The Foundation Stone of Later Judaism and Christianity.<\/p>\n
About the Course<\/p>\n Five centuries that shaped the world Jesus was born into<\/p>\n Jews typically trace their origin to ancient Israel and the Exodus from Egypt, yet the name “Judaism” only comes into common usage after the Babylonian Exile in the sixth century BCE. Before the Exile, Judah was an independent kingdom. After it, Judeans lived under a succession of empires: Persian, Greek, and Roman, with a brief interlude of native rule.<\/p>\n This course traces those five centuries of transformation: When the Torah Became Law, the Maccabean revolt, the rise of apocalypticism, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the messianic expectations that would shape Judaism and Christianity alike.<\/p>\n Your Instructor<\/p>\n Holmes Professor Emeritus of Old Testament Criticism and Interpretation \u00b7 Yale University<\/p>\n John J. Collins is Holmes Professor of Old Testament Criticism and Interpretation Emeritus at Yale University, and honorary professor at the University of Pretoria. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard (1972). His most recent books are The Invention of Judaism: Torah and Jewish Identity from Deuteronomy to Paul<\/em> (University of California, 2017), What Are Biblical Values?<\/em> (Yale, 2019) and The Rule of the Association and Related Texts<\/em> (with James Nati; Oxford, 2024).<\/p>\n He served as general editor of the Anchor Yale Bible and Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library (2008\u20132025). He has been president of the Catholic Biblical Association and of the Society of Biblical Literature, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He holds honorary degrees from University College Dublin and the University of Zurich, and has received the Burkitt medal for biblical scholarship from the British Academy.<\/p>\n Hebrew Bible<\/span> Second Temple Judaism<\/span> Dead Sea Scrolls<\/span> Apocalypticism<\/span> <\/p>\n Course Themes<\/p>\n The five centuries between the Babylonian Exile and the destruction of Jerusalem were anything but static. These are the forces that defined them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Turning Point I<\/p>\n Ezra established the Torah of Moses as the official ancestral law of the Jewish people, though widespread observance came considerably later than most people assume.<\/p>\n 5th century BCE<\/span> <\/p>\n Turning Point II<\/p>\n When Antiochus IV tried to suppress the ancestral cult, the Maccabees rose in defense of the law, resisting not Hellenism broadly but its forced and violent imposition.<\/p>\n 2nd century BCE<\/span> <\/p>\n Turning Point III<\/p>\n A new worldview emerged: a higher revelation beyond the Torah, angelic forces operating in history, and the promise of reward or punishment after death. All of it is visible in Enoch, Daniel, and the Scrolls.<\/p>\n 2nd century BCE onward<\/span> <\/p>\n Turning Point IV<\/p>\n The Maccabean crisis intensified observance of legal detail, leading to bitter disputes about interpretation and the rise of the Pharisees, Essenes, and other sects.<\/p>\n Late 2nd century BCE<\/span> <\/p>\n Turning Point V<\/p>\n Dormant for centuries, messianic hope revived when the non-Davidic Hasmoneans claimed the kingship. The expectation was a warrior king who would restore the Davidic line, not a suffering servant.<\/p>\n 1st century BCE<\/span> <\/p>\n Turning Point VI<\/p>\n Many Jews embraced Greek culture and adapted it creatively. In Alexandria, this culminated in Philo\u2019s synthesis of biblical revelation and Greek philosophy.<\/p>\n 3rd century BCE \u2013 1st century CE<\/span> <\/p>\n 20<\/p>\n Lectures<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n Weeks<\/p>\n 500+<\/p>\n Years of History<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What This Course Offers<\/p>\n Prof. Collins has spent a career mastering this material. Here\u2019s what that means for you.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Every lecture is grounded in the actual ancient sources: the Torah, the Dead Sea Scrolls, Enoch, Daniel, Philo. No middlemen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Prof. John J. Collins is one of the world\u2019s foremost authorities on Second Temple Judaism. Expect the depth of a graduate seminar, delivered in a way anyone can follow.