The Cambridge History of Ancient Christianity

Engages constructive scholarly developments that have gained momentum within the study of pre-Constantinian Christianity in recent years.

Bruce W. Longenecker (Edited by), David E. Wilhite (Edited by)

9781108427395, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 24 August 2023

725 pages
23.5 x 15.9 x 3.8 cm, 1.28 kg

The first three hundred years of the common era witnessed critical developments that would become foundational for Christianity itself, as well as for the societies and later history that emerged thereafter. The concept of 'ancient Christianity,' however, along with the content  that the category represents, has raised much debate. This is, in part, because within this category lie multiple forms of devotion to Jesus Christ, multiple phenomena, and multiple permutations in the formative period of Christian history. Within those multiples lie numerous contests, as varieties of Christian identity laid claim to authority and authenticity in different ways. The Cambridge History of Ancient Christianity addresses these contested areas with both nuance and clarity by reviewing, synthesizing, and critically engaging recent scholarly developments. The 27 thematic chapters, specially commissioned for this volume from an international team of scholars, also offer constructive ways forward for future research.

I. Contested Contexts: 1. The History of Ancient Christian History David E. Wilhite
2. The Present and Future of Ancient Christian History David E. Wilhite
3. Depicting the Other in Early Christian Polemic: Christian Rhetoric and Identity in the Early Heresiologists Richard Flower
4. Why Did People Become Christians in the Pre-Constantinian World? Reframing the Question Éric Rebillard
II. Contested Figures: 5. Remembering Jesus in Earliest Christianity: The What and How of Socially-framed Memory Ben Sutton and Anthony Le Donne
6. Remembering Jesus in the Second and Third Centuries CE Andrew Gregory
7. Paul and His Diverse Champions Benjamin L. White
8. Peter and His Diverse Champions Tobias Nicklas
III. Contested Heritage: 9. Jews and Christians in Pagan Antiquity: From the First through the Third Centuries Christine Shepardson and Paula Fredriksen
10. The Marcionite Options Judith M. Lieu
11. The Gnosticising Options: Routes Back to God Pheme Perkins
12. Early Christian Involvement in Classical Education, Literature, and Philosophy Josef Lössl
13. Scriptures and Interpretations in Early Christian History Peter W. Martens
IV. Contested Cultures: 14. Early Christians and Their Socio-Economic Contexts James R. Harrison
15. Early Christians and Roman Imperial Ideology Adam Winn
16. Martyrdom between Fiction and Memory David L. Eastman
17. The Emergence(s) of Christian Material Culture(s) Eric C. Smith
18. Manuscripts and the Making of the New Testament Tommy Wasserman
V. Contested Beliefs: 19. Contesting Creator and Creation Paul M. Blowers
20. The Trinity in the Making Jennifer Strawbridge
21. Resurrection, Transformation, and Deification M. David Litwa
22. The Eucharist in the First Three Centuries Daniel Cardó
23. Office, and Appointment to Office, in Early Christian Circles Alistair C. Stewart
VI. Contested Bodies: 24. Masculinity, Femininity, and Sexuality: The Construct of Self-Control in Early Christianity Susan E. Hylen
25. Christian Slavery in Theology and Practice: Its Relation to God, Sin, and Justice Ilaria L.E. Ramelli
26. Wealth, Almsgiving, and Poverty Helen Rhee
27. Power, Authority, The Living and The Dead Robin M. Jensen.

Subject Areas: Church history [HRCC2]