Early Christianity and Historical Methods

Early Christianity and Historical Methods PDF Author: Joel Steele
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN: 1666700932
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 84

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Book Description
The focus of this analysis centers on the work of early Christians, prominent theologians, and church historians who have developed and established orthodoxy in Christian theology. Apologetic approaches are analyzed and problems are shown to emerge when there is a lack of distinction made between historical and theological methods. Apologists who approach the study of history the same way they approach theology do both disciplines a disservice. The second part of the narrative argues that Christ is the essence of faith, i.e., this entity is a deity that exists only through faith. Christ’s miracles, his resurrection, and atonement are not consistent with expected realities in history. Moreover, these elements of the deity were never intended to be proofs in a historical sense. Reason, therefore, in this context is not humanity’s salvation. Nothing can be learned about Christ from history, he is a paradox, as Kierkegaard argued—Christ cannot be known (from a historical perspective). Spiritual truths, however, have been developed by theologians and can be learned through the Christian faith. This book will be especially alluring for those interested in understanding some of the most influential developments of early Christianity that morphed into components of the Christian doctrine. It covers textual analysis of ancient writings, historical approaches to studying theology, and methods used for historical inquiry. Emphasis is placed on historical methods and why it’s important to distinguish theology from history.

Early Christianity and Historical Methods

Early Christianity and Historical Methods PDF Author: Joel Steele
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN: 1666700932
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 84

Get Book Here

Book Description
The focus of this analysis centers on the work of early Christians, prominent theologians, and church historians who have developed and established orthodoxy in Christian theology. Apologetic approaches are analyzed and problems are shown to emerge when there is a lack of distinction made between historical and theological methods. Apologists who approach the study of history the same way they approach theology do both disciplines a disservice. The second part of the narrative argues that Christ is the essence of faith, i.e., this entity is a deity that exists only through faith. Christ’s miracles, his resurrection, and atonement are not consistent with expected realities in history. Moreover, these elements of the deity were never intended to be proofs in a historical sense. Reason, therefore, in this context is not humanity’s salvation. Nothing can be learned about Christ from history, he is a paradox, as Kierkegaard argued—Christ cannot be known (from a historical perspective). Spiritual truths, however, have been developed by theologians and can be learned through the Christian faith. This book will be especially alluring for those interested in understanding some of the most influential developments of early Christianity that morphed into components of the Christian doctrine. It covers textual analysis of ancient writings, historical approaches to studying theology, and methods used for historical inquiry. Emphasis is placed on historical methods and why it’s important to distinguish theology from history.

The Oxford Handbook of Early Christian Studies

The Oxford Handbook of Early Christian Studies PDF Author: Susan Ashbrook Harvey
Publisher: Oxford Handbooks Online
ISBN: 0199271569
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 1049

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Book Description
Provides an introduction to the academic study of early Christianity (c. 100-600 AD) and examines the vast geographical area impacted by the early church, in Western and Eastern late antiquity. --from publisher description.

The Germanization of Early Medieval Christianity

The Germanization of Early Medieval Christianity PDF Author: James C. Russell
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 0195104668
Category : Christian sociology
Languages : en
Pages : 273

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Book Description
Discusses German influence on the development of early medieval Christianity.

Church History

Church History PDF Author: James E. Bradley
Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
ISBN: 0802874053
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 315

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Book Description
In their acclaimed, much-used Church History, James Bradley and Richard Muller lay out guidelines, methods, and basic reference tools for research and writing in the fields of church history and historical theology. Over the years, this book has helped countless students define their topics, locate relevant source materials, and write quality papers. This revised, expanded, and updated second edition includes discussion of Internet-based research, digitized texts, and the electronic forms of research tools. The greatly enlarged bibliography of study aids now includes many significant new resources that have become available since the first edition's publication in 1995. Accessible and clear, this introduction will continue to benefit both students and experienced scholars in the field.

Ancient Christian Worship

Ancient Christian Worship PDF Author: Andrew B. McGowan
Publisher: Baker Academic
ISBN: 1441246312
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 466

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Book Description
An Important Study on the Worship of the Early Church This introduction to the origins of Christian worship illuminates the importance of ancient liturgical patterns for contemporary Christian practice. Andrew McGowan takes a fresh approach to understanding how Christians came to worship in the distinctive forms still familiar today. Deftly and expertly processing the bewildering complexity of the ancient sources into lucid, fluent exposition, he sets aside common misperceptions to explore the roots of Christian ritual practices--including the Eucharist, baptism, communal prayer, preaching, Scripture reading, and music--in their earliest recoverable settings. Now in paper.

