Modelling early Christianity : social-scientific studies of the New Testament in its context / [print]
Modeling early Christianity
edited by Philip F. Esler.
- London ; New York : Routledge, (c)1995.
- xv, 349 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.
"Revised versions of papers presented at Context and kerygma: The St. Andrews Conference on New Testament Interpretation and the Social Sciences held in St. Andrews [Scotland] from 29 June to 3 July 1994"--P. xiii.
Herodian economics in Galilee Transfiguration of Jesus Evil eye in the New Testament Jewish messianic movement Early christian groups Deviance and apostasy Social nature of conversion in the early christian world Loss of wealth, loss of family and loss of honour Matthean brotherhood and marginal scribal leadership Legitimating sonship - A test of honour Women and men at hellenistic symposia meals in Luke Managing the household Development of theological ideology in Pauline christianity God's honour and Rome's triumph Language of warfare in the New Testament Social-scientific criticism and literary studies Sean Freyne -- John J. Pilch -- J. Duncan M. Derrett -- John H. Elliott -- Bruce J. Malina -- John M.G. Barclay -- Nicholas H. Taylor -- Jerome H. Neyrey -- Dennis C. Duling -- Richard L. Rohrbaugh -- Stuart L. Love -- Stephan J. Joubert -- David G. Horrell -- Philip F. Esler -- Raymond Hobbs -- Vernon K. Robbins.
Modelling Early Christianity explores the intriguing and foreign social context of first-century Palestine and the Graeco-Roman East, in which the Christian faith was first proclaimed and the New Testament documents were written. It demonstrates that a sophisticated analysis of the context is essential in order to understand the original meaning of the texts. At the same time, Modelling Early Christianity contains significant new ideas on the relationship between social-scientific and literary-critical analysis, the theoretical justification for model-use, and the way these new approaches can fertilize contemporary Christian theology.