Common Ground and Diversity in Early Christian Thought and Study

During his long scholarly career, Heikki Raeisaenen (1941-2015) touched upon many key questions in the study of early Christianity. The topics of his research ranged from the detailed study of various New Testament writings to methodological reflections on the theoretical foundations of biblical studies. In this book, international scholars deal with many of the issues that were prominent in Raeisaenen's research and that continue to be debated. The contributors build upon Raeisaenen's legacy as well as recent advancements in the study of early Christianity. The volume comprises four sections organized around topics central to Raeisaenen's scholarship. These include methodological "fair play", the non-confessional study of early Christianity, Pauline scholarship, and biblical reception in religious communities, including early Islam.