Ignatius of Antioch and the Parting of the Ways: Early Jewish-Christian Relations

by Thomas A. Robinson

Overview

How did the early Christian movement, which began among Jewish people and in close association with the Jewish temple and synagogues of the first century, develop into a predominantly Gentile movement by the end of the first century? Was this "parting of the ways" spurred by internal tensions within the Christian church, socio-political factors in the Roman city of Antioch, or growing hostility from the larger Jewish community? In Ignatius of Antioch and the Parting of the Ways, Thomas A. Robinson addresses this intriguing historical question by taking a careful look at the writings of one of the few Christian writers who wrote about this parting firsthand--Ignatius, the Bishop of Antioch, who was martyred in the early years of the second century. Through a careful examination of the historical and sociological setting of first-century Antioch, Robinson sifts the testimony of this church father on issues such as the nature of Christian conversion at Antioch, the sources of Jewish-Christian tensions in that city and in the broader Roman world, and the development of the terms "Christian" and "Christianity." Assessing a number of current theories about the nature of the Jewish-Christian parting, Robinson stresses the importance of hearing the voice of Ignatius himself on these questions. This is an excellent resource for anyone interested in the early days of Christianity and in Jewish-Christian relations.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801047572
Publisher:	Baker Publishing Group
Publication date:	09/01/2009
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Thomas A. Robinson (PhD, McMaster University) is professor of religious studies at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada. He specializes in the relationship between Christianity and Judaism and the development of Christianity's distinctive identity in the Roman Empire. His books include Early Christian Reader, World Religions, and Mastering New Testament Greek.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Abbreviations xi

Chapter 1 Antioch: The City and Its People 1

Ignatius 1

The City of Antioch 6

The Population and Cultural Mix of Antioch 14

The Religious Milieu of Antioch 16

The Jews of Antioch 18

The Status of Jews in Greek Cities 22

The Status of Jews in Antioch 29

Population Shifts and Immigrants in Antioch 32

Chapter 2 Christian Conversion in Antioch 40

Jews, Nouveau Jews, and Near Jews 40

Proselytes (Nouveau Jews) 42

The "God-Fearers" (Near Jews) 51

Antioch, Anxiety, and Religious Conversion 62

Competition for Converts 65

Christians in Antioch 69

Was the Christian Church a Jewish Synagogue? 72

Were There Separate Christian Assemblies in Antioch? 76

House-Church Units 85

Use of the Term "Christian" 88

Chapter 3 Ignatius in Antioch 89

Ignatius's Church and the Matthean Community 89

Ignatius as Bishop 95

Did Ignatius Establish the Office of Bishop in Antioch? 99

Ignatius and the Jews of Antioch 102

Glimpses of Ignatius's Church Life 104

The Centuries after Ignatius 108

Did Ignatius Lose Control of the Church in Antioch? 111

Ignatius's Opponents 113

Chapter 4 Religious and Ethnic Tensions in Antioch 127

Ignatius and the Climate of Suspicion 127

Jewish-Gentile Tensions in Antioch 128

Internal Jewish Tensions in Antioch 139

Jewish-Christian Relations in Antioch 141

Christian Reflection on Persecution and Martyrdom 153

Judaism and Ignatius's Dilemma 162

Chapter 5 The "Peace" in Antioch 163

The Traditional View 163

Harrison's Study of Ignatius's Vocabulary 165

Swartley's Study of Ignatius's Vocabulary 171

The Cause of Unworthiness 177

Unanswered Questions 181

Directions for Future Investigation 201

Chapter 6 Boundaries, Identity, and Labels 203

The Ignatian Boundary Terms 203

Identifying Judaism and Christianity 207

Perceptions: The Essence of Boundaries 227

The Parting of the Ways 235

Christianity as a Special Case 237

The Burden of Historical Scholarship 239

Conclusion 241

Bibliography 243

Index of Modern Authors 267

Index of Names and Subjects 271

Index of Ancient Sources 279