David E. Wilhite

Ancient African Christianity

An Introduction to a Unique Context and Tradition

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

Christianity spread across North Africa early, and it remained there as a powerful force much longer than anticipated. While this African form of Christianity largely shared the Latin language and Roman culture of the wider empire, it also represented a unique tradition that was shaped by its context. Ancient African Christianity attempts to tell the story of Christianity in Africa from its inception to its eventual disappearance. Well-known writers such as Tertullian, Cyprian, and Augustine are studied in light of their African identity, and this tradition is explored in all its various expressions.

This book is ideal for all students of African Christianity and also a key introduction for anyone wanting to know more about the history, religion, and philosophy of these early influential Christians whose impact has extended far beyond the African landscape.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Routledge / Taylor & Francis
• Seitenzahl: 438
• Erscheinungstermin: 21. Juni 2017
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 234mm x 156mm x 23mm
• Gewicht: 612g
• ISBN-13: 9780415643771
• ISBN-10: 0415643775
• Artikelnr.: 47841782

Autorenporträt

David E. Wilhite is currently Professor of Theology at Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary, USA.

Inhaltsangabe

1. 
   
   Preface
   
   Chapter One: Introduction
   
   Preliminary Concerns
   
   Question 1: What is meant by "Ancient African Christianity"?
   
   Question 2: Why study ancient African Christianity?
   
   Question 3: What makes African Christians unique?
   
   Question 4: What is the purpose of this book? Introducing Ancient African Christians: An Overview
   
   Pre-Christian Africa
   
   The Beginnings of Christian Africa
   
   Christian Africa in the Fourth Century
   
   The Last Days of Ancient African Christianity History and Ancient African Christians
   
   Chapter Two: Backgrounds to Early African Christianity
   
   Romanization: From Culture to Ethnicity to Identity
   
   African (Identity) Politics
   
   African Languages
   
   African Art
   
   African Religions
   
   African Appearance
   
   Chapter Three: The Earliest Evidence of African Christianity
   
   Tertullian on the Earliest African Christians
   
   African Christian Origins
   
   The Scillitan Martyrs
   
   Perpetua, Felicity, and their Fellow Martyrs
   
   African Christianity in the Late Second and Early Third Century
   
   Legacies and Later Trajectories
   
   Chapter Four: Tertullian
   
   Tertullian's Life Tertullian the Legalist
   
   Tertullian the Fideist
   
   Tertullian the Priest
   
   Tertullian the Montanist
   
   Tertullian the Misogynist
   
   Tertullian the Roman
   
   Tertullian the African Works and Teachings
   
   Tertullian the African
   
   Legacy and Later Trajectories
   
   Chapter Five: Cyprian and the Later Third Century
   
   Minucius Felix
   
   Cyprian Persecution
   
   Controversies
   
   His Works and Teachings
   
   Cyprian the African That Idols are not Gods (Quod idola dii non sint)
   
   Commodian
   
   Late Third Century Martyrdoms
   
   Chapter Six: The Early Fourth Century in Africa
   
   Christian Records from the Early Fourth Century
   
   Arnobius of Sicca Arnobian Theology
   
   What was African about Arnobius? Lactantius
   
   Works and Teachings
   
   What was African about Lactantius?
   
   Chapter Seven: The Donatist Controversy
   
   Identifying Donatists
   
   The Beginning of the Schism
   
   Appeals to Constantine
   
   Escalation of Violence and Persecution
   
   Donatist Diversity and Decline
   
   The End of Donatism?
   
   Reassessing Donatist Characteristics
   
   What was African about the Donatists?
   
   Conclusions and Caveats
   
   Chapter Eight: Augustine the African
   
   Augustine's Life and Legacy
   
   Augustine's Works and Teachings
   
   What was African about Augustine? Augustine's African Background
   
   Accusations about Augustine's Identity
   
   Self-Identifying as an African
   
   Chapter Nine: The Vandal Era of African Christianity
   
   The Vandal Invasion of Africa
   
   Vandals, Catholics, and Donatists
   
   Vandal Expansion of Power
   
   The End of the Vandal Kingdom
   
   Chapter Ten: The Late Byzantine Era in Africa
   
   Justinian's Re-Conquest of Africa
   
   The African Three Chapters Controversy
   
   Gregory the Great
   
   Maximus the Confessor
   
   Conclusion about Byzantine Africa
   
   Chapter Eleven: The Arab Conquests in Africa
   
   Understanding the Sources and Background
   
   History of the Conquest
   
   Survival of Evidence and Evidence of Survival
   
   Characteristics of Late African Christianity
   
   Reasons for African Christianity's Disappearance Political Power Theory
   
   Christian Exodus Theory
   
   Decapitation Theory
   
   House Divided Theory
   
   Cultural Gap Theory
   
   Theological Syncretism Theory
   
   Political Pragmatism Theory Tentative Conclusions on African Christianity's End
   
   Chapter Twelve: What was African about Ancient African Christianity?
   
   Summary of Findings
   
   Elements Found in the "African School"
   
   Further Considerations
   
   Potential Implications
   
   Bibliography
   
   Abbreviations
   
   Ancient Sources Cited (and critical editions and translations, when used)
   
   Secondary Sources
   
   

Rezensionen

Anyone who wants to know what was unique about North African Christianity from its beginning until its demise in the post-Islamic era need look no further than Wilhite's latest book! Ancient African Christianity sets a new standard for exploring and explaining the particularity of Christianity in specific locations enabling us to appreciate and understand the rich diversity of early Christianity. If you can only read one new book about Christianity this year, make it this one!

William Tabbernee, The University of Oklahoma, USA