

Markus Vinzent, "Resetting the Origins of Christianity: A New Theory of Sources and Beginnings" (Cambridge UP, 2022)
Apr 30, 2024
Markus Vinzent, a recently retired professor from King’s College, London, delves into the origins of Christianity with his cutting-edge book. He discusses how the earliest sources reveal more about their own eras than about early Christianity itself. Vinzent critiques traditional methods of historical narrative and introduces a novel retrospective approach. He explores the intertwining of Christianity with Roman identity and sheds light on the complexities of Pauline letters, comparing canonical texts to Marcion's collection.
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Christianity and Romanitas
- Gregory of Tours and Orosius linked Christianity with Romanitas, influencing their historical narratives.
- This merging of religious and political identity is relevant to contemporary discourse on Christianity and the Western world.
Eusebius's Influence
- Eusebius's Church History, heavily reliant on Jewish authors and a potentially self-authored letter exchange between Jesus and Abgar, shaped later understandings of Christian origins.
- His placement of canonical writings in the mid-2nd century challenges traditional views of their authorship and dating.
The First Century "Black Box"
- The first century of Christianity remains largely a "black box," with later authors projecting their own interpretations onto it.
- The canonical gospels, potentially dating to the mid-2nd century, offer limited insight into this early period.