The Idea of Evangelisation : 'Mission', Theology and Scripture from the Early Church to the Age of Bede (British Academy Monographs)

Cardwell, Samuel

The British Academy（2026/05発売）

• 製本 Hardcover:ハードカバー版／ページ数 280 p.
• 言語 ENG
• 商品コード 9781805965787

Full Description

The evangelisation of the peoples of western Europe to Christianity was arguably the single most important historical development of the early Middle Ages, shaping not only the beliefs and religious practices but also the social, political, cultural and intellectual landscape of the last 1,500 years. Although much has been written on the conversion period, little has been done to understand the development of the Christian impulse to spread the Gospel 'to the ends of the earth'. When and why did Christians develop the idea of the evangelisation of all peoples? When and why did they begin to express this idea by deliberately setting out to evangelise pagan peoples? How did the conception or expression of the idea of evangelisation change over time? How did authors interpret key scriptural texts to justify or explain their views on evangelisation? This book offers the first book-length, diachronic study of these questions. Through contextualised close readings of authors writing mostly in Latin between the fourth and the eighth centuries (including Augustine, Patrick, Gregory and Bede), it argues for a gradual but fundamental transformation in Christian thinking about evangelisation. This in turn provides new insights into the origins of Christian mission.

Contents

Abbreviations

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Is 'Mission' the Right Word?

Defining Evangelisation

Historiography and Methodology

Chapter Outline and Scope



From the Early Church to Augustine The Pre-Constantinian Church Tempora Christiana 'Missionaries without a Mission' Augustine Conclusion


Prosper, Palladius and Patrick Prosper, Leo and Palladius Patrick Patrick, Scripture and Evangelisation Patrick, Paul and Apostleship Conclusion


Gregory and his Successors Gregory the Great Gregory's Idea of Evangelisation England and the Seventh-Century Papacy Conclusion


The Peregrini, Irish and Frankish Columba, Aidan and Fursa Columbanus and his Successors Conclusion


How the English Interpreted Their Own Evangelisation Gregory 'our Apostle' The Sin of Failing to Evangelise Evangelisation and Exegesis in Bede's Commentaries on Acts The Work of the Word Conclusion



Conclusion

Bibliography Index