Sex, Violence, and Early Christian Texts delves into the complex interplay between sexuality, violence, and the development of early Christian communities. The book examines how these themes are represented and interpreted within various early Christian texts, offering a critical analysis of their social, cultural, and theological implications. It explores the diverse experiences of individuals within early Christian societies, highlighting the ways in which gender, power, and social structures shaped their lives. The book also engages with contemporary debates surrounding sexuality and violence, providing insights into the enduring relevance of these issues. It is a significant contribution to the field of early Christian studies, offering a fresh perspective on a topic that continues to spark scholarly and public interest.
Ancient Slavery and Its New Testament Contexts offers a comprehensive introduction to the multifaceted institution of slavery in the Greco-Roman world and its impact on early Christianity. The book explores various aspects of slavery, including legal frameworks, social dynamics, and economic implications. It examines the experiences of enslaved individuals, their resistance strategies, and the ways in which their lives intersected with the development of early Christian communities. The book also delves into the ethical and theological implications of slavery within the New Testament, challenging traditional interpretations and promoting a more nuanced understanding of the topic. By integrating diverse perspectives from various disciplines, the book provides a rich and accessible resource for students, scholars, and anyone interested in the history of slavery and its enduring legacy.
Enslaved Leadership in Early Christianity offers a groundbreaking examination of the roles and influence of enslaved individuals within early Christian communities. The book challenges traditional narratives that often overlook or marginalize the contributions of enslaved people, highlighting their agency and leadership within these communities. It explores the various ways in which enslaved individuals exercised leadership, from informal mentorship and spiritual guidance to formal roles within church structures. The book also analyzes the social, political, and theological implications of enslaved leadership, prompting readers to reconsider the dynamics of power and authority within early Christianity. It is a significant contribution to the field of early Christian studies, offering a fresh perspective on a topic that continues to resonate with contemporary concerns about social justice and equality.
Slavery, Gender, Truth, and Power in Luke-Acts and Other Ancient Narratives offers a critical analysis of the portrayal of slavery, gender, and power dynamics within the biblical texts of Luke-Acts and other ancient narratives. The book examines how these texts reflect and shape societal understandings of slavery, gender roles, and the exercise of power. It explores the experiences of enslaved individuals, particularly women, and how their stories challenge dominant narratives. The book also analyzes the ways in which these texts engage with broader social and political contexts, providing insights into the complexities of ancient societies. It is a significant contribution to the field of biblical studies, offering a fresh perspective on the intersection of slavery, gender, and power in the ancient world.
The institution of slavery permeated the ancient world, such that the realities of slavery and its long shadows pervade the New Testament and other early Christian texts. Yet enslavement remains an under-taught aspect of the context of the New Testament and early Christianity, leaving pastors, laypersons, and neophyte college students alike to fill knowledge gaps about enslaved persons, enslavers, living and laboring conditions, and much more with partial information, assumptions, or a range of highly technical and specialized monographs.
Ancient Slavery and Its New Testament Contexts (Eerdmans, 2025), co-edited by Christy Cobb and Katherine A. Shaner, takes on these issues, introducing readers to the textures, complexities, and material realities of slavery in the Greco-Roman world. International scholars with a range of expertise, from New Testament and early Christian studies to classics, theology, ethics, and more, contribute to a tapestry of introductory themes, topics, and interpretive frameworks with a wealth of literary, inscriptional, pictorial, and theoretical evidence from the material culture of Roman antiquity in this significant volume. Dr. Cobb and Dr. Shaner joined the New Books Network to initiate important conversations that they hope will continue in religious studies classrooms, schools of theology and divinity, and local church small group settings.
Christy Cobb (Ph.D., Drew University, 2016) is Associate Professor of Christianity at the University of Denver. She is the author of Slavery, Gender, Truth and Power in Luke-Acts and Other Ancient Narratives (Palgrave Macmillan, 2019) and has also co-edited a volume entitled Sex, Violence, and Early Christian Texts (Lexington Books, 2022). Dr. Cobb is also a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion, and her research and teaching interests include slavery, gender, sexuality, Acts, and Apocryphal Acts. In her recreational time, Christy enjoys reading novels, crafts, and spending time with her nine-year-old son in Denver.
Katherine A. Shaner (Th.D., Harvard University Divinity School, 2012) is Associate Professor of New Testament at the Wake Forest University School of Divinity. She is the author of Enslaved Leadership in Early Christianity (Oxford University Press, 2018) as well as numerous articles on slavery in the New Testament. Dr. Shaner is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and regularly preaches and teaches in churches around the United States. In her free time, Katherine enjoys hiking in the mountains, reading historical fiction, cooking dinner for friends and spending time with snuggly dogs.
Rob Heaton (Ph.D., University of Denver, 2019) hosts Biblical Studies conversations for New Books in Religion and teaches New Testament, Christian origins, and early Christianity at Anderson University in Indiana. He recently authored The Shepherd of Hermas as Scriptura Non Grata: From Popularity in Early Christianity to Exclusion from the New Testament Canon (Lexington Books, 2023). For more about Rob and his work, or to offer feedback related to this episode, please visit his website at https://www.robheaton.com.
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