"In late antiquity, the inherited doctrine of the Torah as canon of Scripture underwent radical revision. Jacob Neusner here investigates the revised doctrine from the vantage point of that time when "the Torah' lost its capital letter and definite article and ultimately became 'torah.'" During this time, the parochial and literary limits of "Torah" had to be redefined to accommodate the Mishnah and the word ceased to refer specifically to the scroll and its contents. Instead it developed into "a symbol of an entire system," and came to stand for "a distinctive and well-defined world view and way of life"--that of the rabbis. "Torah" thus took on more connotations--both concrete and abstract--and evolved into a symbol for whatever the sages wished to say about the salvation and sanctification of Israel."--Book jacket.