WUNT 176. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2005.
xxi + 256 pages. ISBN 9783161484605 (link to publisher’s homepage; link to Google Books)

Abstract:

Much scholarly attention has been devoted to John the Baptist’s preaching, having disciples, baptizing, and wearing clothing made of a camel’s hair. The Diet of John the Baptist offers the first ever comprehensive analysis of the wilderness prophet’s food in its socio-historical context, in the Gospels of Mark and Matthew, and in subsequent Christian interpretation. Contemporary anthropological and nutritional data shed light on the Baptist as a locust gatherer, and are brought to bear upon the question as to what extent locusts and honey could have sustained him in the wilderness. The last chapter shows that, from the third through the sixteenth centuries, the most prevalent interpretation of John’s diet hails his spartan provisions as a model of vegetarian simplicity worthy of emulation. An epilogue suggests avenues for future research, including the ethical and hermeneutical implications of the interplay between conceptions of food and culture in the early church, and the influence of classical Greek paideia on early Christian biblical interpretation.

Reviews of The Diet of John the Baptist:

Knut Backhaus, Biblische Zeitschrift 51/2 (2007): 270–71

Casimir Bernas, Religious Studies Review 33/2 (2007): 152

Otto Böcher, Theologische Literaturzeitung 131/10 (October 2006): 1057–59

Frederick W. Danker, Currents in Theology and Mission 36 (2009): 217–18

Paul Foster, The Expository Times 117/6 (2006): 243–44, featured as the “Book of the Month”

Albert Fuchs, Studien zum Neuen Testament und seiner Umwelt 34 (2009): 262–63

Andrew Gregory, Journal for the Study of the New Testament 28/5 (2006): 38

Christoph G. Müller, Zeitschrift für Kirchengeschichte 119/3 (2008): 401–403

Tobias Nicklas, Review of Biblical Literature (April 1, 2006)

Johannes van Oort, Vigiliae Christianae 59/3 (2005): 351–52

David P. Scaer, Bulletin for Biblical Research 16/2 (2006): 364–65

David M. Scholer, Journal of Early Christian Studies 16/3 (2008): 431–32

Stefan Schreiber, “Kannte Johannes die Synoptiker? Zur aktuellen Diskussion.” Verkündigung und Forschung 51/1 (2006): 7–24 at 12

Donald Senior, The Bible Today 44/3 (2006): 200

John Wilkinson, Novum Testamentum 48/4 (2006): 389–91