The Village in Antiquity and the Rise of Early Christianity
Published on 21. August 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
472 pages
978-0-567-71400-8 (ISBN)
Description
A complete geographical and thematic overview of the village in an antiquity and its role in the rise of Christianity. The volume begins with a "state-of-question" introduction by Thomas Robinson, assessing the interrelation of the village and city with the rise of early Christianity. Alan Cadwallader then articulates a methodology for future New Testament studies on this topic, employing a series of case studies to illustrate the methodological issues raised.
From there contributors explore three areas of village life in different geographical areas, by means of a series of studies, written by experts in each discipline. They discuss the ancient near east (Egypt and Israel), mainland and Isthmian Greece, Asia Minor, and the Italian Peninsula. This geographic focus sheds light upon the villages associated with the biblical cities (Israel; Corinth; Galatia; Ephesus; Philippi; Thessalonica; Rome), including potential insights into the rural nature of the churches located there.
A final section of thematic studies explores central issues of local village life (indigenous and imperial cults, funerary culture, and agricultural and economic life).
From there contributors explore three areas of village life in different geographical areas, by means of a series of studies, written by experts in each discipline. They discuss the ancient near east (Egypt and Israel), mainland and Isthmian Greece, Asia Minor, and the Italian Peninsula. This geographic focus sheds light upon the villages associated with the biblical cities (Israel; Corinth; Galatia; Ephesus; Philippi; Thessalonica; Rome), including potential insights into the rural nature of the churches located there.
A final section of thematic studies explores central issues of local village life (indigenous and imperial cults, funerary culture, and agricultural and economic life).
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 244 mm
Width: 170 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight
801 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-567-71400-8 (9780567714008)
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 Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Alan Cadwallader | James R. Harrison | Angela Standhartinger
The Village in Antiquity and the Rise of Early Christianity
E-Book
12/2023
1st Edition
T.& T.Clark Ltd
€38.99
Available for download
Alan Cadwallader | James R. Harrison | Angela Standhartinger
The Village in Antiquity and the Rise of Early Christianity
E-Book
12/2023
1st Edition
T.& T.Clark Ltd
€38.99
Not yet available
Persons
Alan Cadwallader is research fellow at Charles Stuart University, Australia
James R. Harrison is research director at Sydney College of Divinity, Australia
Angela Standhartinger is professor of New Testament at Phipps University Marburg, Germany
L.L. Welborn is professor of New Testament at Fordham University, USA
James R. Harrison is research director at Sydney College of Divinity, Australia
Angela Standhartinger is professor of New Testament at Phipps University Marburg, Germany
L.L. Welborn is professor of New Testament at Fordham University, USA
Content
List of Figures and Tables
Note on Abbreviation
Introduction
1. The Ancient Village and the Rise of Christianity - Thomas Robinson, University of Lethbridge, Canada
Methodological Issues and the Study of Ancient Villages
2. Methodological Issues and the Study of Ancient Villages - Alan H. Cadwallader, Charles Sturt University, Australia
The Village in the Ancient Near East
3. Village Life in Ancient Israel - Kyle H. Keimer, co-director of the excavations at Khirbet Arai, Israel
4. Village Life in Roman Galilee: Issues Arising from Poverty and Social Unrest - Warren Carter, Phillips Theological Seminary, USA
5. Deir el Medina: An Egyptian Village of the Latter Half of the 2nd Millennium BCE - Boyo Ockinga, Maquarie University, Australia
6. Trust Networks and Village Life in Roman Egypt: A Case Study of Tebtunis - Stephen Llewelyn, Macquarie University, Australia and Alexandra Robinson, United Theological College, Charles Sturt University, Australia
7. Village Life in the Gospels - Keith Dyer, Whitley College, Australia
8. Trust Networks and Village Life in Roman Galilee: A Case Study of the Gospel Narratives and Acts - Stephen Llewelyn, Macquarie University, Australia and Alexandra Robinson, United Theological College, Charles Sturt University, Australia
