Studying the New Testament through Inscriptions: An Introduction

by C Burnett

Overview

Studying the New Testament through Inscriptions is an intuitive introduction to inscriptions from the Greco-Roman world. Inscriptions can help contextualize certain events associated with the New Testament in a way that many widely circulated literary texts do not. This book both introduces inscriptions and demonstrates sound methodological use of them in the study of the New Testament. Through five case studies, it highlights the largely unrecognized ability of inscriptions to shed light on early Christian history, practice, and the leadership structure of early Christian churches, as well as to solve certain New Testament exegetical impasses.

Key points and features:

• No other book like this on the market—this is the first of its kind!
• A practical and much-needed tool for graduate students, seminarians, and pastors
• Showcases five detailed case studies, designed to show students exactly how to use inscriptions
• Includes 20+ black and white photos
• Three appendices provide additional information for those who want to learn more

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781683073222
Publisher:	Hendrickson Publishers, Incorporated
Publication date:	10/05/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	216
File size:	6 MB

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations xi

Preface xv

Acknowledgments xvii

Abbreviations xix

Introduction 1

1 Engraved for All Time: An Introduction to Inscriptions 9

2 Jesus, the Royal Lord: Inscriptions and Local Customs 58

3 "Devour" or "Go Ahead with" the Lord's Banquet? Inscriptions and Philology 77

4 Imperial Loyalty Oaths, Caesar's Decrees, and Early Christianity in Thessalonica: Contextualizing Inscriptions 97

5 Benefactresses, Deaconesses, and Overseers in the Philippian Church: Inscriptions and Their Insights into the Religious Lives of Women in the Roman World 121

6 Calculating Numbers with Wisdom: Inscriptions and Exegetical Impasses 140

Conclusion 163

Appendix 1 Important Printed Collections of Inscriptions 167

Appendix 2 Online Search Engines and Collections of Inscriptions 169

Appendix 3 Abbreviations in Inscriptions 173

Glossary 177

Bibliography 179

Index of Modern Authors 207

Index of Subjects 211

Index of Ancient Sources 213