The Biblical World.The Biblical World. Edited by John Barton People commonly known as John Barton include:
New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of : Routledge, 2002; paperback ed., 2004. xxiii and 524 pages; ix and 539 pages. Paper. [pounds sterling]45.00. The Early Christian World. Edited by Philip F. Esler. 2 vols. London and New York: Routledge, 2000; paperbacked., 2004. xxvi and 689 pages; ix and pages 690-1342. Paper. [pounds sterling]45.00. These two large, multi-authored reference sets are extremely helpful in understanding and interpreting biblical texts. The first covers both testaments, the second only the New. The first volume of The Biblical World briefly describes the OT, the Apocrypha, and the NT. Then comes a description of significant genres (myth and legend, historiography, prophecy, wisdom, apocalyptic, the Jewish novel, gospels, and letters). The third section discusses documents, including Hebrew inscriptions, and Gnostic gospels The term gnostic gospels (pronunciation: naws-tik) refers to gnostic collections of writings about the teachings of Jesus, written around the 2nd century AD.[] These gospels are not accepted by the Church as part of the standard Biblical canon. . The final section describes the history of Palestine The History of Palestine is the account of events in the geographic area called Palestine, from ancient times to the present. For the history of the use of the term "Palestine", see Boundaries and name of the region of Palestine. from the Bronze Age Bronze Age, period in the development of technology when metals were first used regularly in the manufacture of tools and weapons. Pure copper and bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, were used indiscriminately at first; this early period is sometimes called the to 135 C.E. (There is little attention to the wider world of the New Testament--a gap the second set fills well.) The second volume pays more, though limited, attention to the New Testament. Thus the articles on law in the New Testament concentrates on law in Palestine; it says nothing about law in the Greek polis polis In ancient Greece, an independent city and its surrounding region under a unified government. A polis might originate from the natural divisions of mountains and sea and from local tribal and cult divisions. or Roman administrative units. The writers discuss institutions (languages, warfare, arts, religion in different periods, and social life); a series of articles discusses Jewish religion; the two articles by Justin J. Meggitt orient the reader to the social life and the religious practice of the "First Churches." They are the first articles to take note of the Greco-Roman context of 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 in this set, and offer extensive bibliographies. The section on Biblical Figures concentrates on only a few people: patriarchs and matriarchs, Moses, David and Solomon, Jesus, and Paul; major figures are missing, e.g., Hezekiah, Josiah, Peter, and James. The discussion of religious ideas (salvation, interpretation of Jesus, death and afterlife, and purity) are terse presentations. The final section, "The Bible Today," presents Jewish and Christian Bible translation and modern interpretation. The Biblical World is better on the Old Testament than the New; but the deficiency is salvaged by The Early Christian World, which covers both the New Testament in its world and Christianity through the early fifth century. Volume I contains five sections that cover the context of the early church, survey Christian origins and subsequent developments, discuss community formation and maintenance, everyday life and practices, and survey post-apostolic theology. The four sections in volume II discuss the artistic contributions of post-NT Christianity (architecture, art, music, and imaginative literature), external challenges (martyrdom, philosophical challenges, and popular opposition), internal challenges (aberrant movements and heresies) and profiles of key patristic pa·tris·tic also pa·tris·ti·cal adj. Of or relating to the fathers of the early Christian church or their writings. pa·tris figures. Here I missed Clement of Alexandria Clement of Alexandria (Titus Flavius Clemens), d. c.215, Greek theologian. Born in Athens, he traveled widely and was converted to Christianity. He studied and taught at the catechetical school in Alexandria until the persecution of 202. Origen was his pupil there. and any discussion of Gregory the Illuminator Saint Gregory the Illuminator or Saint Gregory the Enlightener (Armenian: Գրիգոր Լուսաւորիչ translit. and Armenian Christianity. Both volumes have bibliographies appended to each article, and each contains numerous black-and-white illustrations. Originally published in hard cover at [pounds sterling]150 and [pounds sterling]170, the paperback editions put them within the reach of individuals. They would be useful additions to both personal and parish libraries. If one had to chose between them, I would opt for The Early Christian World. But both have rich resources in compact form. |
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