Illiterate apostles : uneducated early Christians and the literates who loved them / Allen R. Hilton.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hilton, Allen R., author.

Series:

Library of New Testament studies ; 541.

T & T Clark library of biblical studies

Library of New Testament studies ; 541

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Church history--Primitive and early church, ca. 30-600.

Church history.

Church history--Primitive and early church.

Christians--Books and reading--Rome.

Christians.

Literacy--Religious aspects--Christianity--History.

Literacy.

Literacy--Rome--History.

Literacy--Social aspects--Rome.

Books and reading--Rome.

Books and reading.

Christian literature, Early--History and criticism.

Christian literature, Early.

Christians--Books and reading.

Literacy--Social aspects.

Literacy--Religious aspects--Christianity.

History.

Rome (Empire).

Genre:

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

History.

Physical Description:

vii, 181 pages ; 25 cm.

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : Bloomsbury Academic, 2018.

Summary:

Allen Hilton examines how pagen critics ridiculed the early Christians for being uneducated, and how a few literate Christians took up pen to defend the illiterate members of their churches. Hilton sheds light on the peculiarity of this "defense," in which the authors openly admit that the critics have the facts on their side, noting that the Book of Acts even calls two of its heroes, Peter and john, illiterates. Why did the authors of these biblical texts, intent on presenting Christianity in a positive light, volunteer such a negative detail? -- The answer to this question reveals a fascinating social exchange that first surrounded education levels in antiquity,m and proceeded to make its way into the New Testament. This volume provides context for pagan education as opposed to early Christian illiteracy-touching upon the methods of ancient learning and the relationship between Christian and pagan schools-and analyzes the "uneducated virtue" of the Apostles. Hilton provides a useful window onto the social construction of ancient education and ushers readers into the everday experience of ancient Christians, and those who disdained and defended them.

Contents:

Part 1. The cause of the criticism

An ethnography of ancient literacy

Attitudes toward the illiterate

The Christians and the schools

Part 2. A first-century Christian reply

The social dynamicsof parresia [Greek word]

The virtue of parresia [Greek word]

The "education" of the apostles.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Hilton, Allen R. Illiterate apostles.

ISBN:

9780567662880

0567662888

OCLC:

1023814375