Full Description
M. David Litwa tells the stories of the early Christians whose religious identity was either challenged or outright denied. In the second century many different groups and sects claimed to be the only Orthodox or authentic version of Christianity, and Litwa shows how those groups and figures on the side of developing Christian Orthodoxy often dismissed other versions of Christianity by refusing to call them "Christian". However, the writings and treatises against these groups contain fascinating hints of what they believed, and why they called themselves Christian.
Litwa outlines these different groups and the controversies that surrounded them, presenting readers with an overview of the vast tapestry of beliefs that made up second century Christianity. By moving beyond notions of "gnostic", "heretical" and "orthodox" Litwa allows these "lost Christianities" to speak for themselves. He also questions the notion of some Christian identities "surviving" or "perishing", arguing that all second century "Catholic" groups look very different to any form of modern Roman Catholicism.
Litwa shows that countless discourses, ideas, and practices are continually recycled and adapted throughout time in the building of Christian identities, and indeed that the influence of so-called "lost" Christianities can still be felt today.
Contents
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Chronological Table
Introduction
Chapter 1: Setting the Scene: The World of the Second Century CE
Part I: Early Christian Leaders and their Movements
Chapter 2: Cerinthus and John
Chapter 3: Simon, Helen, and Simonian Christians
Chapter 4: The "Nicolaitans" and Nicolaus
Part II: Early Syrian Teachers
Chapter 5: Menander
Chapter 6: Saturninus
Chapter 7: The Seed of Seth
Part III: Early Egyptian Theologians
Chapter 8: "Ophite" and "Peratic" Christians
Chapter 9: Basilides and Isidore
Chapter 10: Carpocrates, Epiphanes, and Marcellina
Chapter 11: Valentinus
Part IV: Texts and Figures in Rome
Chapter 12: The Gospel of Truth
Chapter 13: The Treatise on the Resurrection
Chapter 14: Marcion
Chapter 15: Ptolemy and Flora
Chapter 16: Heracleon
Part V: Some Christian Leaders in Asia Minor
Chapter 17: Marcus and the Rise of Valentinian Churches
Chapter 18: Noetus and his Followers
Part VI: Theologians in Later Second-century Rome
Chapter 19: Tatian
Chapter 20: Lucanus, Apelles, and Philumene
Chapter 21: Theodotus, Florinus, and "Melchizedekian" Christians
Chapter 22: Justin, author of Baruch
Part VII: Later Theologians in Alexandria
Chapter 23: Julius Cassianus and Tatian
Chapter 24: Prodicus and his Disciples
Chapter 25: The Naassene Preacher
Chapter 26: "Sethian" Christians of the Refutation
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
