Forgery and Counter-forgery
The Use of Literary Deceit in Early Christian Polemics
Published on 10. January 2013
Book
Hardback
624 pages
978-0-19-992803-3 (ISBN)
Description
Forgery and Counter-Forgery: The Use of Literary Deceit in Early Christian Polemics by Bart Ehrman, the New York Times best-selling author of Misquoting Jesus and recognized authority on early Christianity, is the first major contemporary work on forgery in early Christian literature. It examines the motivation and function behind Christian literary forgeries. Ehrman guides readers through Christian literary forgeries of the first four centuries CE while providing coverage of other ancient texts. He asks why early Christians lied about themselves when writing polemical works; and then answers by showing how unknown Christian authors used forgeries to defend their own faith and attack other interpretations of early Christianity. He further asks why many scholars resist acknowledging their forgeries; and he answers that the forgeries uncomfortably call into question the authority of the New Testament.
The book is essential reading for those interested in early Christianity and the New Testament.
The book is essential reading for those interested in early Christianity and the New Testament.
Reviews / Votes
Few books have so effectively challenged the basis of scriptural authority in Christianity. * London Review of Books * This is a rich study on a broad range of documents ... that will stimulate further, needed research. * Ilaria L.E. Ramelli, Filologia Neotestamentaria *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Advanced undergraduates of the New Testament, early Christianity/Christian origins/Patristics, Classics, Ancient History. Professors and graduate students in all these areas.
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 39 mm
Weight
1118 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-992803-3 (9780199928033)
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
E-Book
12/2012
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€38.49
Available for download
E-Book
11/2012
1st Edition
Oxford University Press, USA
€63.69
Available for download
Person
Bart D. Ehrman is the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Professor Ehrman completed his M.Div. and Ph.D. degrees at Princeton Seminary; author of over 25 books, including Orthodox Corruption of Scripture, second edition (OUP, 2011), Misquoting Jesus (HarperOne), and The New Testament, fifth edition (OUP, 2012). Widely recognized as one of the world's leading authorities on the New Testament and early Christianity, he has lectured at major universities throughout North America and has been featured on CNN, BBC, the History Channel, National Geographic, the Discovery Channel, A&E, major PBS stations, and the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. New York Times best-selling author.
Content
Table of Contents ; Acknowledgments ; Chapter One: Introduction ; PART ONE: FORGERY IN THE GRECO-ROMAN WORLD ; Chapter Two: Forgers, Critics, and Deceived Deceivers ; Chapter Three: Terms and Taxonomies ; Chapter Four: Forgery in Antiquity: Aspects of the Broader Phenomenon ; Chapter Five: Forgery in Antiquity: Motives, Techniques, Intentions, Justifications, and Criteria of Detection ; PART TWO: FORGERY IN EARLY CHRISTIAN POLEMICS ; Chapter Six: Introduction to Forgery and Counter-forgery in Early Christian Polemics ; Chapter Seven: Early Pauline Forgeries Dealing with Eschatology ; Chapter Eight: Later Forgeries Dealing with Eschatology ; Chapter Nine: Forgeries in Support of Paul and His Authority ; Chapter Ten: Forgeries in Opposition to Paul and His Message ; Chapter Eleven: Anti-Jewish Forgeries ; Chapter Twelve: Forgeries involving Church Organization and Leadership ; Chapter Thirteen: Forgeries involving Debates over the Flesh ; Chapter Fourteen: Forgeries Arising from Later Theological Controversies ; Chapter Fifteen: Apologetic Forgeries ; Chapter Sixteen: Lies and Deception In the Cause of Truth ; Bibliography