Philosophers, Jews, and Christians in the Roman Empire

Leslie Kelly

Format
Hardback
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Country
United Kingdom
Published
12 May 2025
Pages
144
ISBN
9781032904214

Philosophers, Jews, and Christians in the Roman Empire

Leslie Kelly

This book explores how philosophical and religious communities in the Roman Empire of the first and second centuries CE engaged with and were shaped by their relationship to texts and tradition in their quest for true religious knowledge, or ultimate truth.

This era was a dynamic transition period for philosophers, Jews, and Christians in the Roman Empire: it was the stage between Hellenistic philosophy and the Neoplatonism of Late Antiquity; the end of Second Temple Judaism and the start of the rabbinic period; Christianity's rapid growth and transformation into an institutional and uniform church. Philosophers, Jews, and Christians utilized similar strategies for communal identity and boundary-marking and reinterpreted ancient traditions in creative ways to create new centers of authority. An intellectual literary culture fostered a focus on texts as a locus of contention, conversion, and exchange within and between groups. The book surveys and compares these groups as three distinct textual or reading communities, analyzing their practices of textual engagement and parallel attitudes towards textual authority in this period.

This book is suitable for students and scholars working on ancient philosophy in the Roman Empire, classicists, and scholars of early Christianity and Judaism in this period.

Order online and we’ll ship when available (12 May 2025)

Our stock data is updated periodically, and availability may change throughout the day for in-demand items. Please call the relevant shop for the most current stock information. Prices are subject to change without notice.

Sign in or become a Readings Member to add this title to a wishlist.