The Apostolic Fathers

Description

The Apostolic Fathers, among the earliest Christian writings outside the New Testament, offer vital insight into early Christianity during the first half of the second century. These documents reflect a diverse theological and social landscape, where shared convictions existed alongside sharp disagreements that generated ongoing debate. This volume is divided into two sections. The first includes eleven chapters that examine the standard Apostolic Fathers texts, addressing introductory issues, textual commentary, interpretive difficulties, and connections to the New Testament. The second features eight thematic chapters that trace recurring concerns across the corpus, drawing attention to both continuity and divergence. Authored by leading scholars with extensive expertise, the volume contributes new perspectives on texts that have influenced doctrinal development, ecclesial formation, and patterns of Christian identity from antiquity to the present. It offers an essential resource for scholars in early Christianity, patristics, and New Testament studies.

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
1. The Apostolic Fathers: An Introduction, Paul Foster

PART 1: THE TEXTS
2. The Didache, Joseph Verheyden
3. First Clement, Clare K. Rothschild
4. Second Clement, James A. Kelhoffer
5. The Fragments of Papias, William Varner
6. The Apology of Quadratus, Andrew Gregory
7. The Shepherd of Hermas, Mark Grundeken
8. The Epistle of Barnabas, David Lincicum
9. The Letters of Ignatius of Antioch, Paul Foster 
10. Polycarp’s Epistle to the Philippians, Paul Foster 
11. The Martyrdom of Polycarp, Scott Harrower
12. The Epistle to Diognetus, Michael F. Bird

PART 2: THEOLOGICAL THEMES
13. Christological Perspectives in the Apostolic Fathers, Paul Foster 
14. Soteriology in the Apostolic Fathers, Brian J. Arnold
15. Ecclesiology in the Apostolic Fathers, Gregory Vall
16. Eschatology in the Apostolic Fathers, Clayton N. Jefford
17. Women and Gender in the Apostolic Fathers, Carolyn Osiek 
18. Ethics and Education in the Apostolic Fathers, Teresa Morgan
19. Martyrdom in the Apostolic Fathers, Paul Hartog 
20. The Writings of the New Testament in the Apostolic Fathers, Michael J. Kruger
 

Ancient Literature for New Testament Studies is a multivolume series that seeks to introduce key ancient texts that form the cultural, historical, and literary context for the study of the New Testament.

Each volume will feature introductory essays to the corpus, followed by articles on the relevant texts. Each article will address introductory matters, provenance, summary of content, interpretive issues, key passages for New Testament studies and their significance.

Neither too technical to be used by students nor too thin on interpretive information to be useful for serious study of the New Testament, this series provides a much-needed resource for understanding the New Testament in its first-century Jewish and Greco-Roman context. Produced by an international team of leading experts in each corpus, Ancient Literature for New Testament Studies stands to become the standard resource for both scholars and students. Volumes include:

1. The Apocrypha and Septuagint - Bruce W. Longenecker, Marieke Dhont, and James K. Aitken†
2. The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha - Loren T. Stuckenbruck
3. The Dead Sea Scrolls - Cecilia Wassén
4. The Apostolic Fathers - Paul Foster
5. Philo and Josephus - Honora Howell Chapman, Zuleika Rodgers, and Justin M. Rogers
6. Greco-Roman Literature - Joseph Emanuel Sanzo and Michael C. Sloan
7. Targums and Rabbinic Literature - Bruce Chilton, Alan J. Avery-Peck
8. Gnostic Literature - Christian Askeland
9. Early New Testament Apocrypha - J. Christopher Edwards
10. Inscriptions, Papyri, and Other Artifacts - James R. Harrison, E. Randolph Richards