preface xiiiment as if it were his own. Foundations for my understanding of the over-
all history of the Ebionites and the Nazarenes were laid by the time I co-
edited the book on second-century Christian “heretics” with Antti. The
expertise of Risto and Antti, as well as of Ismo Dunderberg, in the study
of Gnosticism have been most vital for my research on the relationship
between Jewish-Christian gospel fragments and theGospel of Thomas.
During the past few years, I have also benefited from Risto Uro’s
curiosity and keen interest in teamwork in a new research area that is
not directly related to the present volume: a socio-cognitive approach to
early Judaism and early Christianity. As a matter of fact, it will be the
task of a preface to another forthcoming book to credit the people who
have helped me with these new socio-cognitive explorations but I feel the
need to also list some key persons in this context. The main reason for
this is that although my new interest in the cognitive science of religion
and social psychology have clearly delayed the completion of this volume,
the cooperation within this socio-cognitive team of biblical scholars has
been a source of inspiration and joy from which the present volume has
also benefited. Therefore, many thanks—in addition to Risto—to Raimo
Hakola, Jutta Jokiranta, Nina Pehkonen and Minna Shkul, for keeping
alive the innovative atmosphere!
The very final editing of this volume has taken place alongside my
visit to the University of Eastern Finland, where I have acted as the
Professor of Biblical Studies for the academic year –. Thanks
to the research friendly organizing of the teaching schedule at the UEF’s
theological department, the last quarter of the academic year has been
reserved for research which has smoothed and eased the otherwise
rough and time-consuming final technical editing. Many thanks also
to colleagues at the UEF, both academic and administrative, who have
been most helpful in running the everyday businesses with congenial and
supportive attitude.
The responsibility for revising my English was painstakingly borne by
Margot Stout Whiting. The flaws, if there remain such, are only due to
my negligence.
Ialsowishtoexpressmygratitudetothealwayssofriendlyandprofes-
sional staff at Brill: Louise Schouten for the patience with which she has
followed the progress of this project and Mattie Kuiper for taking care of
the correspondenceand practical issues in the final stages of the editorial
process. Last but not least, I wish to express my gratitude to the editors
of the Supplements to the Vigiliae Christianae series, for accepting this
book in the series and especially for their comments and observations