Full Description
This volume examines in depth the theory, evidence, and trail of scholarly work on god-fearers. Thomas A. Robinson argues for substantial revisions in the depiction of the god-fearer phenomenon, the story of early Christianity and its engagement with both Jews and with the larger Greco-Roman population. Robinson provides a thorough analysis of the god-fearer theory, examining scholarly debate and primary literary and inscriptional materials put forward as evidence for the god-fearer theory.
Robinson begins with an exploration of the god-fearing community, its definition, or lack thereof, and its role as a bridge to Christianity in the Greco-Roman world. He then examines the key features of god-fearers, and the scholarly appeal to circumcision as the primary barrier preventing god-fearer conversion to Judaism. The volume concludes with an exploration of Luke's Acts and its readers and a thorough investigation of inscriptional and literary evidence supporting god-fearer theory.
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
1. The Importance of God-fearers
2. Defining the God-fearer
3. The Social and Economic Status of the God-fearer
4. God-fearers and the Synagogue
5. The Intellectual Acumen of God-fearers
God-fearers and the Septuagint
6. God-fearers and the Christian Option
7. Circumcision and a Pork Roast
8. From Acts to the Readers of Acts
9. Conclusion
Appendices
Bibliography
Index
