Description
Book SynopsisSince its publication in 2000, The Early Christian World has come to be regarded by scholars, students and the general reader as one of the most informative and accessible works in English on the origins, development, character and major figures of early Christianity. In this new edition, the strengths of the first edition are retained. These include the book's attractive architecture that initially takes a reader through the context and historical development of early Christianity; the essays in critical areas such as community formation, everyday experience, the intellectual and artistic heritage, and external and internal challenges; and the profiles on the most influential early Christian figures. The book also preserves its strong stress on the social reality of early Christianity and continues its distinctive use of hundreds of illustrations and maps to bring that world to life. Yet the years that have passed since the first edition was published have seen great advance
Trade Review
"This new edition is a goldmine of up-to-date information for anyone interested in the development of early Christianity. The contributors represent an international collection of top-flight scholars, and the range of topics covered is expansive; yet the essays are written in an accessible style and could certainly be used in a classroom setting at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Of particular note is the way in which the essays situate Christianity within its broader cultural contexts, rather than treating it as if it developed in a 'holy vacuum'. You will want this book on your shelf as a standard reference work for the study of early Christianity."
- Professor David Eastman, Ohio Wesleyan University, USA
"The second edition of this valuable collection will be welcomed even by those who already own the first edition. This thoroughly updated edition preserves the structure and comprehensiveness of the first, as well as its important focus on social history and everyday experience. It also adds both depth and breadth through the inclusion of new topics and current approaches. This volume will be a boon to instructors looking for current and provocative readings to challenge their students, and indeed to anyone interested in early Christianity in its historical, social and cultural contexts."
- Professor Adele Reinhartz, University of Ottawa, Canada
"The second edition of the Early Christian World successfully manages a difficult task. It not only updates the existing contributions in the first edition of this highly useful tool for studying early Christianity, it also includes new directions in scholarship. Thus it promises to be an valuable part of the libraries of students, academics, and any reader interested in the first five centuries of Christianity alike."
- Dr Jutta Leonhardt-Balzer, University of Aberdeen, UK
Table of ContentsDedication
List of Illustrations
Preface
List of Abbreviations
I THE CONTEXT
1. The Mediterranean Context of Early Christianity Philip F. Esler
2. Emperors, Armies and Bureaucrats 68-430 CE Jill Harries
3. Greek and Roman Philosophy and Religion Luther Martin
4.Jewish Tradition and Culture James Aitken
II CHRISTIAN ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT
5. Jesus in His World Douglas Oakman
6. Early Jewish Christianity Edwin Broadhead
7. Paul and the Development of Gentile Christianity Todd Klutz
8. The Jesus Tradition: The Gospel Writers’ Strategies of Persuasion Richard Rohrbaugh
9. The Second and Third Centuries Jeffrey S. Siker
10. From Constantine to Theodosius and Beyond Bill Leadbetter
11. Jewish and Christian Interaction from the First to the Fifth Centuries Anders Runesson
III COMMUNITY FORMATION AND MAINTENANCE
12. Mission and Expansion Thomas Finn
13. The Development of Office in the Early Church Mark Edwards
14. Christian Regional Diversity David Taylor
15. Monasticism Columba Stewart
IV EVERYDAY CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE
16. Reading the New Testament in Roman Britain Richard Cleaves
17. Sex and Sexual Renunciation I Teresa Shaw
18. Sex and Sexual Renunciation II: Developments in Research since 2000 Elizabeth Castelli
19. Women, Children and House Churches Mona LaFosse
20. Worship, Practice and Belief Max Johnson
21. Ritual and the Rise of the Early Christian Movement Risto Uro
22. Communication and Travel Blake Leyerle
V CHRISTIAN CULTURE
23. Christian Realia: Books, Papyri and Artefacts Giovanni Bazzana
24. Scriptures in Early Christianity Outi Lehtipuu and Hanne von Weissenberg
25. Saints and Hagiography Mark Humphries
26. Translation and Communication across Languages Malcolm Choat
VI THE INTELLECTUAL HERITAGE
27. The Apostolic Fathers Carolyn Osiek
28. The Apologists Anders-Christian Jacobsen
29. Early Theologians Gerald Bray
30. Later Theologians of the Greek East Andrew Louth
31. Later Theologians of the West Ivor Davidson
32. Creeds, Councils and Doctrinal Development Piotr Ashwin-Siejkowski
33. Biblical Interpretation Oskar Skarsaune
VII THE ARTISTIC HERITAGE
34. Early Christian Architecture: The First Five Centures L. Michael White
35. Art Robin Jensen
36. Music John Arthur Smith
37. Imaginative Literature Richard Bauckham
VIII EXTERNAL CHALLENGES
38. Political Oppression and Martyrdom Candida R. Moss
39. Graeco-Roman Philosophical Opposition Michael Simmons
40. Popular Graeco-Roman Responses to Christianity Craig de Vos
IX INTERNAL CHALLENGES
41. Internal Renewal and Dissent in the Early Christian World Sheila McGinn
42. Gnosticism Alistair Logan
43. Montanism Christine Trevett
44. Donatism Jakob Engberg
45. Arianism David Rankin
46. Manichaeism Jason BeDuhn
X PROFILES
47. Origen Thomas Scheck
48. Tertullian Geoffrey D. Dunn
49. Perpetua and Felicitas Shira L. Lander and Ross S. Kraemer
50. Constantine Bill Leadbetter
51. Antony the Great Columba Stewart
52. Pachomius the Great James E. Goehring
53. Athanasius David Gwynn
54. John Chrysostom Wendy Mayer and Pauline Allen
55. Gregory of Nyssa Elena Ene D-Vasilescu
56. Jerome Dennis Brown
57. Ambrose Ivor Davidson
58. Augustine Carol Harrison
59. Ephrem the Syrian Kathleen McVey
60. Julian the Apostate Michael Simmons
