Rescue for the dead : the posthumous salvation of non-Christians in early Christianity / Jeffrey A. Trumbower.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Trumbower, Jeffrey A., 1960-

Series:

Oxford studies in historical theology

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Salvation after death--History of doctrines--Early church, ca. 30-600.

Salvation after death.

Salvation outside the church--History of doctrines--Early church, ca. 30-600.

Salvation outside the church.

Salvation outside the church--History of doctrines.

Physical Description:

xv, 206 pages ; 25 cm.

Place of Publication:

Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2001.

Summary:

Christianity is a religion of salvation in which believers have always anticipated post-mortem bliss for the faithful and non-salvation for others. Here, Trumbower examines how and why death came to be perceived as such a firm boundary of salvation. Analyzing exceptions to this principle from ancient Christianity, he finds that the principle itself was slow to develop and not universally accepted in the Christian movement's first four hundred years. In fact, only in the West was this principle definitively articulated, due in large part to the work and influence of Augustine.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 177-190) and indexes.

ISBN:

0195140990

OCLC:

45137615