The First Christians in Their Social Worlds

An examination of how the New Testament was influenced by the social realities of the early Christian communities for whom the books were wtitten. It reveals an intimate connection between society and Gospel.

By applying perspectives from sociology and anthropology to a wide range of biblical data, The First Christians in Their Social Worlds examines how the New Testament documents were influenced by the social realities of the early Christian communities for whom they were written, with the result that the texts reveal an intimate connection between society and Gospel. Overlaying this theoretical foundation, Philip Esler's book studies specific socio-political ideas in various texts of the New Testament, for example, charismatic phenomena, the admission of Gentiles into early Christian communities, sectarianism and millennarianism and its relationship to political oppression.

E writes with admirable clarity and enthusiasm.' - Publciation UnknownFor those whose sudy of the New Testament has been of an exclusively literary-critical type, the book offers a glimpse of how alternative perspectives can be opened up.' - Church Times

Autorentext

Philip F. Esler

Klappentext

First published in 1994. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Inhalt
Preface 1. Social worlds, social sciences and the New Testament 2. Reading the Mediterranean social script 3. Glossolalia and the admission of Gentiles into the early Christian community 4. Sectarianism and the conflict at Antioch 5. Introverted sectarianism at Quran and in the Johannine community 6. Millennialism and Daniel 7 7. The social function of 4 Ezra 8. Sorcery accusations and the Apocalypse References Index