Overview

Ancient Christianity had an ambivalent stance toward violence. Jesus had instructed his disciples to love their enemies, and in the first centuries Christians were proud of this lofty teaching and tried to apply it to their persecutors and to competing religious groups. Yet at the same time they testify to their virulent verbal criticism of Jews, heretics and pagans, who could not accept the Christian exclusiveness. After emperor Constantine had turned to Christianity, Christians acquired the opportunity to use violence toward competing groups and pagans, even though they were instructed to love them personally and Jewish-Christian relationships flourished at grass root level. General analyses and case studies demonstrate that the fashionable distinction between intolerant monotheism and tolerant polytheism must be qualified.

Full Product Details

Author:   Albert Geljon ,  Riemer Roukema
Publisher:   Brill
Imprint:   Brill
Volume:   125
Dimensions:   Width: 15.50cm , Height: 1.50cm , Length: 23.50cm
Weight:   0.537kg
ISBN:  

9789004274785

ISBN 10:   9004274782
Pages:   252
Publication Date:   06 June 2014
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Available To Order  
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Table of Contents

Jan Bremmer, Religious Violence between Greeks, Romans, Christians and Jews Danny Praet, Violence against Christians and Violence by Christians in the First Three Centuries: Direct Violence, Cultural Violence and the Debate about Christian Exclusiveness Fred Ledegang, Eusebius’ View on Constantine and his Policy Hans C. Teitler, Avenging Julian. Violence against Christians during the Years 361-363 F.J. Elizabeth Boddens Hosang, Attraction and Hatred. Relations between Jews and Christians in the Early Church Hans van Loon, Violence in the Early Years of Cyril of Alexandria’s Episcopate Joop van Waarden, Priscillian of Avila’s Liber ad Damasum, and the Inability to Handle a Conflict Paul van Geest, Quid dicam de vindicando vel non vindicando? (Ep. 95, 3). Augustine’s Legitimation of Coercion in his Roles of Mediator, Judge, Teacher and Mystagogue Gerard Bartelink, Repression von Häretikern und anderen religiösen Gruppierungen im späteren Altertum, in der Sprache widerspiegelt Riemer Roukema, Reception and Interpretation of Jesus’ Teaching of Love for Enemies in Ancient Christianity

Reviews

'The volume draws attention to one of the ongoing ghallenges in the ever-expanding field of ancient Christian studies, namely the relative chasm between European and American Scholarship. (...) Relatively few scholars have managed to consistently and effectively traverse the geographic and methodological boundaries between the so-called old and new worlds. Publications like the one at hand, by presenting quality scholarship to an international audience, are no doubt key in remedying such omissions on both sides. As such, Geljon and Roukema's volume is to be commended to all parties seriously interested in violence in early Christianity.' Maria E. Doerfler, Durham, Theologische Literaturzeitung 141 (2016) 1/2

Author Information

Albert C. Geljon, Ph.D. (2000) in Ancient Philosophy, Leiden University, teaches classical languages at the Christelijk Gymnasium in Utrecht. He has published on Philo of Alexandria and his influence on the Patristic writers. Riemer Roukema, Ph.D. (1988) in Theology at VU University Amsterdam, is Research Professor in Early Christianity at the Protestant Theological University, Groningen (previously Kampen). He has published on Patristic interpretation of the New Testament and on Gnosticism.

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