Children in Early Christian NarrativesSharon Betsworth examines the narratives, parables, and teachings of and about children in the gospels and the literature of Early Christianity. Betsworth begins with a discussion of the social-historical context of children and childhood in the first century before discussing the role of children in all four gospels. She shows that for Mark and Matthew, children are integral to understanding each evangelist's perspective on the reign of God and on Jesus' identity in each Gospel. In the Gospel of Luke the childhood of Jesus is shown to be crucial to the broader themes of the Gospel. In the Gospel of John, Betsworth examines the metaphorical use of the word 'children' looking at 'children of light' and of 'darkness'. She then explores stories of Jesus' childhood in the non-canonical Infancy Gospels of James and Thomas, as well as the childhood of his mother, Mary in the latter shedding light upon views of children, discipleship, and the person of Jesus in early christianity and in the ancient world more generally. |
Contents
| 1 | |
| 5 | |
The Reign of God Belongs to These Children in the Gospel of Mark | 39 |
Jesus and the Child in the Gospel of Matthew | 73 |
Jesus And the Only Child in the Gospel of Luke | 99 |
Logos and Life Children in the Gospel of John | 127 |
Jesus as a Child The Infancy Gospel of Thomas | 143 |
Mary as a Child The Protevangelium of James | 165 |
Conclusion | 185 |
| 189 | |
| 199 | |
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Common terms and phrases
Aasgaard adult ancient world Anna argues audience Bible biography birth canonical Gospels century c.e. Chapter characters Child Jesus Childhood in Roman Childhood of Jesus Children and Childhood context crowd daughter death demonstrates depicted disciples discussion Early Christian elite episode faith father Fitzmyer focus girl girl’s God’s Gospel According Gospel of John Gospel of Luke Gospel of Mark Gospel of Matthew Gospel of Thomas Gospels of James Greek novels Harrington Herod Herodias household Ibid Infancy Gospel Jairus Jerusalem Jesus heals Jewish Joseph Joseph Fitzmyer lo/gov Luke I–IX Luke’s male Mark’s Gospel marriage Mary Mary’s masculinity miracle monogenh/v mother narrative NRSV paidi/on paiv parable parents Prot Protevangelium of James Rawson refer reign relationship religious resurrection rituals role Roman Empire Roman Italy scene Septuagint similar slave story of Jesus suggests Synoptics teacher Temple theme virgin widow Wiedemann woman women word