Simplicity and Humility in Late Antique Christian Thought
Elites and the Challenges of Apostolic Life

Examines how the apostles' manual labour, simplicity, and humility affected the worldviews of upper-class Christians in Late Antiquity.

Jaclyn L. Maxwell (Author)

9781108832267, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 25 March 2021

216 pages
23.5 x 15.8 x 1.5 cm, 0.45 kg

'Maxwell's book draws attention to many interesting texts and developments and provides insightful interpretations, which makes it an enjoyable and fruitful read. Maxwell interprets a wide variety of texts from different genres and contexts and makes useful and interesting observations.' Florian Zacher, Bryn Mawr Classical Review

The social values of upper-class Christians in Late Antiquity often contrasted with the modest backgrounds of their religion's founders – the apostles – and the virtues they exemplified. Drawing on examples from the Cappadocian Fathers, John Chrysostom, and other late antique authors, this book examines attitudes toward the apostles' status as manual workers and their virtues of simplicity and humility. Due to the strong connection between these traits and low socioeconomic status, late antique bishops often allowed their own high standing to influence how they understood these matters. The virtues of simplicity and humility had been a natural fit for tentmakers and fishermen, but posed a significant challenge to Christians born into the elite and trained in prestigious schools. This volume examines the socioeconomic implications of Christianity in the Roman Empire by considering how the first wave of powerful, upper-class church leaders interpreted the socially radical elements of their religion.

Introduction
1. Roman and Christian attitudes toward social and economic divisions (first–third centuries CE)
2. Christian attitudes toward social and economic divisions in Late Antiquity
3. Tentmakers and fishermen: the apostles' social status in Late Antiquity
4. Apostolic simplicity and elite education in Late Antique theological controversies
5. The virtue of humility in Late Antiquity
Conclusions.

Subject Areas: The Early Church [HRCC1], Christianity [HRC], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA]