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New Testament Studies: History
Resources available at Yale Divinity Library for New Testament studies.
Roman Religion: A Sourcebook by Valerie M. WarriorSourcebook introducing fundamentals of ancient Roman religious beliefs and rituals. Includes maps, glossary, a chronological table and lists of important gods. Companion to Valerie Warrior's Greek Religion: A Sourcebook .
Rituals and Power: The Roman Imperial Cult in Asia Minor by S. R. F. PriceStudies Greek cults of the Roman emperor in Asia minor. Shows how and why the Roman emperor was god. Analyses the historical, social and cultural contexts of the Imperial cult, rituals of temples, images and sacrifices. Helps our understanding of the relationship between religious ritual and political power.
Associations in the Greco-Roman World by Richard S. Ascough; Philip A. Harland; John S. KloppenborgAssociations in the Greco-Roman World provides students and scholars with a clear and readable resource for greater understanding of the social, cultural, and religious life across the ancient Mediterranean. The authors provide new translations of inscriptions and papyri from hundreds of associations, alongside descriptions of more than two dozen archaeological remains of building sites. Complemented by a substantial annotated bibliography and accompanying images, this sourcebook fills many gaps and allows for future exploration in studies of the Greco-Roman religious world, particularly the nature of Judean and Christian groups at that time.
Greco-Roman associations : texts, translations, and commentary by John S. Kloppenborg; Richard S. AscoughPrivate associations organized around a common cult, profession, ethnic identity, neighbourhood or family were common throughout the Greco-Roman antiquity, offering opportunities for sociability, cultic activities, mutual support and a context in which to display and recognize virtuous achievement. This volume collects a representative selection of inscriptions from associations inAttica, Central Greece, Macedonia, Thrace, published with English translations, brief explanatory notes, commentaries and full indices. This volume is essential for several areas of study: ancient patterns of social organization; the organization of diasporic communities in the ancient Mediterranean; models for the structure of early Christian groups; and forms of sociability, status-displays, and the vocabularies of virtue. Multiple volumes, organized by geographical region.
The Roman Empire by Peter Garnsey; Richard Saller; Jas Elsner; Martin Goodman; Richard Gordon; Greg WoolfDuring the Principate (roughly 27 BCE to 235 CE), when the empire reached its maximum extent, Roman society and culture were radically transformed. But how was the vast territory of the empire controlled? Did the demands of central government stimulate economic growth or endanger survival? What forces of cohesion operated to balance the social and economic inequalities and high mortality rates? How did the official religion react in the face of the diffusion of alien cults and the emergence of Christianity? These are some of the many questions posed here, in the new, expanded edition of Garnsey and Saller's pathbreaking account of the economy, society, and culture of the Roman Empire. This second edition includes a new introduction that explores the consequences for government and the governing classes of the replacement of the Republic by the rule of emperors. Addenda to the original chapters offer up-to-date discussions of issues and point to new evidence and approaches that have enlivened the study of Roman history in recent decades. A completely new chapter assesses how far Rome's subjects resisted her hegemony. The bibliography has also been thoroughly updated, and a new color plate section has been added.
The Cambridge Economic History of the Greco-Roman World by Ian Morris; Walter Scheidel; Richard P. SallerIn this, the first comprehensive one-volume survey of the economies of classical antiquity, twenty-eight chapters summarise the current state of scholarship in their specialised fields and sketch new directions for research. The approach taken is both thematic, with chapters on the underlying determinants of economic performance, and chronological, with coverage of the whole of the Greek and Roman worlds extending from the Aegean Bronze Age to Late Antiquity. The contributors move beyond the substantivist-formalist debates that dominated twentieth-century scholarship and display a new interest in economic growth in antiquity. New methods for measuring economic development are explored, often combining textual and archaeological data that have previously been treated separately. Fully accessible to non-specialist, the volume represents a major advance in our understanding of the economic expansion that made the civilization of the classical Mediterranean world possible. Online available.
The Roman Household: A Sourcebook by Jane F. Gardner; Thomas WiedemannWith the help of a wide variety of source material, particularly legal documents and inscriptions, some of it made available for the first time in English, this book illustrates the activities associated with the household, demonstrating the different and frequently conflicting roles and moral values expected from its various members: male and female, old and young, freedman and slave.
Ideas of Slavery from Aristotle to Augustine by Peter GarnseyThis study, unique of its kind, asks how slavery was viewed by the leading spokesmen of Greece and Rome. There was no movement for abolition in these societies, nor a vigorous debate, such as occurred in antebellum America, but this does not imply that slavery was accepted without question. Dr Garnsey draws on a wide range of sources, pagan, Jewish and Christian, over ten centuries, to challenge the common assumption of passive acquiescence in slavery, and the associated view that, Aristotle apart, there was no systematic thought on slavery. The work contains both a typology of attitudes to slavery ranging from critiques to justifications, and paired case-studies of leading theorists of slavery, Aristotle and the Stoics, Philo and Paul, Ambrose and Augustine. A final chapter considers the use of slavery as a metaphor in the Church Fathers.
