Asceticism, the sage, and the evil inclination: Points of contact between Jews and Christians in late antiquity

In Jewish Christian comparative studies there exists a need to explore in more detail the ways in which Jews and Christians interacted religiously and socially in late antiquity. The thesis of this dissertation is that asceticism, the sociological and religious role of the sage, and the anthropological belief in the evil inclination are three aspects shared between predominate groups of Jews and Christians in late antiquity. So far no scholarship has joined these three, inter-dependent areas in Jewish-Christian comparative studies.;Chapter Two examines the ways that Jews and Christians did not utterly "part ways" religiously or socially in late antiquity. Evidence of their interaction can be seen in adversus Iudaeos literature, catechetical material, liturgies, biblical exegetical practices, civic and ecclesial legislation, and various archaeological remains.;Chapter Three examines the foundations of Christian asceticism and monasticism, especially in Egypt. This chapter critiques the traditional historical reconstructions of monastic origins, with special attention given to the theory that monasticism was an effort by ascetics to become living martyrs. Finally this chapter discusses how the Sayings are a product of the long tradition of ascetic wisdom made especially popular from the fourth through sixth centuries across the Roman Empire.;Chapter Four examines the ways Jewish literature speaks to the practice of asceticism. The chapter is divided into three sections: pre-rabbinic Jewish ascetic practices, rabbinic ascetic practices, and the theological and sociological roles of the sage.;Chapter Five examines the shared anthropological views of the self and the evil inclination within rabbinic Judaism and ascetic Christianity. It can be said that nearly all of Christian ascetic praxis and rabbinic ascetic praxis is an effort to subdue the evil inclination and evil impulses.;This dissertation acts as a contribution in the advancement of scholarship concerning Jewish and Christian theology in late antiquity. By studying the ways Jews and Christians shared similar practices, the theological history of both groups is further illuminated and understood.