The capital city of the province of Asia in the first century CE, Ephesus played a key role in the development of early Christianity. In this book Paul Trebilco examines the early Christians from Paul to Ignatius, seen in the context of our knowledge of the city as a whole. Drawing on Paul's letters and the Acts of the Apostles, Trebilco looks at the foundations of the church, both before and during the Pauline mission. He shows that in the period from around 80 to 100 CE there were a number of different communities in Ephesus that regarded themselves as Christians -- the Pauline and Johannine groups, Nicolaitans, and others -- testifying to the diversity of that time and place. Including further discussions on the Ephesus addresses of the apostle John and Ignatius, this scholarly study of the early Ephesian Christians and their community is without peer.
*Includes pictures *Profiles Palmyra's origins, its relationship with Rome, its culture, and more *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading *Includes a table of contents "At the end of twenty years, during which Solomon built the temple of the Lord and his own palace, Solomon rebuilt the villages that Hiram[a] had given him, and settled Israelites in them. Solomon then went to Hamath Zobah and captured it. He also built up Tadmor in the desert and all the store cities he had built in Hamath." - The Bible's reference to Palmyra (as Tadmor) in II Chronicles 8 Recently, the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra has become a major source of news because the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has embarked on a campaign to destroy the temples and art of the pre-Islamic city. For many people throughout the world, ISIS's campaign was the first time they heard about the city, but Palmyra's importance and history can be traced back to well before the Roman Empire. In fact, Palmyra was unique among the many important cities of the ancient world because, like Carthage before it, it was a city that was also a culture. Palmyrene culture, from the arts to religion, borrowed from numerous other peoples throughout the ancient world to create a culture that was uniquely "Palmyrene." Palmyra became a city like no other, and its culture shined bright for several centuries before it was finally extinguished. The people of Palmyra truly developed a vibrant culture that eventually placed the city among some of the greatest of the ancient world. Palmyra's influential position in world history was largely due to its economic prowess, which was achieved not through conquest or exploration but through its position as the preeminent trading center in the ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern regions. Donkey and camel caravans brought precious commodities from both the west and east through the gates of Palmyra, which eventually resulted in the city becoming an oasis of wealth in the middle of the Syrian desert. For hundreds of years, Palmyra's wealth was a testament to its greatness, and its leaders displayed their political acumen by playing the middleman between the powerful Roman and Parthian Empires. As a result, the Palmyrenes built an eclectic culture that was as sophisticated as any of their contemporaries, but eventually the leadership of Palmyra overestimated their power and the greatness of their city quickly came crumbling down. Ancient Palmyra: The History and Legacy of One of Antiquity's Greatest Cities looks at the influential Semitic settlement that flourished for thousands of years. Along with pictures depicting important people, places, and events, you will learn about Palmyra like never before, in no time at all.
In this historical novel, David deSilva paints a vivid portrait of Ephesus and brings to life the compelling struggles faced by early Christians. Supplemented by historical images and explanatory sidebars, this imaginative novel digs into the early Christians' conflict with the religious cults of the day as well as the Roman empire.
A bibliography of over 1,500 titles on the history and artifacts of ancient Ephesus. Brings together works that might otherwise have been very hard to locate... --CHOICE
The series Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft (BZNW) is one of the oldest and most highly regarded international scholarly book series in the field of New Testament studies. Since 1923 it has been a forum for seminal works focusing on Early Christianity and related fields. The series is grounded in a historical-critical approach and also explores new methodological approaches that advance our understanding of the New Testament and its world.
Scholars are divided in their views about the teachings on riches in 1 Timothy. Evidence that has been largely overlooked in NT scholarship appears in Ephesiaca by Xenophon of Ephesus and suggests that the topic be revisited. Recently dated to the mid-first century C.E., Ephesiaca brings to life what is known from ancient sources about the social setting and cultural rules of the wealthy in Ephesus and provides details that enhance our knowledge of life and society in that place and time. In this volume, Hoag introduces Ephesiaca and employs a socio-rhetorical methodology to explore it alongside other ancient evidence and five passages in 1 Timothy (2:9–15; 3:1–13; 6:1–2a; 6:2b–10; and 6:17–19). His findings augment our modern conception of the Sitz im Leben of the wealthy in Ephesus. Additionally, because Ephesiaca contains some rare terms and themes that are found in 1 Timothy, this groundbreaking research offers fresh insight for biblical reading and interpretation.
