Book
Early Christian Poetry
A Collection of Essays
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Edited by:
Language:
English
Published/Copyright:
1993
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About this book
This collection of essays deals with the rise and development of early Christian poetry, discussing its techniques and its theoretical foundation. The individual papers concern specimina of Hebrew, Syriac, Greek and Latin poetry and study the various and partly conflicting traditions from which it originated. The biblical examples, e.g. of the Psalms, held great authority, but on the other hand it was impossible to break away from the models of classical Greco-Roman poetry, although these were deemed dangerous because of the pagan content and excessive cult of literary art. The book shows how the problems involved were solved in different ways, which justified the use of pagan literary accomplishments for singing the praises of the Lord.
Author / Editor information
Jan den Boeft (1935), Ph.D. (1970) in Literature, University of Leiden, is lecturer in classics and professor extraordinarius of Hellenistic Religions at the University of Utrecht. His publications concern Latin literature and early Christian studies.
Anton Hilhorst (1938), Ph.D. (1976) in Literature, University of Nijmegen, is lecturer in New Testament Studies at the University of Groningen. He has published on early Christianity, especially the Shepherd of Hermas, martyrological documents and apocryphal literature.
Anton Hilhorst (1938), Ph.D. (1976) in Literature, University of Nijmegen, is lecturer in New Testament Studies at the University of Groningen. He has published on early Christianity, especially the Shepherd of Hermas, martyrological documents and apocryphal literature.
Reviews
'...The volume gets off to a good start with ancient Jewish metrical epitaphs... There is an excellent general essay... In almost every case they are successfull both in giving the individual poet and a general discussion on the nature of early Christan poetry and its relationship to the pagan poetry that it sought to emulate...the rich theological implications of the literary creativity of Christianity…'
R.M. Rice, The Heythrop Journal, 1995.
'...on ne peut qu'être frappé par l'unité qui se dégage de l'ensemble du recueil dans l'appréhension par les critiques du phénomène poétique dans le monde chrétien ancien. ...tout le mérite de ces études est de montrer l'extraordinaire activité poétique qui progressivement s'empare du monde chrétien et y montre toute son inventivité.'
B. Bureau, Revue des Etudes Latines
'...a welcome collection of essays on an aspect of early Christian culture that is often neglected.'
Robert L. Wilken, Religious Studies Review, 1995.
'...the book reaches beyond the natural boundaries of this 'vast and varied domain' to take in some unexpected material...a useful acquisition for anyone working in the field, or interested in what Christian poets did with their dual heritage.'
J.H.D. Scourfield, Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1995.
R.M. Rice, The Heythrop Journal, 1995.
'...on ne peut qu'être frappé par l'unité qui se dégage de l'ensemble du recueil dans l'appréhension par les critiques du phénomène poétique dans le monde chrétien ancien. ...tout le mérite de ces études est de montrer l'extraordinaire activité poétique qui progressivement s'empare du monde chrétien et y montre toute son inventivité.'
B. Bureau, Revue des Etudes Latines
'...a welcome collection of essays on an aspect of early Christian culture that is often neglected.'
Robert L. Wilken, Religious Studies Review, 1995.
'...the book reaches beyond the natural boundaries of this 'vast and varied domain' to take in some unexpected material...a useful acquisition for anyone working in the field, or interested in what Christian poets did with their dual heritage.'
J.H.D. Scourfield, Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1995.
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Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
December 22, 2015
eBook ISBN:
9789004312890
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
Main content:
319
eBook ISBN:
9789004312890
Audience(s) for this book
All those interested in early Christian studies and the history and literature of Late Antiquity, as well as classical philologists, theologians, Syriasts and students of Byzantium.
