The Religious Context of Early Christianity: A Guide to Graeco-Roman Religions

by Hans-Josef Klauck

Overview

Klauck's is a uniquely well-informed and comprehensive guide to the world of religion in the Graeco-Roman environment of early Christianity. Drawing on the most up-to-date scholarship, his volume paints a carefully nuanced portrait of the Christians' religious context. Besides describing ordinary domestic and civic religion and popular belief (including astrology, divination and "magic"), there is extended discussion of mystery cults, ruler and emperor cults, the religious dimensions of philosophy, and Gnosticism. An authoritative work, Klauck's will become a new standard for reference and teaching.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780800635930
Publisher:	1517 Media
Publication date:	05/28/2003
Series:	Studies of the New Testament and Its World
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	544
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Hans-Josef Klauck is Professor of New Testament and Early Christian Literature at the University of Chicago. He has published commentaries and monographs on 1 Corinthians, the Johannine epistles, New Testament theology, noncanonical gospels, and the history of religion in the Graeco-Roman world.

Table of Contents

Daily Life and Liminal Experiences: Civic and Domestic Religion
Fascination of the Mysterious: The Mystery Cults
Popular Belief: A Panorama-Astrology, Soothsaying, Miracles, Magic
Divinized Human Beings: The Cult of Rulers and Emperors
In Search of Happiness: Philosophy and Religion
Return to the Divine Origin: The Gnostic Transformation