Produced ca. A.D. 600, the Babylonian Talmud—or Bavli— serves as the single authoritative statement of Jewish law and theology. In this fourth volume of his examination of major formative texts of Judaism, Jacob Neusner explains how and why the Bavli came to define the Jewish faith from its time to ours. Through an analysis of the text, its sources and editorial organization, he traces the history of the composition of the Babylonian Talmud, clarifies its relation to the earlier corpus of canonical literature, and clearly establishes its philosophical, religious, and cultural context.

Because there is little objective, external evidence from which to interpret the Bavli's development, Neusner uses the signs of redactional layering within the literature to discover the motivations and techniques by which the Talmud was formed. His use of the critical, secular methods of modern literary and historical study is unique in Talmudic exegesis and provides an entirely new perspective for understanding the Bavli in relation to the Mishnah and Yershalmi, the Jerusalem Talmud.

Much of Neusner's research compares the use of the various literary forms of the Mishnah by the editors of the two Talmuds. Offering detailed examples and statistical lists to buttress his analysis, he argues that only in the Bavli have the editors achieved a genuine redactional synthesis between the Mishnah and Hebrew Scriptures, the two major sources of the Jewish tradition. In conclusion, Neusner spells out the religious significance of Bavli's achievement and shows how this unique combination allows for the tradition's continual renewal.

Author - Jacob Neusner

"Neusner is right in claiming that the question of the shape of the Bavli—as a whole—in relation to the Yerushalmi—as a whole—has never been raised in this fashion. His work is original and indeed groundbreaking."

Brevard Childs, Yale Divinity School


"Neusner's work is absolutely original, sometimes in ways which are quite remarkable. He has addressed himself to an ancient literature which is the subject of countless works of commentary, exegesis, and critical study. Yet, he manages to ask questions which no none asked before, to make observations which no one made before, and to put the results of his research and reflection in a form which is replete with new and valuable insights."

Marvin Fox, Director, Lown School of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, Brandeis University

A History of the Mishnaic Law of Purities, Part 7
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Purities, Part 4
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Holy Things, Part 4
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Holy Things, Part 5
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Appointed Times, Part 5
First Century Judaism in Crisis by Jacob Neusner
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Women, Part 3
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Purities, Part 15
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Purities, Part 21
Confronting Creation by Jacob Neusner
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Damages, Part 3
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Damages, Part 2
There We Sat Down by Jacob Neusner
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Appointed Times, Part 3
Introduction to American Judaism by Jacob Neusner
The Transformation of Judaism by Jacob Neusner
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Appointed Times, Part 1
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Purities, Part 19
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Purities, Part 6
The Rabbinic Traditions About the Pharisees Before 70, Part III by Jacob Neusner
Writing with Scripture by Jacob Neusner, William S. Green
Religions in Antiquity
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Purities, Part 16
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Appointed Times, Part 2
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Purities, Part 2
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Damages, Part 5
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Purities, Part 17
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Purities, Part 12
Christianity, Judaism and Other Greco-Roman Cults, Part 3
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Women, Part 5
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Purities, Part 18
The Idea of Purity in Ancient Judaism by Jacob Neusner
Between Time and Eternity by Jacob Neusner
Judaism and Story by Jacob Neusner
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Damages, Part 4
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Women, Part 1
Judaism as Philosophy by Jacob Neusner
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Appointed Times, Part 4
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Purities, Part 3
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Purities, Part 1
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Purities, Part 10
The Talmud by Jacob Neusner
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Purities, Part 20
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Purities, Part 13
Midrash as Literature by Jacob Neusner
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Women, Part 2
Trading Places Sourcebook
Judaism and Scripture by Jacob Neusner
Christianity, Judaism and Other Greco-Roman Cults, Part 4
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Holy Things, Part 3
Fellowship in Judaism by Jacob Neusner
Sacred Texts and Authority
Rabbinic Literature and the New Testament by Jacob Neusner
Christianity, Judaism and Other Greco-Roman Cults, Part 2
God in the World by Jacob Neusner, Dr. Bruce D. Chilton
Jews and Christians by Jacob Neusner
Soviet Views of Talmudic Judaism by Yu. A. Solodukho
Judaism by Jacob Neusner
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Women, Part 4
New Humanities and Academic Disciplines
Children of the Flesh, Children of the Promise by Jacob Neusner
Judaism in Society by Jacob Neusner
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Purities, Part 9
The Rabbinic Traditions About the Pharisees Before 70, Part I by Jacob Neusner
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Purities, Part 22
Androgynous Judaism by Jacob Neusner
How To Grade Your Professors by Jacob Neusner
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Purities, Part 11
The Rabbinic Traditions About the Pharisees Before 70, 3 Volumes by Jacob Neusner
The Modern Study of the Mishnah
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Holy Things, Part 1
Social Foundations of Judaism by Jacob Neusner, Calvin Goldscheider
Law as Literature by Jacob Neusner
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Holy Things, Part 2
Telling Tales by Jacob Neusner
The Rabbinic Traditions About the Pharisees Before 70, Part II by Jacob Neusner
Women and Families
From Politics to Piety by Jacob Neusner
Eliezer Ben Hyrcanus by Jacob Neusner
Stranger at Home by Jacob Neusner
Torah Through the Ages by Jacob Neusner
Trading Places by Dr. Bruce D. Chilton, Jacob Neusner
Christianity, Judaism and Other Greco-Roman Cults, Part 1
Revelation by Jacob Neusner, Dr. Bruce D. Chilton
The Mishnah by Jacob Neusner
Take Judaism, for Example
Understanding Rabbinic Judaism
Evil and Suffering
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Holy Things, Part 6
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Purities, Part 8
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Purities, Part 5
Judaic Perspectives on Ancient Israel
The Formation of the Babylonian Talmud
Invitation to the Talmud by Jacob Neusner
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Damages, Part 1
A History of the Mishnaic Law of Purities, Part 14