In The Reception of Jesus in the First Three Centuries, Chris L. Keith, Helen K. Bond, Christine Jacobi and Jens Schröter, together with an international cast of more than 70 contributors, provide a methodologically sophisticated resource, showing the reception history of Jesus and the Jesus tradition in early Christianity. The three volumes focus upon the diversity of receptions of the Jesus tradition in this time period, with memory theory providing the framework for approaching the complex interactions between the past of the tradition and the present of its receptions. Rather than addressing texts specifically as canonical or non-canonical, the volumes show the more complex reality of the reception of the Jesus tradition in early Christianity.
Core literary texts such as Gospels and other early Christian writings are discussed in detail, as well as non-literary contexts outside the gospel genre; including the Apostolic Fathers, patristic writers, traditions such as the Abgar Legend, and modifications to the gospel genre such as the Diatesseron. Evidence from material culture, such as pictographic representations of Jesus in iconography and graffiti (e.g. the staurogram and Alexamenos Graffito), as well as representations of Jesus tradition in sarcophagi and in liturgy are also included, in order to fully reflect the transmission and reception of the Jesus tradition.
Volume 1 provides an extensive introduction and, in 18 chapters, covers literary representations of Jesus in the first century, featuring gospel literature and other early Christian writings.
Volume 2 examines all the literary texts from the second and third centuries, across 40 chapters, examining both gospel writing and other texts.
Volume 3 examines visual, liturgical and non-Christian receptions of Jesus in the second and third centuries, across 24 chapters.
Table of Contents:
Volume One: From Paul to Josephus: Literary Receptions of Jesus in the First Century CE
Editor: Helen K. Bond
Introduction to Volume One - Helen K. Bond, University of Edinburgh, UK
Earliest Pauline Literature
1. Pauline Epistles - Christine Jacobi, Humboldt University, Berlin
Gospel Literature and Additions to Gospel Literature
2. Gospel of Mark - Sandra Huebenthal, University of Passau, Germany
3. Q - Alan Kirk, James Madison University, USA
4. Gospel of Matthew - Matthias Konradt, University of Heidelberg, Germany
5. Gospel of Luke - Michal Beth Dinkler, Yale Divinity School, USA
6. Gospel of John - Helen K. Bond, University of Edinburgh, UK
7. Longer Ending of Mark - Anne Moore, University of Calgary, Canada
8. Pericope Adulterae (John 7:53–8:11) - Chris Keith, St Mary’s University, UK
9. John 21 - Andrew T. Lincoln, University of Gloucestershire, UK
Other Literature of Early Followers of Jesus
10. Acts of the Apostles - Jens Schröter, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
11. Hebrews - Harold W. Attridge, Yale Divinity School, US
12. James - Karl-Wilhelm Niebuhr, Friedrich-Schiller University, Jena, Germany
13. Petrine Epistles and Jude - Travis B. Williams, Tusculum University, USA
14. Johannine Epistles - Tom Thatcher, Cincinnati Christian University, USA
15. Revelation - Michelle Fletcher, King’s College London, UK
16. First Clement - Andrew Gregory, University of Oxford, UK
17. Didache - Joseph Verheyden, University of Leuven, Germany
Josephus
18. Testimonium Flavianum - Jan Willem van Henten, University of Amsterdam and Stellenbosch University, the Netherlands
Volume Two: From Thomas to Tatian: Christian Literary Receptions of Jesus in the Second and Third Centuries CE
Editors: Jens Schröter and Christine Jacobi
Introduction to Volume Two - Jens Schröter and Christine Jacobi
Epistolary Literature
1. Colossians - Andreas Dettwiler,University of Geneva, Switzerland
2. Ephesians - Andreas Dettwiler,University of Geneva, Switzerland
3. Pastoral Epistles - Andreas Dettwiler,University of Geneva, Switzerland
4. Epistle of Barnabas - J. Christopher Edwards, St. Francis College, USA
5. Ignatius - Paul Foster, University of Edinburgh, UK
6. Polycarp, To the Philippians - Paul Parvis, University of Edinburgh, UK
7. Apology of Quadratus and Epistle to Diognetus - Andreas Lindemann, Kirkliche Hochschule Wuppertal/Bethel, Germany
Gospel Literature
Gospels Narrating Parts of Jesus’s Earthly Life
8. Protevangelium Iacobi - Eric M. Vanden Eykel, Ferrum College, USA
9. Infancy Gospel of Thomas - Tony Burke, York University, USA
10. Gospel of Peter - Alan Kirk, James Madison University, USA
11. Diatessaron - Nicholas Perrin, Wheaton Graduate School, USA
Jewish-Christian Gospels
12. Gospel of the Nazarenes - Jörg Frey, Universität Zürich, Switzerland
13. Gospel of the Ebionites - Jörg Frey, Universität Zürich, Switzerland
14. Gospel of the Hebrews - Jörg Frey, Universität Zürich, Switzerland
Other Gospels (Listed in Alphabetical Order)
15. Egerton Gospel (P.Egerton 2) - Tobias Nicklas, University of Regensburg, Germany
16. Epistula Apostolorum - Paul Parvis, University of Edinburgh, UK
17. Fayûm Gospel (P.Vindob.G 23 25) - Thomas J. Kraus, University of Zürich and University of the Free State, Switzerland
18. Gospel of Judas - Lorne R. Zelyck, St Joseph’s College, University of Alberta, Canada
19. Gospel of Mary - Judith Hartenstein, University of Koblenz-Landau, Germany
20. Gospel of Philip - Todd Brewer, Manhattan College, USA
21. Gospel of the Savior (P.Oxy. 840) - Jens Schröter, Humboldt University Berlin, Germany
