The Search for the Origins of Christian Worship Sources and Methods for the Study of Early Liturgy

by Bradshaw, Paul F.

• ISBN13: 9780195217322
• ISBN10: 0195217322
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-04-11
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

This is a substantially expanded and completely revised verision of Bradshaw's classic account, first published in 1993. Traditional liturgical scholarship has generally been marked by an attempt to fit together the various pieces of evidence for the practice of early Christian worship in sucha way as to suggest that a single, coherent line of evolution can be traced from the apostolic age to the fourth century. Bradshaw examines this methodology in the light of recent developments in Jewish liturgical scholarship, of current trends in New Testament studies, and of the nature of thesource-documents themselves, and especially the ancient church orders. In its place he offers a guide to Christian liturgical origins which adopts a much more cautious approach, recognizing the limitations of what can truly be known, and takes seriously the clues pointing to the essentiallyvariegated character of ancient Christian worship.

Table of Contents

Abbreviations	vii
Preface	ix
Shifting Scholarly Perspectives	1	(20)
The Background of Early Christian Worship	21	(26)
Worship in the New Testament	47	(26)
Ancient Church Orders: A Continuing Enigma	73	(25)
Other Major Liturgical Sources	98	(20)
The Evolution of Eucharistic Rites	118	(26)
Christian Initiation: A Study in Diversity	144	(27)
Liturgy and Time	171	(21)
Ministry and Ordination	192	(19)
The Effects of the Coming of Christendom in the Fourth Century	211	(20)
Postscript	231	(2)
Index of Modern Authors	233	(8)
Subject Index	241