Allen Hilton

Illiterate Apostles (eBook, PDF)

Uneducated Early Christians and the Literates Who Loved Them

• Format: PDF

Produktbeschreibung

Allen Hilton examines how pagan critics ridiculed the early Christians for being uneducated, and how a few literate Christians took up pen to defend the illiterate members of their churches. Hilton sheds light on the peculiarity of this "defense", in which the authors openly admit that the critics have the facts on their side, noting that the Book of Acts even calls two of its heroes, Peter and John, illiterates. Why did the authors of these biblical texts, intent on presenting Christianity in a positive light, volunteer such a negative detail?

The answer to this question reveals a fascinating social exchange that first surrounded education levels in antiquity, and proceeded to make its way into the New Testament. This volume provides context for pagan education as opposed to early Christian illiteracy - touching upon the methods of ancient learning and the relationship between Christian and pagan schools - and analyses the 'uneducated virtue' of the Apostles. Hilton provides a useful window onto the social construction of ancient education and ushers readers into the everyday experience of ancient Christians, and those who disdained and defended them.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Bloomsbury UK eBooks
• Seitenzahl: 192
• Erscheinungstermin: 19. April 2018
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9780567662897
• Artikelnr.: 53517256

Autorenporträt

Rev. Allen R. Hilton, Ph.D., taught New Testament on the faculty of the Yale Divinity School and (before that) St. Mary's College of California. More recently, he is the Founder and Leader of House United Movement, a nonprofit initiative dedicated to bringing people together across political differences for the common good. In this setting, he writes, speaks, and consults on team- and community-building. He holds an M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in New Testament from Yale University. His other recent book is House United-How the Church Could Save the World (2018).