The Apostolic Fathers and the New Testament

Jefford, Clayton N.

• Publisher: Baker Academic
• Year: 2006
• ISBN:
  9781441241771
• Topic: Théologie et religion
• Subtopic: Critique et interprétation bibliques

Selected for inclusion in Preaching magazine's "Annual Review of Outstanding Books for Preachers 2006" The apostolic fathers were authors of nonbiblical church writings of the first and early second centuries. These works are important because their authors, Clement I, Hermas, Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp, and the author of the Epistle of Barnabas, were contemporaries of the biblical writers. Expressing pastoral concern, their writings are similar in style to the New Testament. Some of their writings, in fact, were venerated as Scripture before the official canon was decided. The Apostolic Fathers and the New Testament provides a comparison of the apostolic fathers and the New Testament that is at once comprehensive and accessible. What genres (letters, miracle stories, etc.) appear in what ways? What apostolic fathers seem to reflect which passages in the New Testament? What themes appear in both bodies of literature? How did the apostolic fathers adopt and adapt images from the New Testament? How do the New Testament and the Apostolic Fathers contribute to our understanding of how early Christians understood themselves in relation to the mother faith of Judaism? Any attempt to compare the Apostolic Fathers and the New Testament faces the difficulty that each set of writings represents diverse authors and historical contexts within the early church. As a result, scholars who work in the field have typically restricted their research to individual authors and writings. Thus, it has been difficult to come to any general observations about the larger corpus. After carefully examining images, themes, and concepts found in the New Testament and the apostolic fathers, Jefford posits some general observations and insights about the beliefs of the early church.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Abbreviations
• Introduction: How to Talk about the Apostolic Fathers?
• Chapter 1: Finding a Time and Place for the Texts
• Chapter 2: The Authority of Texts and Traditions
• Chapter 3: Codes of Conduct and Christian Thinking
• Chapter 4: Imagery of the New Testament Faith
• Chapter 5: The Question of Christians as Jews
• Chapter 6: The Question of Christians as Citizens
• Chapter 7: How Persons and Places Influence History
• Conclusion: The Significance of the Apostolic Fathers for New Testament Study
• Index of Subjects
• Index of Ancient Sources
• Notes