The Oxford Handbook of Early Christian Studies

The Oxford Handbook of Early Christian Studies responds to and celebrates the explosion of research in this inter-disciplinary field over recent decades. As a one-volume reference work, it provides an introduction to the academic study of early Christianity (c. 100-600 AD) and examines thevast geographical area impacted by the early church, in Western and Eastern late antiquity. It is thematically arranged to encompass history, literature, thought, practices, and material culture. It contains authoritative and up-to-date surveys of current thinking and research in the varioussub-specialties of early Christian studies, written by leading figures in the discipline. The essays orientate readers to a given topic, as well as to the trajectory of research developments over the past 30-50 years within the scholarship itself. Guidance for future research is also given. Eachessay points the reader towards relevant forms of extant evidence (texts, documents, or examples of material culture), as well as to the appropriate research tools available for the area.This volume will be useful to advanced undergraduate and post-graduate students, as well as to specialists in any area who wish to consult a brief review of the 'state of the question' in a particular area or sub-specialty of early Christian studies, especially one different from their own.

Introduction
Part One: Prolegomena
1. From Patristics to Early Christian Studies, Elizabeth A. Clark
2. Literature, Patristics, Early Christian Writing, Mark Vessey
3. Which Early Christianity?, Karen L. King
Part Two: Evidence: Material and Textual
4. Material Evidence (1): Archaeology, Mark Humphries
5. Material Evidence (2): Visual Culture, Robin M. Jensen
6. Epigraphy, William Tabbernee
7. Paleography and Codicology, Ralph W. Mathiesen
Part Three: Identities
8. Jews and Christians, Andrew S. Jacobs
9. Pagans and Christians, Michele R. Salzman
10. 'Gnosticism', Antti Marjanen
11. Manichaeism, Samuel N.C. Lieu
12. Arius and Arians, J. Rebecca Lyman
13. Pelagius and Pelagians, Mathijs Lamberigts
Part Four: Regions
14. The West (1): Italy, Gaul, and Spain, Mark Humphries
15. The West (2): North Africa, Eric Rebillard
16. The East (1): Greece and Asia Minor, Raymond Van Dam
17. The East (2): Egypt and Palestine, David Brakke
18. The East (3): Syria and Mesopotamia, Lucas Van Rompay
Part Five: Structures and Authorities
19. Clergy and Laity, Karen Jo Torjesen
20. The Biblical Canon, Michael W. Holmes
21. Creeds, Councils, and Canons, Everett Ferguson
22. Church and Empire, Harold A. Drake
23. Women and Gender, Ross Shepherd Kraemer
24. Monastic Life, J. William Harmless, S.J.
Part Six: Expressions of Christian Culture
25. Early Christian Apocryphal Literature, Stephen J. Shoemaker
26. Apologetics, Mark Edwards
27. Homiletics, Wendy Mayer
28. Early Christian Historiography, William Adler
29. Martyr Passions and Hagiography, Susan Ashbrook Harvey
30. Poetry and Hymnography (1): Christian Latin Poetry, Michael J. Roberts
31. Poetry and Hymnography (2): The Greek World, John A. McGuckin
32. Poetry and Hymnography (3): Syriac, Sebastian P. Brock
33. Christian Philosophy, Hubertus R. Drobner
Part Seven: Ritual, Piety, and Practice
34. Christian Initiation, Maxwell E. Johnson
35. Eucharistic Liturgy, Daniel Sheerin
36. Prayer, Columba Stewart, O.S.B.
37. Asceticism, Rebecca Krawiec
38. Penance, Allan D. Fitzgerald, O.S.A
39. Martyrdom and the Cult of the Saints, Richard M. Price
40. Pilgrimage, Georgia Frank
Part Eight: Theological Themes
41. Interpretation of Scripture, Frances M. Young
42. Doctrine of God, Lewis Ayres and Andrew Radde-Gallwitz
43. Christ and Christologies, Brian E. Daley, S.J.
44. Doctrine of Creation, Paul Blowers
45. Early Christian Ethics, Francine Cardman
46. Instrumenta Studiorum: Tools of the Trade, Joseph F. Kelly and Jeanne-Nicole Saint-Laurent
Index of Biblical Citations
Index of General Subjects
Index of Persons (Ancient and Modern)