Like every lost world, the world of the early Christians was a combination of the foreign and the familiar, the unique and the commonplace. In The World of the Early Christians, Joseph Kelly introduces and explains the world of the early Christians, and while he examines the differences between our two societies, he also stresses our similarities. The early Christians were people, like us, trying to make their way in life.
There are many introductions to the world of the early Christians, but few if any deal with its historical background and the basic questions non-specialists ask: Why did the Christians use philosophy at al? Didn't it make everything confusing? Why didn't they just stay with the Bible? In The World of the Early Christians Kelly answers such preliminary questions and concentrates on the fundamental issue of why Christians used philosophy, rather than simply listing the philosophies they used.
Not only do most people know little about the early Christians, they often have erroneous views about them. For example, many modern Christians think their ancient spiritual ancestors were impoverished, uneducated people from the lowest strata of Roman society. The World of the Early Christians addresses some of these misconceptions by considering the historical evidence available about these people. Similarly, Kelly also explains some ancient topics - such as magic and astrology - and considers how they can be misleading to modern students. He then describes the early Christians' relationships with other groups, such as Jews, pagans, and members of popular and official cults, and then explores the intellectual and cultural lives of the early Christians.
Students and anyone interested in understanding the now lost world of early Christianity will appreciate this volume's straightforward treatment of this essential background material.
Kelly touches upon topics treated by the other volumes in the Message of the Fathers of the Church series. He refers to original sources in translation unless no translation is available, and he includes bibliographic references for further research. In a direct and easy manner, Kelly brings to life for us today the rich world of the early Christians.
Chapters are: "Who Were the Early Christians?" "How Do We Know About the Early Christians?" "The Physical World," "Others," "Intellectual and Cultural Life," "Living in the World," and "A Brief History of Early Christianity."
Rezensionen / Stimmen
At last - at long last - someone has written a book that introduces the general reader to early Christians and their world. . . . Professor Kelly shows himself a master of both classroom and research carrel, and one thing more: He writes in graceful, crystal clear, and lively prose, unburdened with even the slightest hint of jargon.Journal of Early Christian Studies A well-written introduction to a vast topic. . . . I have been strongly recommending it to both graduates and undergraduates around the Southeast.William Harmless, S.J., Spring Hill College . . . belongs in any parish library or in any university library where introductory courses on Christianity are taught. It will serve well as a supplemental volume for college courses or parish classes on early Church history, theology, or spirituality.Anglican Theological Review
Reihe
Sprache
Verlagsort
Produkt-Hinweis
Maße
Höhe: 218 mm
Breite: 138 mm
Dicke: 20 mm
Gewicht
ISBN-13
978-0-8146-5313-5 (9780814653135)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Klassifikation
Joseph F. Kelly, PhD, (1945-2023), was the chair of the department of theology and religious studies at John Carroll University and was active in adult religious education in the Greater Cleveland area. The World of the Early Christians (1997), The Problem of Evil in the Western Tradition (2002), and History and Heresy (2012) are among his nine previous books published by Liturgical Press.
Contents
Editor's Introduction xi
Preface xiii
Abbreviations xviii
Chapter One: Who Were the Early Christians? 1
1. What Does the Term "Early Christians" Mean? 1
2. Where Did They Live? 3
3. What Do We Know About Their Daily Lives? 7
4. Entertainment 12
Chapter Two: How Do We Know About the Early Christians? 19
1. The Problem of the Data 19
2. The Nature of the Written Data 20
3. The Nature of the Physical Data 29
4. Iconography 33
5. Using the Evidence 34
A. Technology 35
B. How Do We Understand the Evidence? 39
Chapter Three: The Physical World 47
1. The Cosmos 47
2. The Earth 51
3. The Other Worlds 55
A. Heaven 55
B. Hell 57
C. Another World? 59
4 . Time 59
Chapter Four: Others 71
1. The Jews 71
2. The Pagans 79
A. The Popular Cults 83
B. Oracles 86
C. Magic 88
D. Astrology 90
E. Philosophy 91
F. The Official Cults 94
3. Heretics and Schismatics 96
Chapter Five: Intellectual and Cultural Life 101
1. Books and The Book 102
A. Producing Bibles 102
B. Translations 108
2. The Bible and Its Interpretation 111
A. The Canon 111
B. Interpretation 115
3. Theology 121
A. Theology and Philosophy 123
B. Theology and Tradition in the Church 126
4. Music 129
5. The Visual Arts 133
Chapter Six: Living in the World 139
1. Slavery 141
2. Women 146
3. Church and State 155
4. War and Peace 160
5. Wealth and Poverty 166
Chapter Seven: A Brief History of Early Christianity 173
1. The First Century 173
2. The Second Century 181
3. The Third Century 187
4. The Fourth Century 193
5. The Fifth Century 201
6. The Sixth Century 207
Bibliography 215
Index 223
