The Interpretation of the Old Testament in Greco-Roman Paganism

The book delves into the perspectives of early Greco-Roman intellectuals who engaged with the Septuagint, particularly Celsus, Porphyry, and Julian the Apostate. These figures, encountering Christian texts for the first time, found the Bible challenging and sought to undermine Christianity by critiquing its foundational texts. John Granger Cook emphasizes the significance of their responses, illustrating how the Septuagint was perceived by pagans who recognized the existential threat posed by Christianity to their beliefs and lifestyles.