Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Typical studies of marriage and family in the early Christian period focus on very limited evidence found in Scripture. This interdisciplinary book offers a broader, richer picture of the first Christian families by drawing together research by experts ranging from archaeologists to ancient historians.By exploring the nature of households in the ancient Greco-Roman world, the contributors assemble a new understanding of ancient Christian families that is both compelling and instructive. Divided into six parts, the book covers key aspects of ancient family life, from meals and child-rearing to women's roles and the lives of slaves. Three concluding chapters explore the implications of all this information for theological education today.Contributors: David L. BalchSuzanne DixonJ. Albert HarrillRoss S. KraemerChristian LaesPeter LampeAmy-Jill LevineMargaret Y. MacDonaldDale MartinEric M. MeyersMargaret M. MitchellCarolyn OsiekBeryl RawsonRichard SallerTimothy F. SedgwickMonika TrumperAndrew Wallace-Hadrill
Synopsis
Much has been written about the Roman family unit, but relatively little about the early Christian period, comparing Roman, Jewish and Christian concepts of the family. These seventeen essays derive from a conference held in Texas in 2000, presenting a range of perspectives and approaches from ancient historians, scholars of Judaism and Christianity and a single archaeologist. The essays are divided into broad subject areas: Archaeology of the Domus and Insulae; Domestic values; Women; Slaves; Children; Implications for theological education. More specifically, they include Andrew Wallace-Hadrill's discusssion re-interpreting the Roman family and household, Monika Truemper's examination of the houses of Delos, David Balch's discussion of Pompeiian wall paintings, Ross Kraemer's examination of the lives of two Jewish women in Roman Palestine, and Beryl Rawson's study of commemorations of Roman children.
Synopsis
This is a print on demand book and is therefore non- returnable. Typical studies of marriage and family in the early Christian period focus on very limited evidence found in Scripture. This book offers a broader, richer picture of the first Christian families by drawing together research by experts ranging from archaeologists to ancient historians.
Exploring the nature of households within the ancient Greco-Roman world, the contributors assemble a new understanding of ancient Christian families that is both compelling and instructive. The book covers key aspects of ancient family life, from meals and childrearing to women's roles and the lives of slaves. Three concluding chapters explore the implications of all this information for theological education today.
Contributors:
- David L. Balch
- Suzanne Dixon
- J. Albert Harrill
- Ross S. Kaemer
- Christian Laes
- Peter Lampe
- Amy-Jill Levine
- Margaret Y. MacDonald
- Dale B. Martin
- Eric M. Meyers
- Margaret M. Mitchell
- Carolyn Osiek
- Beryl Rawson
- Richard Saller
- Timothy F. Sedgwick
- Monika Tr mper
- Andrew Wallace-Hadrill
Table of Contents
Slaves: Slave families and slaves in families / Dale B. Martin -- The domestic enemy: a moral polarity of household slaves / J. Albert Harrill -- Female slaves, porneia, and the limits of obedience / Carolyn Osiek -- Children: Death, burial, and commeration of children in Roman Italy / Beryl Rawson -- Desperately different? Delicia children in the Roman household / Christian Laes -- Implications for theological education: Theological education, the Bible, and history: detente in the culture wars / Amy-Jill Levine -- Theological education and the analogical imagination / Timothy F. Sedgwick -- Why family matters for early Christian literature / Margaret M. Mitchell -- Bibliography -- Acknowledgments -- Index of modern authors -- Index of scripture and other ancient literature.