"Here in one convenient volume are two works by Joseph A. Fitzmyer that have been influential in shaping the study of the New Testament during the past two decades - Essays on the Semitic Background of the New Testament and A Wandering Aramean: Collected Aramaic Essays." "The first of these studies includes papers written over a fourteen-year period that reflect on a variety of New Testament problems that have been illuminated by data gathered from the Semitic world of the eastern Mediterranean. The second work explores the relation between the host of recently discovered Aramaic texts and the writings of the New Testament. Together, these works bring to light important aspects of New Testament study that have been missed by those who concentrate on its Greek or Hellenistic background." "This new combined edition also includes an appendix that contains further notes and supplies bibliographic references to articles and books written on the same topics since Fitzmyer's books were originally published."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved