A comprehensive and authoritative account of the 'heretic' Marcion, this volume traces the development of the concept and language of heresy in the setting of an exploration of second-century Christian intellectual debate. Judith M. Lieu analyses accounts of Marcion by the major early Christian polemicists who shaped the idea of heresy, including Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Epiphanius of Salamis, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Ephraem Syrus. She examines Marcion's Gospel, Apostolikon, and Antitheses in detail and compares his principles with those of contemporary Christian and non-Christian thinkers, covering a wide range of controversial issues: the nature of God, the relation of the divine to creation, the person of Jesus, the interpretation of Scripture, the nature of salvation, and the appropriate lifestyle of adherents. In this innovative study, Marcion emerges as a distinctive, creative figure who addressed widespread concerns within second-century Christian diversity.

A comprehensive and authoritative account of the 'heretic' Marcion, this volume traces the development of the concept and language of heresy in the setting of an exploration of second-century Christian intellectual debate. Judith M. Lieu analyses accounts of Marcion by the major early Christian polemicists who shaped the idea of heresy, including Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Epiphanius of Salamis, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Ephraem Syrus. She examines Marcion's Gospel, Apostolikon, and Antitheses in detail and compares his principles with those of contemporary Christian and non-Christian thinkers, covering a wide range of controversial issues: the nature of God, the relation of the divine to creation, the person of Jesus, the interpretation of Scripture, the nature of salvation, and the appropriate lifestyle of adherents. In this innovative study, Marcion emerges as a distinctive, creative figure who addressed widespread concerns within second-century Christian diversity.

The Johannine Epistles have long been recognized as contributing a vital element to the theology of the New Testament. Usually it is to the Gospel that the reader turns first in order to explore that contribution; the First Epistle is treated as a supplement, while 2 and 3 John--because of their brevity--receive little attention. This book allows the Epistles to speak for themselves, and shows that they sound a distinctive note within Johannine theology, in particular, and the thought of the New Testament, in general. Dr. Lieu carefully outlines their most important theological themes which, when understood in their original setting, are seen to have rich potential for the continuing theology of the Church.

Die ausserst komplexe Struktur der Joelschrift, vor allem der letzten zwei Kapitel Joel 3 und 4, ladt dazu ein, sich ihr unter verschiedenen Perspektiven zu nahern. Der markante Schlusssatz, der den Titel der Arbeit bildet, fordert geradezu heraus, danach zu fragen, wie die Schrift denn nach den Hoehen und Tiefen (Verheissung, Gericht und Heil) der letzten beiden Kapitel zu der starken Aussage uber die Gegenwart Gottes kommt. Das vorliegende Werk moechte sich durch verschiedenen literaturwissenschaftlichen Zugangen und theologischen Fragestellungen damit auseinanderzusetzen. Die literaturwissenschaftliche Analyse arbeitet dabei primar unter synchroner Hinsicht, die redaktionsgeschichtlichen Entwicklungen der Joelschrift und des Zwoelfprophetenbuches werden auf Grund vom aktuellen wissenschaftlichen Stand vorausgesetzt und sollen mit einem literaturwissenschaftlich-theologischen Ansatz erganzt werden. Methodische Schwerpunkte sind eine detaillierte Strukturanalyse, die Darstellung eines Raumkonzepts, eine gezielte Sprechaktanalyse und eine Auswertung der Zeitstruktur, die jeweils die intertextuell-leserorientierte Perspektive aufgreifen. Mit Amos 9, Sacharja 8 und Ezechiel 48 wird der Blick auf andere Endpunkte prophetischer Literatur gelenkt, die gleichfalls Aussagen uber die Prasenz Gottes treffen, und ihre theologische Zielrichtung mit der Joelschrift verglichen.

The Oxford Handbooks series is a major new initiative in academic publishing. Each volume offers an authoritative and up-to-date survey of original research in a particular subject area. Specially commissioned essays from leading figures in the discipline give critical examinations of the progress and direction of debates. Biblical studies is a highly technical and diverse field. Study of the Bible demands expertise in fields ranging from Archaeology, Egyptology, Assyriology, and Linguistics through textual, historical, and sociological studies to Literary Theory, Feminism, Philosophy, and Theology, to name only some. This authoritative and compelling guide to the discipline will, therefore, be an invaluable reference work for all students and academics who want to explore more fully essential topics in Biblical studies.

The Johannine Epistles have long been recognised as contributing a vital element to the theology of the New Testament. Usually it is to the Gospel that the reader turns first in order to explore that contribution; the First Epistle is treated as a supplement, while 2 and 3 John - on account of their brevity - receive little attention. This book allows the Epistles to speak for themselves, and shows that they sound a distinctive note within Johannine theology, in particular, and the thought of the New Testament, in general. Dr Lieu carefully outlines their most important theological themes (comprising, for example, tensions-in-unity between confidence and imperative, individual and community, and faith and tradition) which - when understood in their original setting - are seen to have rich potential for the continuing theology of the Church. By focusing on the Johannine Epistles in their proper context and in their own right, the author of this book thus provides a timely reassessment of the substantial theological contribution they have to make.