22. Gospel of Thomas - Konrad Schwarz, Humboldt University Berlin, Germany
23. Gospel of Truth (NHC I 3) - Katrine Brix, Humboldt University Berlin, Germany
24. Marcion’s Gospel - Dieter T. Roth, Johannes Gutenberg Universität-Mainz, Germany
Gospel Additions
25. Scribal Alterations to the “Canonical” Gospels in Second- and Third-Century Manuscripts - Tommy Wasserman, Ansgar Teologiske Høgskole, Norway
Apocalypses
26. Apocalypse of Peter - Tobias Nicklas, University of Regensburg, Germany
27. Second Esdras - Lillia Milbach-Schirr, Humboldt University Berlin, Germany
28. Shepherd of Hermas - Mark Grundeken, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Germany
Other Early Christian Writings (Listed in Alphabetical Order)
29. Acts of John, Acts of Peter, Acts of Thekla, Third Corinthians, and Martyrdom of Paul - Julia A. Snyder, University of Regensberg, Germany
30. Christianized Texts - Thomas Kraus, University of Zürich and University of the Free State, Switzerland
31. Irenaeus - Rolf Noormann, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Germany
32. Justin Martyr - Winrich Löhr, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Germany
33. Martyrdom of Polycarp - Sara Parvis, University of Edinburgh, UK
34. Odes of Solomon - Majella Franzmann, The University of Sydney, Australia
35. Origen - Alfons Fürst, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Germany
36. Papian Fragments - David P. Moessner, Texas Christian University, USA
37. Second Clement - James A. Kelhoffer, Uppsala University, Sweden
38. Tertullian - Dieter T. Roth, Johannes Gutenberg Universität-Mainz, Germany
39. Traditio Apostolica - Markus Vinzent, King’s College London, UK
40. Valentinian Gnosticism - Johanna Brankaer, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Germany
Volume Three: From Celsus to the Catacombs: Visual, Liturgical, and Non-Christian Receptions of Jesus in the Second and Third Centuries CE
Editor: Chris Keith
Introduction to Volume Three - Chris Keith, St. Mary's University, UK
Non-Christian Literary Receptions of Jesus in the Second and Third Centuries CE
59. Celsus - John Granger Cook, LaGrange College, USA
60. Lucian - Margaret Wiliams, University of Edinburgh, UK
61. Pliny the Younger - Margaret Wiliams, University of Edinburgh, UK
62. Suetonius - Margaret Wiliams, University of Edinburgh, UK
63. Tacitus - Margaret Wiliams, University of Edinburgh, UK
64. Mara bar Serapion - Kathleen McVey, Princeton Theological Seminary, USA
65. Talmudim - Christian M. M. Brady, University of Kentucky, USA
Visual Receptions of Jesus
66. Alexamenos Graffito - Felicity Harley-McGowan, Yale Divinity School, USA
67. Amulets - Brice C. Jones, Louisiana Delta Community College, USA
68. Art and Architecture at Capernaum, Kefar ‘Othnay, and Dura Europos - Anders Runesson, University of Oslo, Norway, and Wally V. Cirafesi, University of Oslo, Norway
69. Catacombs - William “Chip” Gruen, Muhlenberg College, USA
70. Christograms - Thomas J. Kraus, University of Zürich and University of the Free State, Switzerland
71. Cross Symbol - Bruce W. Longenecker, Baylor University, USA, with Chris Keith, St. mary's University, UK
72. Epitaph of Abercius - Allen Brent, King’s College London, UK
73. Fish Symbol - Robin M. Jensen, University of Notre Dame, USA
74. Nomina Sacra - Larry W. Hurtado, University of Edinburgh, UK
75. Petrogram - Thomas J. Kraus, University of Zürich and University of the Free State, Switzerland
76. Sarcophagi - Catherine C. Taylor, Brigham Young University, UK
77. Sculptural Images of Jesus - Joan E. Taylor, King’s College London, UK
78. Staurogram - Dieter T. Roth, Johannes Gutenberg Universität-Mainz, Germany
Liturgical Receptions of Jesus
79. Baptism - Rafael Rodríguez, Johnson University, USA
80. Eucharist - Andrew McGowan, Yale Divinity School, USA
81. Prayer - Heather Gorman, Johnson University, USA
82. Public Reading of the Gospels - Chris Keith, St. Mary's University, UK
About the Author :
Chris Keith is Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity and Director of the Centre for the Social-Scientific Study of the Bible at St. Mary's University, Twickenham, UK.
Helen K. Bond is Professor in Christian Origins and New Testament at the University of Edinburgh, UK.
Christine Jacobi teaches at Humboldt University Berlin, Germany.
Jens Schröter is Professor of New Testament Exegesis and Theology, and New Testament Apocrypha, at Humboldt University Berlin, Germany.
Review :
A gem for New Testament and early church scholarship, this set will surely be a standard reference work and will set the bar for years to come.
It is a monumental undertaking, weighing in at nearly 1500 pages ... Overall, this is one of the best research publications I have acquired in years.
Beyond the acuity of contributors, the volumes are elegantly organized and cover a diverse collection of textual and non-textual evidence.
The expansive range of contributors is a strength of this project … Scholars of early Christianity, regardless of specialization, will want to read this collection.
The publication of this three-volume set is an indisputable feat of scholarship. The aim of the editors is simple yet stunning: to describe and discuss the myriad of sources from the first three centuries–canonical and non-canonical, literary and visual, Christian and non-Christian—that preserve and present the influence of the person and/or work of Jesus ... this landmark work will serve students of the New Testament and early Christianity well for years to come.
