Order and (Dis)order in the First Christian Century
Order and (Dis)order in the First Christian Century

Author: F. Gerald Downing

Publisher: BRILL

Published: 2013-08-01

Total Pages: 409

ISBN-13: 9004255818

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Articulate first century Mediterranean society, Jewish and Christian included, expressly favoured harmonious order in society, in individuals, in communication, and in thought. Its common basis was the patriarchal family, the rule of law, rational self-control, and rational thought. Yet there was also resistance to oppressive and unjust order in all spheres; and while law could be held educative, yet there were substantial first century critiques of law, not just Paul’s, and awareness that judicial procedures could be chaotic and biassed. Strands of such dissidence appear in Jesus and in Paul, with significant relevance for any understanding of the early Christian movement(s) and contemporary Judaism(s) in Graeco-Roman context, but also with important implications for any practical reflections and application.

Doing Things with Words in the First Christian Century
Doing Things with Words in the First Christian Century

Author: Francis Gerald Downing

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2000-10-01

Total Pages: 273

ISBN-13: 0567349802

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Although its religious heritage was that of a variegated Judaism, the tiny early Christian movement was nevertheless much more complexly and richly linked with the Graeco-Roman world in which it came to birth than is usually allowed for. In particular, 'ordinary' people were capable of a sophisticated use of words that can be detected also in the New Testament writings. But the use of words in Graeco-Roman times was often very different from what we suppose, and this collection of studies attempts to identify some of the anachronisms that still pervade even the best of modern scholarship.

Making Sense in (and of) the First Christian Century
Making Sense in (and of) the First Christian Century

Author: Francis Gerald Downing

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2000-08-01

Total Pages: 275

ISBN-13: 0567376214

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The first Christian century must be approached with careful attention to its cultural and linguistic heterogeneity. It should not simply be assumed that this past 'is a different place, they do things differently there'. Downing treats the ways in which early Christians tried to 'make things make sense' within their cultures, noting both the similarities and differences between their ways and contemporary ones and stressing the variety of contexts and influences on first-century communication. Downing brings his renowned expertise to bear in illuminating the cultural features of early Christian society with a range of fascinating and telling examples.

The Battle for the Divinity of Christ in the Early Centuries
The Battle for the Divinity of Christ in the Early Centuries

Author: Christopher Raoul Carranza

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2023-03-14

Total Pages: 103

ISBN-13: 1666757594

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Today’s Christianity is highly diverse in spite of the fact that most modern Christians read virtually the same Bible. Imagine the diversity we would have if every potential group had dozens of different “canonical books” from which to choose. That was the situation in the late first century through the next half-millennium. The New Testament was not yet codified, and there were multitudes of gospels, writings, letters, and apocalypses alleged to have come from the original apostles. After the death of Jesus’ disciples and those who knew them, the church faced an existential threat because of rampant, unchecked heresies, mostly from three diverse groups. The fundamentally Jewish Ebionites believed that Jesus was simply a normal Jewish man. The Marcionites believed Jesus was the only true God and merely appeared to be a man while on earth. The Gnostics believed that Jesus was neither God nor man. This book explores those ancient battles for Christ’s divinity and the unassailable biblical foundation laid down by faithful, prayerful servants of God. Ultimately, heretics, hardships, and even the unrelenting might of the Roman Empire could not derail those who fought the early battles for the divinity of Christ with their faith, their pens, and their blood.

From Olivet to Patmos
From Olivet to Patmos

Author: American Tract Society

Publisher: Legare Street Press

Published: 2023-07-18

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781022500617

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The Bible is an enduring and influential text, but often it can be hard to visualize the events it describes. From Olivet to Patmos provides a vivid look into the first Christian century by providing pictures alongside stories. This unique approach helps readers to better understand and contextualize some of the most important events in history. This book is perfect for the curious and the faithful alike. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Paul
Paul

Author: Douglas A. Campbell

Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing

Published: 2018-01-18

Total Pages: 311

ISBN-13: 1467449423

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Douglas Campbell has made a name for himself as one of Paul’s most insightful and provocative interpreters. In this short and spirited book Campbell introduces readers to the apostle he has studied in depth over his scholarly career. Enter with Campbell into Paul’s world, relive the story of Paul’s action-packed ministry, and follow the development of Paul’s thought throughout both his physical and his spiritual travels. Ideal for students, individual readers, and study groups, Paul: An Apostle’s Journey dramatically recounts the life of one of early Christianity’s most fascinating figures—and offers powerful insight into his mind and his influential message.