Early Christian Widows and their Social-economic Situation, Support, and Contribution to the Church (The Library of New Testament Studies)

Zhao, Rebekah Yurong

T.& T.Clark Ltd（2025/10発売）

• 製本 Hardcover:ハードカバー版／ページ数 256 p.
• 言語 ENG
• 商品コード 9780567721358
• DDC分類 259.082

Full Description

In the first consideration of widows in early Christianity, Rebekah Yurong Zhao explores the social-economic situation of widows, their means of support, and their contributions to the church. Through literary analysis of three different genres of early Christian texts - narrative, instruction, and apologetic texts, Zhao argues that historical conclusions can be drawn, especially when set against the cultural backgrounds in both the Roman world and ancient Judaism.

By exploring the situation for widowed women in these cultures, and analysing significant texts from the first two centuries of the church - including 1 Timothy, the Shepherd of Hermas, Ignatius, Polycarp, Tertullian and the Apologists - Zhao seeks to answer three key questions: what status did widows hold in early Christian society, who precisely comprised their support network, and what contributions did they make to the church? Ultimately, this volume examines how support for widows became an iconic practice in early Christianity, whilst also dispelling the stereotype of the widow as merely a passive recipient of care.

Contents

Abstract
Abbreviations
Acknowledgments
Foreword by John Barclay
1. Introduction
2. Widows in the Roman World
3. Widows in Ancient Judaism
4. Widows in Early Christian Narrative Texts
5. Widows in Early Christian Instruction Texts
6. Widows in Early Christian Apologetic Texts
7. Conclusion
Bibliography
Index