The First Christians in the Roman World: Augustan and New Testament Essays

ISBN-13: 9783161493102 / Angielski / Twarda / 2008 / 786 str.

Edwin A. Judge

Opis

E.A. Judge's collection of Augustan and New Testament essays explores the intersection of the social practices of the first Christians in the eastern Mediterranean basin with the Roman world. In the first part of the collection, Judge examines the Augustan principate against the competitive culture of the republican noble houses. Because of the unparalleled ascendancy of the Julian house, Augustus progressively acquired an eschatological aura as a ruler. The imperial propaganda emphasized more his status than his official rank and presented him as the culmination of the famous republican houses, replenishing their leadership with new blood. These historical studies on Augustus and his times are invaluable not only for ancient historians but also for New Testament scholars wishing to situate Paul's letters in their Julio-Claudian context. The remainder of the collection is devoted to the collisions and social perceptions that emerged as the first Christians encountered their Jewish, Roman and Greek neighbours in various situations. Tensions and misunderstandings were inevitable because of the distinctive ethos of the first believers, the 'novelty' of their beliefs and practices, and the transformative impact of the house churches upon contemporary educational ideals and social relations.

E. A. Judge's collection of essays explores the intersection of the social practices of the first Christians in the eastern Mediterranean basin with the Roman world. The highly original Augustan studies are invaluable for scholars wishing to situate Paul's letters in their imperial context. The New Testament studies analyze the collisions and social perceptions that emerged as the first Christians encountered their neighbours invarious situations. Tensions and misunderstandings arose because of the distinctive ethos of the early believers, the 'novelty' of their beliefs and practices, and the transformative impact of the house churches upon contemporary educational ideals and social relations.

O autorze

Born 1928; Emeritus Professor of History at Macquarie University. Born 1952; 1976 BADipEd; 1989 MA; 1997 PhD (Macquarie University); 2002-12 Head of the School of Theology, Wesley Institute, Sydney, Australia; currently Research Director, Sydney College of Divinity, Macquarie Park, Australia.