The Jewish writings quoted for this purpose will be the Scriptures of the Old Testament; the book of Ecclesiasticus, by Jesus the son of Sirach, written about 200 years before Christ; and the most ancient Rabbinical writings, viz.:

The Talmud, which consists of two parts, the Mishna and the Gemara. The Mishna, or first Talmud, is a collection of Pharisaic traditions made by Rabbi Jehuda Hakkadosh, A.D. 141, or, as some say, towards the close of the second century. The Gemara, or second part of the Talmud, consists of commentaries upon and additions to the Mishna, collected by Rabbi Jochanan ben Eliezer; and this addition completed the Jerusalem Talmud, A.D. 469. A similar collection was made at Babylon at the beginning of the sixth century, and called the Babylonian Talmud.

The book Sohar, or the Brightness, containing mystical interpretations of the Old Testament, chiefly those of R. Simeon ben Jochai, whose disciples made this compilation about A.D. 170.

The Midraschic books, containing collections of traditions, doctrines, and stories, derived from the schools of interpretation. These collections were made by some Rabbins, whose names are unknown, about the time of Christ, and during the first, second, third, and fourth centuries. The names of the books are, Tanchuma, Rabboth, Pirke R. Eliezer, Mechilta, Siphra, Siphre, Pesikta Robbetha, Pesikta Sotarta, Midrasch Schmuel, Tehillim, and Mischle.

Since all these Rabbinical books were compiled after the time of Christ, it appears at first sight that no quotations from them can affect the question of the originality of the precepts of the Gospels.