Many travellers dream of visiting an ancient city that has been preserved not only in the form of modest ruins. Would it not be so much more exciting the see such a city in its glory or at least in the state that would echo the magnificent past of the place? While many experienced tourists can point to Pompeii in Italy as such a city, there is also another great location where history is still alive. Ephesus, the pearl of eastern Mediterranean, is a perfect demonstration of the ostentatious wealth of the Greek settlements on the shores of Asia Minor. While Pompeii was erected mainly of bricks, Ephesus shocks the visitors even today with the generous application of the best and most expensive construction materials, including many variations of marble.Naturally, such a splendid archaeological site as Ephesus receives thousands of visitors daily, and it may seem that it does not hold any secrets from them. Millions of photos are taken there every year and then appear in books, leaflets, websites, and social media channels. Can we hope to discover something not published on Facebook or Instagram there? Is it possible to find a peaceful and quiet corner or see the grand theatre and the lavishly decorated Library of Celsus without the crowds? This book has been prepared with the hope to assist all of the readers ready to find out more than can be learned about Ephesus from popular guidebooks and information boards.The aim of this book is not only to take the visitors from one location to another, but also to provide them with more information and question the truth of some commonly repeated statements. Was the small building on Curetes Street really the Temple of Hadrian? Did St. John write the Book of Revelation during his stay in Ephesus? Are the statues adorning the Library of Celsus the portraits of the four virtues of the founder? Who lived in the famous Terrace Houses? Finally, did Mary, the mother of Jesus, live her final years in the city? This book will provide the answers to these and many more questions.During the journey that this guidebook has planned for its readers, they will visit not only the archaeological site of Ephesus, but also other sights situated nearby. The necropoles of the city have been presented here, including the famous Grotto of Seven Sleepers and the cemetery of gladiators that revealed many details about the lives and deaths of these ancient entertainers. The travellers will also join the pilgrims who have arrived at Ephesus since the times unknown, first to worship the Anatolian Mother Goddess, and then her Hellenised version known as Artemis Ephesia whose sanctuary at Ephesus used to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The religious aura of Ephesus did not vanish with the end of antiquity, but has attracted Christian pilgrims for almost two millennia.The final part of this guidebook is devoted to the modest town of Selçuk that has inherited the rich history of ancient Ephesus. The treasures from the past are displayed in the Ephesus Museum located in the town, but it has its share of tourists attractions, too. Towering about the town, there is a hill called Ayasuluk with the imposing fortress that once protected the Basilica of St. John and the grave of this saint. Finally, the book will show you the Eastern Roman heritage of the town and its monuments from the first century of the Turkish rule. This period of history -- the 14th century -- was the last era of the city's great prosperity. Now, it is high time to re-discover Ephesus and walk off the beaten tourist trail, and this guidebook will assist you in this quest.
In this new volume, renowned scholar Jerome Murphy-O'Connor does for Ephesus what he did for Corinth in his award-winning St. Paul's Corinth. He combs the works of twenty-six ancient authors for information about ancient Ephesus, from its beginnings to the end of the biblical era. Readers can now picture for themselves this second of the two major centers of Paul's missionary work, with its houses, shops, and monuments, and above al the world-renowned temple of Artemis. After presenting the textual and archaeological evidence, Murphy-O'Connor leads the reader on a walk through St. Paul's Ephesus and describes the history of Paul's years in the city. Although Ephesus has been a ruin for many hundreds of years, readers of this book will find themselves transported back to the days of its flourishing.
A new commentary for today's world, The Story of God Bible Commentary explains and illuminates each passage of Scripture in light of the Bible's grand story. The first commentary series to do so, SGBC offers a clear and compelling exposition of biblical texts, guiding everyday readers in how to creatively and faithfully live out the Bible in their own contexts. Its story-centric approach is ideal for pastors, students, Sunday school teachers, and laypeople alike. Each volume employs three main, easy-to-use sections designed to help readers live out God's story: LISTEN to the Story: Includes complete NIV text with references to other texts at work in each passage, encouraging the reader to hear it within the Bible's grand story. EXPLAIN the Story: Explores and illuminates each text as embedded in its canonical and historical setting. LIVE the Story: Reflects on how each text can be lived today and includes contemporary stories and illustrations to aid preachers, teachers, and students. —Ephesians— Like all of Paul's letters, Ephesians is centered in the gospel and its implications. It tells the story of what God has done in Christ and spells out the ethical implications of this story. But the letter to the Ephesians is unique among Paul's letters in many ways, including in how it tells of the story of God, beginning "before the creation of the world" and ending in eternity. Edited by Scot McKnight and Tremper Longman III, and written by a number of top-notch theologians, The Story of God Bible Commentary series will bring relevant, balanced, and clear-minded theological insight to any biblical education or ministry.
