A Political History of Early Christianity – By Allen Brent
Michael Heintz
A POLITICAL HISTORY OF EARLY CHRISTIANITY . By Allen Brent London : T & Clark , 2009 Pp. xviii + 326 Paper, $ 39.35 Brent, whose scholarly interests and competence have illumined our understanding of the second third centuries Christian era as well Ignatius, early avatar monepiscopate, has produced a very important volume argument is both provocative compelling. Based upon metaphysical relationship between cosmic order social order—and constant interplay them—in late republican imperial mind, suggests that threat posed by faith to was no idle or merely rhetorical one. Contrasting theology constructed Augustus (chapter 3), which hoped usher in announce new gilded age, with apocalyptic fervor Markan author 2) John Visionary Revelation, he argues Gospel developing Trinitarian 6) its followers were perceived seriously undermining this ideology. His treatment Book Revelation 4) regard particularly trenchant. Brent's concluding chapters (7 8) juxtapose more distinctively Western eschatological view (instantiated Cyprian), slightly later Constantinian, precisely, Eusebian (and followed East generally), image emperor understood logos it order. This book an contribution number ways, not least demonstrating (in case, development theology—eternal, noncompetitive, coequal relations) can be genuinely serious business.
Religious Studies Review