript long family