The Cambridge Companion to the Apostolic Fathers

A cutting edge introduction to a collection of early Christian writings that stem from a forgotten era in Christian history.

Michael F. Bird (Edited by), Scott Harrower (Edited by)

9781108429535, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 17 June 2021

400 pages
15 x 23 x 2.5 cm, 0.7 kg

'The essays are uniformly informative and accessible, and the book is nicely indexed. This collection should be particularly helpful to advanced students of Christian origins and related history … Recommended.' P. K. Moser, Choice Connect

The Cambridge Companion to the Apostolic Fathers offers an informative introduction to the extant body of Christian texts that existed beside and after the New Testament known to us as the apostolic fathers. Featuring cutting-edge research by leading scholars, it explores how the early Church expanded and evolved over the course of the first and second centuries as evidenced by its textual history. The volume includes thematic essays on imperial context, the relationship between Christianity and Judaism, the growth and diversification of the early church, influences and intertextuality, and female leaders in the early church. The Companion contains ground-breaking essays on the individual texts with specific attention given to debates of authorship, authenticity, dating, and theological texture. The Companion will serve as an essential resource for instructors and students of the first two centuries of Christianity.

Intriguing and Enigmatic: Apostolic Fathers Themselves, and Current Research on Them Scott Harrower
1. The Roman Empire in the Era of the Apostolic Fathers MICHAEL J. SVIGEL
2. The Image of Jews and Judaism in the Apostolic Fathers Philip Alexander
3. Second Century Diversity David E. Wilhite
4. The Jesus Tradition in the Apostolic Fathers STEPHEN E. YOUNG
5. The Text of the New Testament in the Apostolic Fathers Paul Foster
6. The Reception of Paul, Peter, and James in the Apostolic Fathers BEN EDSALL
7. Between Ekkl?sia and State: The Apostolic Fathers and the Roman Empire Andrew Gregory
8. Church, Church Ministry, and Church Order David J. Downs
9. The Apostolic Mothers Clare K. Rothschild
10. One and Two Clement Janelle Peters
11. THE LETTERS OF IGNATIUS Jonathon Lookadoo
12. Polycarp's Epistle to the Philippians and the Martyrdom of Polycarp Paul A. Hartog
13. Didache Clayton N. Jefford
14. The Epistle of Barnabas Reidar Hvalvik
15. The Shepherd of Hermas as Early Christian Apocalypse Dan Batovici
16. The Epistle to Diognetus and the Fragment of Quadratus Michael F. Bird and Kirsten H. Mackerras
17. The Fragments of Papias Stephen Carlson.

Subject Areas: Bible readings, selections & meditations [HRCG9], New Testaments [HRCF2], Church history [HRCC2]