Paul and Imperial Divine Honors: Christ, Caesar, and the Gospel

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Synopsis
How did the imperial cult affect Christians in the Roman Empire? &“Jesus is lord, not Caesar.&” Many scholars and preachers attribute mistreatment of early Christians by Roman authorities to this fundamental confessional conflict. But this mantra relies on a reductive understanding of the imperial cult. D. Clint Burnett examines copious evidence—literary, epigraphic, numismatic, and archaeological—to more accurately reconstruct Christian engagement with imperial divine honors. Outdated narratives often treat imperial divine honors as uniform and centralized, focusing on the city of Rome. Instead, Burnett examines divine honors in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Corinth. While all three cities incorporated imperial cultic activity in their social, religious, economic, and political life, the purposes and contours of the practice varied based on the city&’s unique history. For instance, Thessalonica paid divine honors to living Julio-Claudians as tribute for their status as a free city in the empire—and Christian resistance to the practice was seen as a threat to that independence. Ultimately, Burnett argues that early Christianity was not specifically antigovernment but more broadly countercultural, and that responses to this stance ranged from conflict to apathy. Burnett&’s compelling argument challenges common assumptions about the first Christians&’ place in the Roman Empire. This fresh account will benefit Christians seeking to understand their faith&’s place in public life today.
Copyright:
2024

Book Details

Book Quality:
Publisher Quality
Book Size:
359 Pages
ISBN-13:
9781467463539
Related ISBNs:
9780802879851
Publisher:
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
Date of Addition:
Copyrighted By:
D. Clint Burnett
Adult content:
No
Language:
English
Has Image Descriptions:
No
Categories:
History, Nonfiction, Religion and Spirituality, Education
Submitted By:
Bookshare Staff
Usage Restrictions:
This is a copyrighted book.
Foreword by:
Pheme Perkins

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