Description
Book SynopsisIn Early Christians Adapting to the Roman Empire: Mutual Recognition Niko Huttunen challenges the interpretation of early Christian texts as anti-imperial documents. He presents examples of the positive relationship between early Christians and the Roman society. With the concept of “recognition” Huttunen describes a situation in which the parties can come to terms with each other without full agreement. Huttunen provides examples of non-Christian philosophers recognizing early Christians. He claims that recognition was a response to Christians who presented themselves as philosophers. Huttunen reads Romans 13 as a part of the ancient tradition of the law of the stronger. His pioneering study on early Christian soldiers uncovers the practical dimension of recognizing the empire.
Trade Review"H.s. Einzelinterpretationen sind dennoch gewinnbringend, wenn es darum gecht, das Spektrum frühchristlicher Positionierungen zum Imperium jenseits schroffer Ablehung weiter auszudifferen zieren. Außerdem leiset H. einen willkomen Beitrag zur Analyse von Bildung im frühen Christentum der zwar exemplarisch bleibt"
Table of ContentsPreface 1 Introduction: Recognition between Anti- and Pro-Imperial Readings 2 Imperial Recognition in the Intellectual Sphere: Christians and Philosophers 1 Almost Philosophers: Pagan Philosophers Recognizing Christians 2 Early Christians Seeking Recognition in Greco-Roman Culture 3 Imagination Made Real: Paul between Political Realism and Eschatological Hope 1 Paul and His Readers 2 Paul’s Realism and Imagination 4 Brothers in Arms: Soldiers in Early Christianity 1 Soldiers in the Gospels Contextualized 2 Metaphors, Antimilitarism, and Christian Soldiers 5 Conclusions Bibliography Index
