This collection of essays examines the urban context of early Christian churches in the first-century Roman world. A city-by-city investigation of the early churches in the New Testament clarifies the challenges, threats, and opportunities that urban living provided for early Christians. Scholars focus on the ancient urban evidence of the inscriptions, papyri, archaeological remains, coins, and iconography and discuss what is a responsible use of these differing types of evidence in reconstructing the past. The book outlines what constitutes a proper methodological use of such evidence in...

This collection of essays examines the urban context of early Christian churches in the first-century Roman world. A city-by-city investigation of the early churches in the New Testament clarifies the challenges, threats, and opportunities that urban living provided for early Christians. Scholars focus on the ancient urban evidence of the inscriptions, papyri, archaeological remains, coins, and iconography and discuss what is a responsible use of these differing types of evidence in reconstructing the past. The book outlines what constitutes a proper methodological use of such evidence in...

The essays in this collection explore the diverse character of emerging Christian narratives. From priestly beginnings at the temple in Luke to the enigmatic figure of the cross of light in Acts of John, early Christians found a variety of ways to interpret and express the storylines of Jesus, Mary, and other important figures. By reconfiguring and relocating existing resources of texts and topoi, each of the works examined creates new images and stories within the discursive framework of unique blends of emerging Christian rhetorolects. This volume thus offers readings that attempt to...

The essays in this collection explore the diverse character of emerging Christian narratives. From priestly beginnings at the temple in Luke to the enigmatic figure of the cross of light in Acts of John, early Christians found a variety of ways to interpret and express the storylines of Jesus, Mary, and other important figures. By reconfiguring and relocating existing resources of texts and topoi, each of the works examined creates new images and stories within the discursive framework of unique blends of emerging Christian rhetorolects. This volume thus offers readings that attempt to...