Roman Faith and Christian Faith - Pistis and Fides in the Early Roman Empire and Early Churches (Hardcover)

This study investigates why 'faith' (pistis/fides) was so important to early Christians that the concept and praxis dominated the writings of the New Testament. It argues that such a study must be interdisciplinary, locating emerging Christianities in the social practices and mentalites of contemporary Judaism and the early Roman empire. This can, therefore, equally be read as a study of the operation of pistis/fides in the world of the early Roman principate, taking one small but relatively well-attested cult as a case study in how micro-societies within that world could treat it distinctively. Drawing on recent work in sociology and economics, the book traces the varying shapes taken by pistis/fides in Greek and Roman human and divine-human relationships: whom or what is represented as easy or difficult to trust or believe in; where pistis/fides is 'deferred' and 'reified' in practices such as oaths and proofs; how pistis/fides is related to fear, doubt and scepticism; and which foundations of pistis/fides are treated as more or less secure. The book then traces the evolution of representations of human and divine-human pistis in the Septuagint, before turning to pistis/pisteuein in New Testament writings and their role in the development of early Christologies (incorporating a new interpretation of pistis Christou) and ecclesiologies. It argues for the integration of the study of pistis/pisteuein with that of New Testament ethics. It explores the interiority of Graeco-Roman and early Christian pistis/fides. Finally, it discusses eschatological pistis and the shape of the divine-human community in the eschatological kingdom.

General

Imprint:	Oxford UniversityPress
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Release date:	May 2015
Authors:	Teresa Morgan (Professor of Graeco-Roman History, Nancy Bissell Turpin Fellow and Tutor in Ancient History)
Dimensions:	240 x 163 x 41mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Hardcover
Pages:	640
ISBN-13:	978-0-19-872414-8
Categories:	Books > Humanities > History > World history > BCE to 500 CE Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > General > History of religion Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Christianity > Early Church Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Christianity > The Bible > New Testament > General Books > History > World history > BCE to 500 CE Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Early Church Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > The Bible > New Testament > General Books > Religion & Spirituality > General > History of religion Books > Christianity > Early Church Books > Christianity > The Bible > New Testament
LSN:	0-19-872414-4
Barcode:	9780198724148

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