Historical Jesus and the Gospels
A Marginal Jew - Rethinking the Historical Jesus by John P. MeierFive long volumes. Summarizes major questions and answers related to every aspect of historical Jesus studies of the past century. Survey table of contents and read the series' introduction of methods before diving in. Online available.
Jesus the Jew by Geza VermesA significant corrective to the study of the historical Jesus. A portrait of Jesus based on evidence of charismatic activity in first-century Galilee. Contextualizes prophet, Lord, Messiah, son of man, Son of God.
Jesus and Judaism by E. P. SandersDeals with Jesus' intention and relationship to contemporaries in Judaism. Investigates the reason for his death and rise of Christianity.
The Canon Debate by Lee Martin McDonald; James A. SandersHow was the New Testament canon formed and closed? What role was played by Marcion? By gnostics? By the church fathers? What did the early church make of the apocrypha and pseudepigrapha? By what criteria have questions of canonicity been decided? Read to find out.
History of New Testament Studies
History of New Testament Research: 3 Volumes by William BairdOutlines the global history of modern NT studies. Organized by locations, periods, schools, figures, and paradigm-shifting works. Bibliographies for each section. Three (long) volumes. Online available.
The Invention of the Biblical Scholar by Stephen D. Moore; Yvonne SherwoodWhat is a "biblical scholar"? A product of the enlightenment. Poses questions for scholars across the humanities concerned with the question of the religious and the secular. What other forms might biblical criticism have taken? What untried forms might biblical criticism yet take?
Backgrounds of Early Christianity by Quick introduction to historical context, parsed socially, religiously, economically, etc.
Religions of Rome by Historical overview of Roman cultic practices (Vol 1). Sourcebook (Vol 2).
The Ancient Mysteries: A Sourcebook by Selections from Greek and Roman history, plays, and poetry. Brief intros to each mystery cult.
Roman Religion: A Sourcebook by Sourcebook introducing fundamentals of ancient Roman religious beliefs and rituals. Includes maps, glossary, a chronological table and lists of important gods. Companion to Valerie Warrior's Greek Religion: A Sourcebook .
Rome and Religion by Historical introduction. Online Available.
Rituals and Power: The Roman Imperial Cult in Asia Minor by Studies Greek cults of the Roman emperor in Asia minor. Shows how and why the Roman emperor was god. Analyses the historical, social and cultural contexts of the Imperial cult, rituals of temples, images and sacrifices. Helps our understanding of the relationship between religious ritual and political power.
Religion in the Roman Empire by Engaging, systematic introduction to religion in the Roman empire. Draws on textual and visual, literary, inscriptions and monuments.
Associations in the Greco-Roman World by Associations in the Greco-Roman World provides students and scholars with a clear and readable resource for greater understanding of the social, cultural, and religious life across the ancient Mediterranean. The authors provide new translations of inscriptions and papyri from hundreds of associations, alongside descriptions of more than two dozen archaeological remains of building sites. Complemented by a substantial annotated bibliography and accompanying images, this sourcebook fills many gaps and allows for future exploration in studies of the Greco-Roman religious world, particularly the nature of Judean and Christian groups at that time.
Greco-Roman associations : texts, translations, and commentary by Private associations organized around a common cult, profession, ethnic identity, neighbourhood or family were common throughout the Greco-Roman antiquity, offering opportunities for sociability, cultic activities, mutual support and a context in which to display and recognize virtuous achievement. This volume collects a representative selection of inscriptions from associations inAttica, Central Greece, Macedonia, Thrace, published with English translations, brief explanatory notes, commentaries and full indices. This volume is essential for several areas of study: ancient patterns of social organization; the organization of diasporic communities in the ancient Mediterranean; models for the structure of early Christian groups; and forms of sociability, status-displays, and the vocabularies of virtue. Multiple volumes, organized by geographical region.
The Roman Empire by During the Principate (roughly 27 BCE to 235 CE), when the empire reached its maximum extent, Roman society and culture were radically transformed. But how was the vast territory of the empire controlled? Did the demands of central government stimulate economic growth or endanger survival? What forces of cohesion operated to balance the social and economic inequalities and high mortality rates? How did the official religion react in the face of the diffusion of alien cults and the emergence of Christianity? These are some of the many questions posed here, in the new, expanded edition of Garnsey and Saller's pathbreaking account of the economy, society, and culture of the Roman Empire. This second edition includes a new introduction that explores the consequences for government and the governing classes of the replacement of the Republic by the rule of emperors. Addenda to the original chapters offer up-to-date discussions of issues and point to new evidence and approaches that have enlivened the study of Roman history in recent decades. A completely new chapter assesses how far Rome's subjects resisted her hegemony. The bibliography has also been thoroughly updated, and a new color plate section has been added.
