Magic and Paganism in Early Christianity: The World of the Acts of the Apostles

by Hans-Josef Klauck, Brian McNeil (Foreword by)

Overview

Klauck describes the religious world into whichChristianity was born, by looking at it from the many experiences of the firstChristians as recorded in Acts. For example: Peter encounters Simon themagician, the people of Lystra want to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas,and a soothsaying slave-girl is the occasion for conflict in Philippi. We cometo Athens where Paul finds the city full of idols but also discovers an altar"to an unknown god" and delivers the famous Areopagus speech, and to Ephesus,where some burn their books of magic formulae, while others provoke a riot inthe name of Artemis.

"Magic and Paganism in Early Christianity" makesfor a fascinating account of these phenomena and their significance forChristianity historically and today.

Features:

A fresh treatment of the Book of Acts in light of Greco-Roman religions

Extensive bibliography

Multiple indexes

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780800636357
Publisher:	1517 Media
Publication date:	09/11/2003
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(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.

Brian McNeil has been translator of many books on the history of Christianity and biblical studies. Among his credits are two Fortress Press titles by Hans-Josef Klauck, The Religious Context of Early Christianity (2003) and Magic and Paganism in Early Christianity (2003).

Table of Contents

Establishing the Foundations (Acts 1-2)

The Evangelist Philip (Acts 8)

In Caesarea (Acts 10-12)

The First Missionary Journey (Acts 13-14)

Paul in Greece (Acts 16-18)

Paul in Ephesus (Acts 19)

The Journey to Rome (Acts 27-28)

Retrospect and Prospect