The Village in Asia Minor
9. Village Life in Galatia - Mark Wilson, University of South Africa, South Africa, and Stellenbosch University, South Africa
10. Village Life in the Kaystros River Valley of Ephesus - James R. Harrison, Sydney College of Divinity, Australia
11. Village Life in the Lycus Valley - Alan Cadwallader, Charles Sturt University, Australia
Village Life in Mainland and Isthmian Greece
12. Rural Communities and Early Christianity in Roman Philippi: A Tale of Missed Opportunities - Cedric Brelaz, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
13. Village Life in the Macedonian Hinterland of Thessalonica - Polyxeni Adam-Veleni, Greek Open University and the International Hellenic University, Greek and Flora Karagianni, European Centre for Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Monuments and Ephorate of Antiquities of Thessaloniki
14. Early Christianity in the Villages of Corinthia - L. L. Welborn, Fordham University, USA
Village Life in the Italian Peninsula
15. Village Life in the Italian Peninsula and the Expansion of the Christian Movement: Literary and Epigraphic Perspectives - James R. Harrison, Sydney College of Divinity, Australia
Thematic Essays
16. The Life of Village Women in Antiquity: A Case Study on Lycaonia - Christiane Zimmermann, Christian-Albrechts-Universitaet Kiel, Germany
17. The Social and Economic Life on Estates in Asia Minor - Thomas Corsten, University of Vienna, Austria
18. Village Associations as Microcosms of Greek Cities - D. Clint Burnett, Boston College, USA
List of Contributors
Indices
Note on Abbreviation
Introduction
1. The Ancient Village and the Rise of Christianity - Thomas Robinson, University of Lethbridge, Canada
Methodological Issues and the Study of Ancient Villages
2. Methodological Issues and the Study of Ancient Villages - Alan H. Cadwallader, Charles Sturt University, Australia
The Village in the Ancient Near East
3. Village Life in Ancient Israel - Kyle H. Keimer, co-director of the excavations at Khirbet Arai, Israel
4. Village Life in Roman Galilee: Issues Arising from Poverty and Social Unrest - Warren Carter, Phillips Theological Seminary, USA
5. Deir el Medina: An Egyptian Village of the Latter Half of the 2nd Millennium BCE - Boyo Ockinga, Maquarie University, Australia
6. Trust Networks and Village Life in Roman Egypt: A Case Study of Tebtunis - Stephen Llewelyn, Macquarie University, Australia and Alexandra Robinson, United Theological College, Charles Sturt University, Australia
7. Village Life in the Gospels - Keith Dyer, Whitley College, Australia
8. Trust Networks and Village Life in Roman Galilee: A Case Study of the Gospel Narratives and Acts - Stephen Llewelyn, Macquarie University, Australia and Alexandra Robinson, United Theological College, Charles Sturt University, Australia
The Village in Asia Minor
9. Village Life in Galatia - Mark Wilson, University of South Africa, South Africa, and Stellenbosch University, South Africa
10. Village Life in the Kaystros River Valley of Ephesus - James R. Harrison, Sydney College of Divinity, Australia
11. Village Life in the Lycus Valley - Alan Cadwallader, Charles Sturt University, Australia
Village Life in Mainland and Isthmian Greece
12. Rural Communities and Early Christianity in Roman Philippi: A Tale of Missed Opportunities - Cedric Brelaz, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
13. Village Life in the Macedonian Hinterland of Thessalonica - Polyxeni Adam-Veleni, Greek Open University and the International Hellenic University, Greek and Flora Karagianni, European Centre for Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Monuments and Ephorate of Antiquities of Thessaloniki
14. Early Christianity in the Villages of Corinthia - L. L. Welborn, Fordham University, USA
Village Life in the Italian Peninsula
15. Village Life in the Italian Peninsula and the Expansion of the Christian Movement: Literary and Epigraphic Perspectives - James R. Harrison, Sydney College of Divinity, Australia
Thematic Essays
16. The Life of Village Women in Antiquity: A Case Study on Lycaonia - Christiane Zimmermann, Christian-Albrechts-Universitaet Kiel, Germany
17. The Social and Economic Life on Estates in Asia Minor - Thomas Corsten, University of Vienna, Austria
18. Village Associations as Microcosms of Greek Cities - D. Clint Burnett, Boston College, USA
List of Contributors
Indices