The Earliest Christian Artifacts

by Hurtado, Larry W.

• ISBN13: 9780802828958
• ISBN10: 0802828957
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-10-30
• Publisher: Eerdmans Pub Co

Summary

Much attention has been paid to words of the earliest Christian texts, yet Larry Hurtado points out that a even more telling story is being overlooked -- the story of the physical texts themselves.Long known for his nimble scholarship, Hurtado combines his comprehensive knowledge of Christian origins with an archivist's eye to make sense of these earliest objects of the faith. He introduces readers to the "staurogram," possibly the first representation of the cross, the "nomina sacra," a textual abbreviation system, and the puzzling Christian preference for book-like texts over scrolls. "The Earliest Christian Artifacts" draws upon studies by papyrologists and palaeographers as well as New Testament scholars and includes an appendix listing all copies of identifiably Christian texts in manuscripts dated to the second and third centuries CE.Intended for intellectually engaged readers as well as New Testament scholars and students, "The Earliest Christian Artifacts "introduces the distinctive features of early Christian manuscripts, illustrating their relevance for wider inquiry into the complex origins of Christianity.

Author Biography

Larry W. Hurtado is professor of New Testament language, literature, and theology at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.

Table of Contents

PREFACE	viii
ABBREVIATIONS	xii
Introduction	1	(14)
1. The Texts	15	(28)
2. The Early Christian Preference for the Codex	43	(52)
3. The Nomina Sacra	95	(40)
4. The Staurogram	135	(20)
5. Other Scribal Features	155	(36)
Concluding Remarks	191	(2)
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY	193	(16)
APPENDIX 1: Christian Literary Texts in Manuscripts of the Second and Third Centuries	209	(22)
APPENDIX 2: Photographic Plates of Selected Manuscripts	231	(12)
INDEX OF AUTHORS	243	(2)
INDEX OF MANUSCRIPTS	245