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Five full lectures on the Scrolls, covering their discovery, contents, sectarian community, messianic texts, and apocalyptic worldview. No comparable course goes this deep.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Two lectures per week over 10 weeks, a natural rhythm that gives you time to absorb, reflect, and revisit before moving on.<\/p>\n Experience the course on your own schedule. All twenty lectures are available on demand, giving you the flexibility to absorb, reflect, and revisit the material anytime.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Understand the 500 years of Jewish history that explain why early Christians interpreted Jesus the way they did, and why most Jews did not.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n From Babylon to Alexandria to Rome, Jewish life was always shaped by empire. This course follows it everywhere it went.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Course At a Glance<\/p>\n Dates<\/p>\n May 14 \u2013 July 23, 2026<\/span>Watch Anytime<\/span><\/p>\n Lectures<\/p>\n 20 Sessions<\/p>\n Duration<\/p>\n 10 Weeks<\/span>Self-Paced<\/span><\/p>\n Instructor<\/p>\n Prof. John J. Collins<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Full Schedule<\/p>\n Two lectures per week, May 14 through July 23, 2026. Click any lecture to read its description.<\/span>Twenty lectures available on demand. Click any lecture to read its description.<\/span><\/p>\n 1<\/span> Out of the Ashes<\/span> May 14<\/span> <\/p>\n What was changed by the Exile? Who had been taken to Babylon and who returned? How important was it to rebuild the Temple, and who should control it? Texts: Ezra 1\u20136; Haggai.<\/p>\n 2<\/span> Prophecy after the Exile<\/span> May 21<\/span> <\/p>\n Most biblical prophecy criticized kings and rulers. Now the prophets try to shore up institutions, yet radical hopes for lasting change persist before prophecy ultimately loses its authority. Texts: Zechariah 1\u20136; Isa 24\u201327; 65\u201366.<\/p>\n 3<\/span> Ezra and the Law<\/span> May 26<\/span> <\/p>\n Did the Torah derive its authority from a Persian king? Did Ezra have the Torah as we now have it? To what degree did he succeed in making people observe it? Texts: Ezra 7; 9\u201310; Nehemiah 8; 9; 13.<\/p>\n 4<\/span> Jews in Diaspora<\/span> May 28<\/span> <\/p>\n Life in the Diaspora as reflected in the fictional stories of Esther and Daniel 1\u20136. How important was the Law? What was the attitude of Jews toward their political overlords and Gentile neighbors? Texts: Esther; Daniel 1\u20136.<\/p>\n 5<\/span> Wisdom Literature<\/span> Jun 2<\/span> <\/p>\n The wisdom books (Proverbs, Job, Qoheleth) preserve a form of instruction with no explicit reference to Moses or the history of Israel, and yet they too belong to the Jewish tradition. Texts: Prov 3; 6; 8; Job 28; Qoh 1; 12.<\/p>\n 6<\/span> Ben Sira<\/span> Jun 4<\/span> <\/p>\n By the early Hellenistic period, the Torah had iconic importance even in wisdom literature. Ben Sira (c. 180 BCE) is a bridge figure: a sage who identifies Wisdom with the Torah of Moses. Texts: Sirach Preface; 24; 38; 41; 50.<\/p>\n 7<\/span> The Maccabean Revolt<\/span> Jun 9<\/span> <\/p>\n Was the Maccabean revolt a rejection of Hellenistic culture, a reaction to excessive taxation, or a defense of the ancestral laws? The evidence from 1 and 2 Maccabees points in a specific direction. Texts: 1 Macc 1\u20132; 2 Macc 4\u20136.<\/p>\n 8<\/span> The Visions of Daniel<\/span> Jun 11<\/span> <\/p>\n While the Maccabees took a pragmatic approach to the crisis, Daniel looks to the heavenly host and anticipates judgment after death. Daniel is the only example of apocalyptic literature in the Hebrew Bible. Texts: Daniel 7\u201312.<\/p>\n 9<\/span> The Books of Enoch<\/span> Jun 16<\/span> <\/p>\n The books of Enoch, found in Aramaic in the Dead Sea Scrolls, show human life subject to angelic and demonic forces and humans destined for reward or punishment after death. Texts: 1 Enoch 1\u201336.<\/p>\n 10<\/span> Apocalypticism as a Worldview<\/span> Jun 18<\/span> <\/p>\n A mid-course pause to examine the new worldview that appears in Judaism in the early second century BCE. Apocalypticism is not only about the end of history but also about a world beyond this one and the destiny of people after death.