The Tapestry of Early Christian Discourse

by Robbins,Vernon K.

• ISBN13: 9780415139984
• ISBN10: 0415139988
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 1996-10-08
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

In this original study, Vernon Robbins brings together social-scientific and literary-critical approaches to explore early Christianity. Treating its canonical texts as ideological constructs, Robbins investigates Christianity as a cultural phenomenon, and expounds and develops a system of socio-rhetorical criticism. The Tapestry of Early Christian Discoursefirst establishes a concept of culture and then combines it with Geertz' anthropological concept of 'thick description'. Subsequently, the relation of texts to society and culture is discussed. In this manner, multiple methods of interpretation are used in an organized and programmatic way, allowing the reader distinctly new insights into the development of early Christianity.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xi
The Challenge of Socio-Rhetorical Criticism	p. 1
Redrawing the Boundaries with Socio-Rhetorical Criticism	p. 18
Inner Texture	p. 44
Intertexture	p. 96
Social and Cultural Texture	p. 144
Ideological Texture	p. 192
The Promise of Socio-Rhetorical Criticism	p. 237
Bibliography	p. 245
Index of Scriptures and Ancient Texts	p. 266
Index of Modern Authors	p. 271
Index of Subjects	p. 274
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