ReVisioning

ReVisioning PDF Author: James Romaine
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN: 1630871826
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 365

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Book Description
ReVisioning: Critical Methods of Seeing Christianity in the History of Art examines the application of art historical methods to the history of Christianity and art. As methods of art history have become more interdisciplinary, there has been a notable emergence of discussions of religion in art history as well as related fields such as visual culture and theology. This book represents the first critical examination of scholarly methodologies applied to the study of Christian subjects, themes, and contexts in art. ReVisioning contains original work from a range of scholars, each of whom has addressed the question, in regard to a well-known work of art or body of work, "How have particular methods of art history been applied, and with what effect?" The study moves from the third century to the present, providing extensive treatment and analysis of art historical methods applied to the history of Christianity and art.

Historical Method and Confessional Identity in the Era of the Reformation

Historical Method and Confessional Identity in the Era of the Reformation PDF Author: Irena Dorota Backus
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9789004129283
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 440

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Book Description
Betr. u.a. Sebastian Castellio und den Druck bzw. die Rezeption von Werken der Kirchenväter in Basel.

The Oxford Handbook of Early Christian Archaeology

The Oxford Handbook of Early Christian Archaeology PDF Author: David K. Pettegrew
Publisher: Oxford Handbooks
ISBN: 0199369046
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 724

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Book Description
"This handbook brings together work by leading scholars of the archaeology of early Christianity in the Mediterranean and surrounding regions. The 34 essays to this volume ground the history, culture, and society of the first seven centuries of Christianity in the latest currents of archaeological method, theory, and research."--

Acts and the History of Earliest Christianity

Acts and the History of Earliest Christianity PDF Author: Martin Hengel
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN: 1725200767
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 160

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Book Description
Hengel...here marshals a vast body of learning to illuminate brilliantly a few specific questions about the New Testament.... For anyone who has read much in contemporary European New Testament scholarship, this wise little book will come as a tonic. And for the beginning adult student of the New Testament, the book will serve as an excellent introduction to the question of historicity in early Christian writings. 'Review for Religious' The book is extremely well written and gives evidence of an astonishing command of ancient literature. 'Journal of the American Academy of Religion'

Medicine and Health Care in Early Christianity

Medicine and Health Care in Early Christianity PDF Author: Gary B. Ferngren
Publisher: JHU Press
ISBN: 1421420066
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 261

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Book Description
Drawing on New Testament studies and recent scholarship on the expansion of the Christian church, Gary B. Ferngren presents a comprehensive historical account of medicine and medical philanthropy in the first five centuries of the Christian era. Ferngren first describes how early Christians understood disease. He examines the relationship of early Christian medicine to the natural and supernatural modes of healing found in the Bible. Despite biblical accounts of demonic possession and miraculous healing, Ferngren argues that early Christians generally accepted naturalistic assumptions about disease and cared for the sick with medical knowledge gleaned from the Greeks and Romans. Ferngren also explores the origins of medical philanthropy in the early Christian church. Rather than viewing illness as punishment for sins, early Christians believed that the sick deserved both medical assistance and compassion. Even as they were being persecuted, Christians cared for the sick within and outside of their community. Their long experience in medical charity led to the creation of the first hospitals, a singular Christian contribution to health care. "A succinct, thoughtful, well-written, and carefully argued assessment of Christian involvement with medical matters in the first five centuries of the common era . . . It is to Ferngren's credit that he has opened questions and explored them so astutely. This fine work looks forward as well as backward; it invites fuller reflection of the many senses in which medicine and religion intersect and merits wide readership."—Journal of the American Medical Association "In this superb work of historical and conceptual scholarship, Ferngren unfolds for the reader a cultural milieu of healing practices during the early centuries of Christianity."—Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith "Readable and widely researched . . . an important book for mission studies and American Catholic movements, the book posits the question of what can take its place in today's challenging religious culture."—Missiology: An International Review Gary B. Ferngren is a professor of history at Oregon State University and a professor of the history of medicine at First Moscow State Medical University. He is the author of Medicine and Religion: A Historical Introduction and the editor of Science and Religion: A Historical Introduction.