<\/p>\n 11<\/span> The Hasmoneans<\/span> Jun 23<\/span> <\/p>\n Though not noted for their piety, the Hasmonean reign was marked by stricter observance of Jewish distinctives (especially purity laws) and the emergence of the Pharisees, Essenes, and other sectarian movements.<\/p>\n 12<\/span> The Dead Sea Scrolls<\/span> Jun 25<\/span> <\/p>\n The discovery at Qumran provided a trove of primary evidence about Judaism in the last centuries before the destruction of the Temple, shedding new light on the formation of Scripture and the disputes that led to sectarianism.<\/p>\n 13<\/span> The Sectarian Association<\/span> Jun 30<\/span> <\/p>\n The Scrolls provide detailed evidence for a sectarian community with its own admission rituals and rules, almost certainly the Essenes. It existed in two forms: one that accepted marriage, and one that aspired to a higher holiness. Texts: CD 1\u20133; 7\u20138; 1QS 5\u20138.<\/p>\n 14<\/span> Messianic Expectation<\/span> Jul 2<\/span> <\/p>\n Dormant since the Persian period, messianic hope revived when the non-Davidic Hasmoneans assumed the kingship. The Dead Sea Scrolls attest both a royal Davidic messiah and a priestly messiah, and to a lesser degree a prophetic one.<\/p>\n 15<\/span> Apocalypticism in the Scrolls<\/span> Jul 7<\/span> <\/p>\n The Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit a distinctive apocalypticism rooted in Persian dualism: the cosmic conflict of light and darkness. They also reflect a striking belief that sectarian members already mingled with the heavenly host in this life. Texts: 1QS 3\u20134; The War Scroll.<\/p>\n 16<\/span> The Egyptian Diaspora<\/span> Jul 9<\/span> <\/p>\n An extensive Jewish community flourished in Egypt in the Hellenistic period. It produced a Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures (the Septuagint) and an allegorical reading of Scripture culminating in Philo of Alexandria.<\/p>\n 17<\/span> The Destruction of Alexandrian Judaism<\/span> Jul 14<\/span> <\/p>\n The Jewish community in Alexandria, which prospered under the Ptolemies, came under attack and was virtually destroyed after Rome took control of Egypt. Was this ancient antisemitism, or something more complex rooted in the ambiguous position of Jews between Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians?<\/p>\n 18<\/span> Roman Judea<\/span> Jul 16<\/span> <\/p>\n Rome took control of Judea when Pompey entered Jerusalem in 63 BCE. Client kings (most notably Herod the Great) gave way to direct Roman governance. Bitterly resented by some, the historian Josephus described the resistance movement as a \u201cfourth philosophy.\u201d<\/p>\n 19<\/span> The Revolt against Rome<\/span> Jul 21<\/span> <\/p>\n The years leading up to the revolt saw a series of prophetic and quasi-messianic figures emerge in Judea. These figures offer intriguing parallels to the career of Jesus of Nazareth, and help explain why Rome was so alarmed.<\/p>\n 20<\/span> After the Fall<\/span> Jul 23<\/span> <\/p>\n Several apocalyptic texts are dated to the years after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE. We focus on 4 Ezra and 2 Baruch as profound reflections on the fate of Second Temple Judaism, and on what might lie beyond the catastrophe. Texts: 4 Ezra (2 Esdras 3\u201314); 2 Baruch.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Prepare to Rethink<\/p>\n Common Assumption<\/p>\n In fact, the Torah played no role in the initial restoration after the Exile. It was established as the official ancestral law by Ezra only in the mid-fifth century BCE, and widespread observance came even later, following the Maccabean revolt.<\/p>\n Common Assumption<\/p>\n There is little evidence of messianic expectation for several centuries after the Exile. Messianic hope revived largely in opposition to the Hasmoneans, who claimed the kingship without Davidic lineage. For much of the period, Jews hoped for a benign Gentile ruler, not independence.<\/p>\n Common Assumption<\/p>\n A significant strand of the apocalyptic literature looks beyond this world entirely, to eternal life with the angels in heaven. This otherworldly hope first appears clearly in Daniel and the books of Enoch, and would prove foundational to Christianity.