Christians at Rome in the First Two Centuries: From Paul to Valentinus

(Paperback)

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Investigating the rise and shape of the earliest churches in Rome, Lampe integrates history, archaeology, theology, and social analysis. He also takes a close look at inscriptional evidence to complement the reading of the great literary texts: from Paul's letter to the Romans to the writings of Clement of Rome,Montanus and Valentinus.

'I want to learn about the daily lives of the urban Roman Christians of the first two centuries, the realities of their social lives... my ultimate goal is to contribute at least one element to a multidimensional interpretation of texts and faith expressions of early Christianity.' Peter Lampe

Reviews

"This study is so masterful in its grasp of a vast array of evidence, so solid and innovative in its methodology, and so audacious in conception that it is bound to become a classic. It is the most important historical and sociological study ever written on Roman Christianity." Robert Jewett, Interpretation * Blurb from reviewer *
'This impressive work puts our study of early Roman Christianity on a new and more certain empirical basis and must now serve as the point of departure for all subsequent research. . . . Lampe has expanded our database and has provided the most extensive social profile of Roman Christianity currently available.' John H. Elliott, Catholic Biblical Quarterly * Blurb from reviewer *
"Lampe shows that there are both archaeological and literary grounds for saying that the early Roman Christian community was at first indistinguishable from the Jewish one, from which it emerged as perhaps a less affluent underclass of God-fearers. Lampe's book will impress all who read it as a well-informed attempt to synthesize a vast amount of data in a serious, informed, and scholarly way." Alan F. Segal, Journal of Biblical Literature * Blurb from reviewer *
"It is rare to come across a book that can only be described in superlatives. The study by Peter Lampe, is however such a book... Without doubt Lampe's study marks a watershed in understanding the origins and development of Christianity in Rome. The volume bridges the divide between New Testament scholarship and Earlychurch history in a manner that illustrates the riches that can be gained when these areas are considered together. Lampe has not only undertaken his task in an oustanding manner, but has also shown how the discipline of historical enquiry should be practised." Paul Foster, Expository Times -- Paul Foster, New College, University of Edinburgh * Expository Times *

Author Bio

Peter Lampe is Professor and Chair of New Testament at the University of Heidelberg, Germany.