Magic and Paganism in Early Christianity.Magic and Paganism in Early Christianity The term Early Christianity here refers to Christianity of the period after the Death of Jesus in the early 30s and before the First Council of Nicaea in 325. The term is sometimes used in a narrower sense of just the very first followers (disciples) of Jesus of Nazareth and the . By Hans-Josef Klauck. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2003. xii and 136 pages. Paper. $15.00. Klauck's commendable work has the benefit of offering a serious academic study that will also be immediately useful to pastors and other students of the New Testament. It functions as a study of religion in the book of Acts, and it tackles many of the pesky questions that curious readers may have. Who was the Ethiopian covert? Simon Magus Simon Magus (mā`gəs), Samaritan sorcerer who attempted to buy spiritual power from the apostles. From this comes the term simony. He is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. He was said to have founded a Gnostic sect. ? the slave-girl soothsayer? And what of Paul's sermon at the Areopagus? Which philosophical schools, cults, or folk religions competed with Christianity for converts or provided targets for evangelism Evangelism Gantry, Elmer fire and brimstone, fraudulent revivalist. [Am. Lit.: Elmer Gantry] John disciple closest to Jesus. [N.T.: John] Luke early Christian; the “beloved physician.” [N.T. ? The short volume moves at a fast clip through story after story, raising questions of evangelization e·van·gel·ize v. e·van·gel·ized, e·van·gel·iz·ing, e·van·gel·iz·es v.tr. 1. To preach the gospel to. 2. To convert to Christianity. v.intr. To preach the gospel. and inculturation Inculturation is a term used in Christian missiology referring to the adaptation of the way the Gospel is presented for the specific cultures being evangelized. It is attuned - but not identical - to the term enculturation used in Sociology. . It makes for a nice commentary, tackling questions that befit be·fit tr.v. be·fit·ted, be·fit·ting, be·fits To be suitable to or appropriate for: formal attire that befits the occasion. a good study of early "gospel and culture." Klauck sees even the form of the book of Acts as "literary inculturation," with its adherence to conventions of the day (p. 4). Beginning with the mission proclamation in 1:8--to go "to be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth"--he quickly proceeds to the formation of the early sending community, of the events at Pentecost, and of work in the diaspora. The second chapter treats the evangelist Philip (Acts 8), and the third chapter treats the foundational events in Caesarea (Acts 10-12). The last half of the book examines Paul's first missionary journey (Acts 13-18), his work in Greece (Acts 16-18) and Ephesus (Acts 19), and his final journey to Rome (Acts 17-28). A short conclusion frames the discussion, with Klauck writing that "the primary intention of the Acts of the Apostles APOSTLES. In the British courts of admiralty, when a party appeals from a decision made against him, he prays apostles from the judge, which are brief letters of dismission, stating the case, and declaring that the record will be transmitted. 2 Brown's Civ. and Adm. Law, 438; Dig. 49. 6. as a book is not missionary, but it does portray missionary history, as an inspiration to the reader" (p. 121). In his narration, Klauck does a remarkable job not only of highlighting the most obvious candidates for discussion but also of raising new questions. Klauck is ever the dispassionate dis·pas·sion·ate adj. Devoid of or unaffected by passion, emotion, or bias. See Synonyms at fair1. dis·pas observer, refereeing debates over passages and offering possible interpretations. Not surprisingly, the University of Chicago New Testament scholar is uninterested in speculating on what this discussion offers to the church or to theological treatment. Others, however, may find this work remarkably helpful in constructing New Testament theologies, in reconstructing the vibrancy of early Christianity, and in probing the intersection of Christianity with the magics of today. Jonathan Seitz Princeton Seminary |
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