<\/p>\n Common Assumption<\/p>\n Many Jews embraced Greek culture enthusiastically and adapted it creatively. The Maccabees themselves resisted not Hellenism broadly, but the specific forced suppression of the temple cult by Antiochus IV. In Alexandria, Judaism and Greek philosophy produced remarkable syntheses.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Exclusive Bonuses<\/p>\n [tcb-script] (function() { const evergreenDate = new Date(‘2026-07-24T00:00:00-04:00’); const nobookDate = new Date(‘2026-05-15T00:00:00-04:00’); const isEvergreen = (new Date() >= evergreenDate) || (window.location.search.indexOf(‘mode=evergreen’) > -1); const isNoBook = (new Date() >= nobookDate) || (window.location.search.indexOf(‘mode=nobook’) > -1) || isEvergreen; if (isEvergreen && !document.body.classList.contains(‘jbj-is-evergreen’)) { document.body.classList.add(‘jbj-is-evergreen’); } if (isNoBook && !document.body.classList.contains(‘jbj-no-book’)) { document.body.classList.add(‘jbj-no-book’); } })(); [\/tcb-script] FREE Your enrollment includes a free copy of Prof. Collins\u2019 brand-new book, published by Eerdmans in June 2026. Written as a companion to this very course, it explores how apocalyptic thought shaped ancient Jewish communities during the Hellenistic period.<\/p>\n Collins examines the defining features of this worldview: the impulse to grasp history in its entirety, the expectation that history as we know it will end, and the conviction that questions of mortality and transcendence reach beyond any single earthly crisis. 192 pages \u00b7 Paperback.<\/p>\n Offer valid in U.S. only. To be shipped in June 2026.*<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Download Prof. Collins\u2019 full slide decks for all twenty lectures, ideal for review, note-taking, or sharing with a study group.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Searchable transcripts of every lecture, perfect for quoting, deeper study, or following along if English is not your first language.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n MP3 downloads of every lecture. Listen on your commute, during a walk, or whenever you\u2019re away from a screen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Four quizzes spread across the course to help you consolidate what you\u2019ve learned and test your grasp of the key texts, figures, and arguments.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The first lesson of Dr. Joel Baden\u2019s companion course, The Hebrew Bible<\/em>, offered as an exclusive preview for Judaism Before Jesus students.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Gain deeper insights with dedicated Q&A recordings where Prof. Collins addresses common questions and complex topics alongside every lesson.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Upon finishing the course, you\u2019ll receive a digital certificate of completion to commemorate your study and accomplishment.<\/p>\n *Purchasers outside the US will get to choose any course in our catalog valued at $24.95 or less in lieu of the book.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n $1 from every registration is donated to charity: water<\/strong>, bringing clean water to people in need.<\/p>\n Instance 1<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Stand-Alone Purchase<\/p>\n Enjoy University-level learning at a fraction of the cost<\/p>\n $499<\/span> Value<\/p>\n $295<\/p>\n Included in Your Purchase: Lifetime Access to This University-Level Course With:<\/p>\n Access this Course PLUS Every Course in Our Vault (250+ Hours of Biblical Learning!)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n __CONFIG_colors_palette__{“active_palette”:0,”config”:{“colors”:{“b04af”:{“name”:”Main Accent”,”parent”:-1}},”gradients”:[]},”palettes”:[{“name”:”Default Palette”,”value”:{“colors”:{“b04af”:{“val”:”rgb(251, 194, 13)”}},”gradients”:[]},”original”:{“colors”:{“b04af”:{“val”:”rgb(19, 114, 211)”,”hsl”:{“h”:210,”s”:0.83,”l”:0.45,”a”:1}}},”gradients”:[]}}]}__CONFIG_colors_palette__ <\/span> Start FREE Trial<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/a> <\/p>\n then special rate $49.95\/month<\/p>\n John Collins’ latest book not included<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Frequently Asked Questions<\/p>\n How many lectures will be presented? <\/p>\n Prof. John J. Collins will present twenty lectures over ten weeks, from May 14 to July 23, 2026. Two lectures are released each week, giving you time to absorb the material before moving on.