Constructing Early Christian Families: Family as Social Reality and MetaphorHalvor Moxnes The family is a topical issue for studies of the Ancient world. Family, household and kinship have different connotations in antiquity from their modern ones. This volume expands that discussion to investigate the early Christian family structures within the larger Graeco-Roman context. Particular emphasis is given to how family metaphors, such as 'brotherhood' function to describe relations in early Christian communities. Asceticism and the rejection of sexuality are considered in the context of Christian constructions of the family. Moxnes' volume presents a comprehensive and timely addition to the study of familial and social structures in the Early Christian world, which will certainly stimulate further debate. |
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Abraham Aeschines ancient Antiquity ascetic asceticism behaviour Betz Biblical brotherhood brotherly love brothers Cambridge century characterised Christ Christian communities church conflict congregations context conversion cultural described disciples discussion domestic early Christianity emphasises encratite eschatological Esler Essenes example family metaphors family ties father female fictive kinship function Galatians Galilee gender Gentile Gnostic Gospel of Thomas Graeco-Roman Greek Hellenistic Herodian honour household ideal identity important interpretation Jesus Jewish Jews Josephus Judaism kinship letter live Luke male Malina marriage married Matt means Mediterranean moral mother Moxnes Musonius Rufus Nussbaum Onesimus Palestine parables paterfamilias patria potestas patriarchal Paul Paul’s Pauline peasants perspective Philadelphia Philemon Philo Plutarch procreation question reference relations relationship religion role Roman family Rome Saller Sandnes says Scholars Sethian sexual desire shame slaves social society spiritual Stoics structures synagogue Testament texts Therapeutae Thess Thessalonians Thom tradition University Press wife women