Christ's Associations : Connecting and Belonging in the Ancient City / John S. Kloppenborg.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kloppenborg, John S., Author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Church history.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (532 pages)

Place of Publication:

New Haven, CT : Yale University Press, [2020]

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

A groundbreaking investigation of early Christ groups in the ancient Mediterranean As an urban movement, the early groups of Christ followers came into contact with the many small groups in Greek and Roman antiquity. Organized around the workplace, a deity, a diasporic identity, or a neighborhood, these associations gathered in small face-to-face meetings and provided the principal context for cultic and social interactions for their members. Unlike most other groups, however, about which we have data on their rules of membership, financial management, and organizational hierarchy, we have very little information about early Christ groups. Drawing on data about associative practices throughout the ancient world, this innovative study offers new insight into the structure and mission of the early Christ groups. John S. Kloppenborg situates the Christ associations within the broader historical context of the ancient Mediterranean and reveals that they were probably smaller than previously believed and did not have a uniform system of governance, and that the attraction of Christ groups was based more on practice than theological belief.

Contents:

Frontmatter

CONTENTS

Preface

A Note on Locations

Epigraphic Conventions

Acknowledgments

List of Abbreviations

Introduction

One. A World of Associations

Two. Modeling Christ Assemblies

Three. Visualizing Christ Assemblies: Size and Space

Four. Belonging

Five. Christ Assemblies in the Urban Economy

Six. The Social Level of Christ Assemblies

Seven. Meals

Eight. The Collection

Nine. Funerals

Ten. Living in the City: Imitation and Ambivalence

Eleven. Getting in, Falling Away

Conclusion

Glossary

Notes

Bibliography

Index of Ancient Associations

General Index

Notes:

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 24. Jan 2020)

ISBN:

978-0-300-24930-9

OCLC:

1135832007