<\/p>\n How many lectures are included? <\/p>\n Prof. John J. Collins presents twenty comprehensive lectures. All lectures are available on demand, giving you the flexibility to watch at your own pace.<\/p>\n How will I join the course? <\/p>\n Once you have purchased the course, you will receive instructions by email to log on to our online course platform, ThriveCart Learn. Once logged in, you will find all twenty lectures available to watch on demand. If you are a member of Biblical Studies Academy (BSA), your access will also be available inside the community.<\/p>\n What if I can\u2019t watch the lectures right away? <\/p>\n No problem at all. All lectures are available on demand and will remain accessible beyond the end of the course. If life gets in the way, simply pick up where you left off. There is no requirement to watch on any particular schedule.<\/p>\n Do I have lifetime access? <\/p>\n Yes, all lectures are available on demand with lifetime access. You can watch them on any device and learn at your own pace whenever you choose.<\/p>\n Do I need any prior knowledge of Judaism or the Bible? <\/p>\n No prior knowledge is required. Prof. Collins introduces all the relevant texts and historical context as the course unfolds. Whether you are coming in fresh or already have some background in biblical studies, you will find the course genuinely rewarding.<\/p>\n Will subtitles or captions be available? <\/p>\n Yes. All lectures include closed captions. Full transcripts are also included with the course, so you can follow along in text or search for specific passages.<\/p>\n What payment types are accepted? <\/p>\n We accept PayPal and all major credit cards.<\/p>\n Do you offer a money-back guarantee? <\/p>\n![\"Judaism](\"https:\/\/www.bartehrman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Judaism-Before-Jesus-16x9-INSTRUCTOR-1.jpg\")
May 14 \u2013 July 23, 2026<\/span>Watch Anytime<\/span> <\/span> 20 Lectures <\/span> Prof. John J. Collins \u00b7 Yale University <\/span> <\/p>\n
Judaism Before Jesus<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nA Religion in the Making<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nJohn J. Collins<\/h3>\n
Six Turning Points That Shaped Western History<\/h2>\n
When the Torah Became Law<\/h4>\n
The Maccabean Revolt<\/h4>\n
The Birth of Apocalyptic Thinking<\/h4>\n
The Battle Over the Law<\/h4>\n
The Hope for a Messiah<\/h4>\n
Jews in a Greek World<\/h4>\n
Why This Course Is Unlike Any Other<\/h2>\n
Learn from the Ancient Sources<\/h4>\n
University-Level Scholarship<\/h4>\n
A Full Unit on the Dead Sea Scrolls<\/h4>\n
Watch at Your Own Pace<\/h4>\n
The Bridge Between Testaments<\/h4>\n
Judaism in Its Wider World<\/h4>\n
Judaism Before Jesus<\/h2>\n
Twenty Lectures, Ten Weeks<\/span>Twenty Lectures<\/span><\/h2>\n
Common Assumptions This Course Will Challenge<\/h2>\n
\u201cJudaism has always been based on Torah observance\u201d<\/h4>\n
\u201cJews in this period hoped for a coming messiah\u201d<\/h4>\n
\u201cJewish hope was always about the promised land\u201d<\/h4>\n
\u201cJews saw Hellenistic culture as a threat\u201d<\/h4>\n
What You\u2019ll Walk Away With<\/h3>\n
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Included with Your Course<\/h2>\n
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COURSE ![\"Apocalypticism](\"https:\/\/eerdmans-publishing-us.imgix.net\/covers\/9780802885005.jpg\")
Free Book<\/span> <\/p>\nApocalypticism as a Worldview in Ancient Judaism<\/em><\/h3>\n
Lecture Slides<\/h4>\n
Full Transcripts<\/h4>\n
Audio Downloads<\/h4>\n
4 Comprehension Quizzes<\/h4>\n
Bonus Lecture: Lesson 1 of The Hebrew Bible<\/em><\/h4>\n
Q&A Recording With Each Lesson<\/h4>\n
Certificate of Completion<\/h4>\n
2 ways<\/span> to purchase this course<\/h2>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bartehrman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/BSA-Logo-Dark-Letter-Transparent.png\" "\\"BSA"){kind=spacer}
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Everything You Need to Know<\/h2>\n