The Cambridge Economic History of the Greco-Roman World by In this, the first comprehensive one-volume survey of the economies of classical antiquity, twenty-eight chapters summarise the current state of scholarship in their specialised fields and sketch new directions for research. The approach taken is both thematic, with chapters on the underlying determinants of economic performance, and chronological, with coverage of the whole of the Greek and Roman worlds extending from the Aegean Bronze Age to Late Antiquity. The contributors move beyond the substantivist-formalist debates that dominated twentieth-century scholarship and display a new interest in economic growth in antiquity. New methods for measuring economic development are explored, often combining textual and archaeological data that have previously been treated separately. Fully accessible to non-specialist, the volume represents a major advance in our understanding of the economic expansion that made the civilization of the classical Mediterranean world possible. Online available.
The Roman Household: A Sourcebook by With the help of a wide variety of source material, particularly legal documents and inscriptions, some of it made available for the first time in English, this book illustrates the activities associated with the household, demonstrating the different and frequently conflicting roles and moral values expected from its various members: male and female, old and young, freedman and slave.
Ideas of Slavery from Aristotle to Augustine by This study, unique of its kind, asks how slavery was viewed by the leading spokesmen of Greece and Rome. There was no movement for abolition in these societies, nor a vigorous debate, such as occurred in antebellum America, but this does not imply that slavery was accepted without question. Dr Garnsey draws on a wide range of sources, pagan, Jewish and Christian, over ten centuries, to challenge the common assumption of passive acquiescence in slavery, and the associated view that, Aristotle apart, there was no systematic thought on slavery. The work contains both a typology of attitudes to slavery ranging from critiques to justifications, and paired case-studies of leading theorists of slavery, Aristotle and the Stoics, Philo and Paul, Ambrose and Augustine. A final chapter considers the use of slavery as a metaphor in the Church Fathers.
A Marginal Jew - Rethinking the Historical Jesus by Five long volumes. Summarizes major questions and answers related to every aspect of historical Jesus studies of the past century. Survey table of contents and read the series' introduction of methods before diving in. Online available.
Jesus the Jew by A significant corrective to the study of the historical Jesus. A portrait of Jesus based on evidence of charismatic activity in first-century Galilee. Contextualizes prophet, Lord, Messiah, son of man, Son of God.
Jesus and Judaism by Deals with Jesus' intention and relationship to contemporaries in Judaism. Investigates the reason for his death and rise of Christianity.
The Historical Jesus: the life of a Mediterranean Jewish peasant by Attempts to determine Jesus' words and actions stripped of any subsequent additions. The Jesus who emerges is a Jewish Mediterranean peasant, a radical revolutionary, with a vision of economic, political, and religious egalitarianism.
Reinventing Paul by Introduces the historical study of Paul and 19-20th century advancements. Short. Online available.
Paul and Palestinian Judaism by A landmark in 20th century Paul studies. Credited for the New Perspective on Paul. Long. Online available.
The First Urban Christians: the social world of the Apostle Paul by Analyzes the earliest documents of Christianity--letters of Paul--to describe the tensions and the texture of life of the first urban Christians.
From Paul to Valentinus: Christians at Rome in the first two centuries by Studies the rise and shape of the earliest churches in Rome. Integrates history, archaeology, theology, and social analysis. From Paul's Letter to the Romans to the writings of Clement of Rome, Justin Martyr, Montanus, and Valentinus.
The Canon of the New Testament: Its Origin, Development, and Significance by Provides information from Church history concerning the recognition of the canonical status of the books of the NT. Canonization was a long and gradual process of sifting through scores of gospels, epistles, and other books that enjoyed local and temporary authority.
The Canon Debate by How was the New Testament canon formed and closed? What role was played by Marcion? By gnostics? By the church fathers? What did the early church make of the apocrypha and pseudepigrapha? By what criteria have questions of canonicity been decided? Read to find out.
History of New Testament Research: 3 Volumes by Outlines the global history of modern NT studies. Organized by locations, periods, schools, figures, and paradigm-shifting works. Bibliographies for each section. Three (long) volumes. Online available.
Racializing Jesus: Race, Ideology, and the Formation of Modern Biblical Scholarship by Shows how racially-grounded thinking has influenced modern biblical scholarship.
The Invention of the Biblical Scholar by What is a "biblical scholar"? A product of the enlightenment. Poses questions for scholars across the humanities concerned with the question of the religious and the secular. What other forms might biblical criticism have taken? What untried forms might biblical criticism yet take?
