A History of Early Christian Literature

by Justo L. González

Publisher:

Westminster John Knox

, 2019

Overview

Historical events have long been the standard lens through which scholars have sought to understand the theology of Christianity in late antiquity. The lives of significant theological figures, the rejection of individuals and movements as heretical, and the Trinitarian and christological controversies—the defining theological events of the early church—have long provided the framework with which to understand the development of early Christian belief. In this groundbreaking work, esteemed historian of Christianity Justo González chooses to focus on the literature of early Christianity. Beginning with the epistolary writings of the earliest Christian writers of the second century CE, he moves through apologies, martyrologies, antiheretical polemics, biblical commentaries, sermons, all the way up through Augustine’s invention of spiritual autobiography and beyond. Throughout he demonstrates how literary genre played a decisive role in the construction of theological meaning. Covering the earliest noncanonical Christian writings through the fifth century and later, this book will serve as an indispensable guide to students studying the theology of the early church.

Key Features

• Examines the earliest Christian documents that are not part of the New Testament
• Provides a glimpse of the inner life of the church as well as the challenges it was facing
• Explores genres including epistles, manuals of instruction, apologetics, and commentaries

Contents

• Part 1. The Earliest Christian Literature outside the New Testament
• Part 2. Christian Literature in the Late Second Century
• Part 3. Christian Literature in the Third Century
• Part 4. From Nicaea to Constantinople
• Part 5. The Fifth Century

Praise for the Print Edition

A clear and engaging introduction to the history of early Christian writings. Should be useful to students interested in early Christianity and the roots of Christian thought at both the graduate and undergraduate level. A valuable addition.

—Lois Farag, Professor of History of Early Christianity, Luther Seminary

Product Details

• Title: A History of Early Christian Literature
• Author: Justo L. Gonzalez
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox
• Publication Date: 2019
• Pages: 425
• Resource Type: History
• Topic: Early Church

About Justo L. González

Dr. Justo L. González was born and raised in Cuba where he did his first university and seminary studies. In 1961 he became the youngest person to be awarded a Ph. D. in historical theology at Yale University. He is an ordained Minister of Word and Sacraments by the Methodist Church. For thirty years he taught in a variety of theological institutions. He has given hundreds of lectures in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. Justo has written over one hundred books, although he is better known for his two-volume The Story of Christianity and his three-volume A history of Christian Thought, which have been translated into eight languages. Besides his passion for connecting theology with the life of the church through publications, his most cherished and valued activity is the mentoring and encouraging of Hispanics and other minority scholars. Today, as a retired professor, he devotes his time to research and writing and to promoting Latino theological education.

Sample Pages from A History of Early Christian Literature