Self-designations and Group Identity in the New Testament
1st Edition
Published on 20. March 2012
978-1-139-18126-6 (ISBN)
Description
What terms would early Christians have used to address one another? In the first book-length study on this topic, Paul Trebilco investigates the origin, use and function of seven key self-designations: 'brothers and sisters', 'believers', 'saints', 'the assembly', 'disciples', 'the Way', and 'Christian'. In doing so, he discovers what they reveal about the identity, self-understanding and character of the early Christian movement. This study sheds light on the theology of particular New Testament authors and on the relationship of early Christian authors and communities to the Old Testament and to the wider context of the Greco-Roman world. Trebilco's writing is informed by other work in the area of sociolinguistics on the development of self-designations and labels and provides a fascinating insight into this often neglected topic.
Reviews / Votes
'Trebilco has written a splendid book, with a clear structured and sustained argument ... This study will be widely cited, and has added valuable insights about early Christian self-understanding.' The Expository TimesMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Cambridge University Press
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises; 1 Tables, black and white; 1 Plates, black and white; 1 Halftones, color
File size
4,95 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-139-18126-6 (9781139181266)
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
Book
06/2014
Cambridge University Press
€77.20
Shipment within 15-20 days
Book
11/2011
Cambridge University Press
€146.20
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Paul Trebilco teaches New Testament studies at the University of Otago, New Zealand. He is the author of Jewish Communities in Asia Minor (Cambridge University Press, 1991), The Early Christians in Ephesus from Paul to Ignatius (2004), 1 Timothy (with S. Rae, 2006) and 2 Timothy and Titus (with S. Rae and C. Caradus, 2009).
Content
1. Introduction; 2. Brothers and sisters - adelphoi; 3. The believers; 4. The saints - hoi hagioi; 5. The assembly - he ekklesia; 6. Disciples - mathetai; 7. The way - he hodos; 8. 'Christian' - Christianos; 9. Conclusions.
