Entertaining Angels: Early Christian Hospitality in Its Mediterranean Setting
£55.00
This revealing and engaging example of what Arterbury describes as ‘historical audience-oriented criticism’ will be appreciated by scholars and students interested in the reality of life in New Testament times.
Hospitality in the ancient Mediterranean world was not a matter of entertaining one’s neighbours to dinner. And among the early Christians it was not the same as table-fellowship either, though most modern works confuse that with hospitality. Hospitality was essentially the provision of food and protection for travellers; it could include also a bath, supplies for the traveller’s onward journey, and an escort along the road toward to the traveller’s next destination.
Unlike other writers, Arterbury combs through a broad spectrum of Greek, Roman and Jewish texts — as well as early Christian texts outside the New Testament — for literary depictions of the custom of hospitality. As well, he brings into the picture the Greek novels, which provide us with vivid insights into ancient Mediterranean life. His book presents the most complete analysis of the terms used for hospitality. And he shows how important the practice of hospitality is in understanding the narrative of the conversion of the Gentile Cornelius in Acts 10-11: Luke is here suggesting that Christian communities should employ the traditional custom of hospitality as an effective means of bridging the cultural divide between Jews and Gentiles, evangelizing unbelievers, and forging bonds of friendship with strangers.
This revealing and engaging example of what Arterbury describes as ‘historical audience-oriented criticism’ will be appreciated by scholars and students interested in the reality of life in New Testament times.
Additional information
| Table of Contents | Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION Part I MEDITERRANEAN HOSPITALITY IN ANTIQUITY Chapter 2 GRECO-ROMAN HOSPITALITY IN ANTIQUITY Chapter 3 JEWISH HOSPITALITY IN ANTIQUITY Chapter 4 EARLY CHRISTIAN HOSPITALITY Part II THE CUSTOM OF HOSPITALITY IN LUKE AND ACTS Chapter 5 THE CUSTOM OF HOSPITALITY IN LUKE'S WRITINGS WITH A FOCUS ON ACTS 10-11 Chapter 6 CONCLUSION |
|---|
Craig L. Blomberg,Review of Biblical Literature –
Arterbury’s thesis models clarity and simplicity… Many of the references to ancient sources in the summary sections are actually new ones, never previously introduced or discussed… The sheer breadth of background texts assembled and surveyed in one slim volume forms a collection of material for which we can be grateful.
G.J. Brooke, Society for Old Testament Study Book List –
This is an intriguing book with broader implications for the study of the social world of the Greco-Roman Mediterranean, such as ancient views on the presence of angels and how news was spread.
Bruce J. Malina, Biblical Theology Bulletin –
[A] very useful . . . book … Given the travelling that features in so many New Testament narratives, an awareness of hospitality behavior is quite necessary for a modern reader’s understanding of these high context documents.