Abstract
The present thesis explores and tests the validity of the hypothesis raised by Reimarus (1694-1768) that the first Christians aimed at establishing an earthly and not a heavenly kingdom.
The INTRODUCTION presents the problem and how this has been approached by previous scholars. It also outlines the aim and scope of the thesis and the methodology employed. CHAPTER 1 is a critical presentation of the main sources upon which the findings of the thesis are based, namely Maccabees I-IV, Josephus (fl. 1st c.) and the New Testament. It examines the issues of authenticity, dating, reliability, alterations and interpolations of the texts. CHAPTER 2, examines the case that the Early Christians were continuators of certain pre-existing Messianic traditions and perceived themselves as original Israelites. It also explores the validity of the hypothesis that the first Christians were Essenes. CHAPTER 3 covers the historical period from the reign of the Greek Antiochos IV Epiphanēs (175-164 BCE), when according to a certain Church tradition the first "Christians" do appear in history as martyrs. It ends with the last years of the Hasmonean dynasty (c.37 BCE). This chapter also investigates the rise of religious anti-Hellenism. CHAPTER 4 starts with the war Herod the Great (c.73-4 BCE) raised against certain Galileans and ends with the last events of the Great Revolt. Also, it questions what did the first Christians do during this period of repeated conflicts? How did the Gentiles perceive the Christians and who were the Greeks in the Early Church? The CONCLUSIONS summarise the findings on the validity of the "earthly kingdom" hypothesis, and the thesis ends with APPENDICES.
The INTRODUCTION presents the problem and how this has been approached by previous scholars. It also outlines the aim and scope of the thesis and the methodology employed. CHAPTER 1 is a critical presentation of the main sources upon which the findings of the thesis are based, namely Maccabees I-IV, Josephus (fl. 1st c.) and the New Testament. It examines the issues of authenticity, dating, reliability, alterations and interpolations of the texts. CHAPTER 2, examines the case that the Early Christians were continuators of certain pre-existing Messianic traditions and perceived themselves as original Israelites. It also explores the validity of the hypothesis that the first Christians were Essenes. CHAPTER 3 covers the historical period from the reign of the Greek Antiochos IV Epiphanēs (175-164 BCE), when according to a certain Church tradition the first "Christians" do appear in history as martyrs. It ends with the last years of the Hasmonean dynasty (c.37 BCE). This chapter also investigates the rise of religious anti-Hellenism. CHAPTER 4 starts with the war Herod the Great (c.73-4 BCE) raised against certain Galileans and ends with the last events of the Great Revolt. Also, it questions what did the first Christians do during this period of repeated conflicts? How did the Gentiles perceive the Christians and who were the Greeks in the Early Church? The CONCLUSIONS summarise the findings on the validity of the "earthly kingdom" hypothesis, and the thesis ends with APPENDICES.
Original language | English |
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Qualification | Ph.D. |
Awarding Institution |
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Supervisors/Advisors |
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Award date | 7 Mar 2016 |
Place of Publication | London |
Publication status | Unpublished - 7 Mar 2016 |
Keywords
- Zealot
- Apostolic Aristobulus Aslan
- Bammel
- Early Cristianity
- Anti-Hellenism
- Reimarus
- Samuel Brandon
- Nazirites
- Nazoraioi
- Notzrim
- Barjona
- Barjonim
- New Testament criticism
- Sikarioi
- Sicarii
- Sicario
- Sikarios
- Sicarius
- Essenes
- Essaios
- Sadik
- Saddok
- Saduk
- Sadducees
- Galilee
- Galileans
- Zdokim
- Alexandria
- Antioch
- Apostles
- Paul
- Jerusalem
- Rome
- Tiberius
- Titus
- Caesar
- Vespasian
- Alexander
- Ptolemy
- Epiphanes
- Klaus Berger
- Martin Hengel
- Matthew Black
- Artapanus
- Contra Apionem
- Contra Celsum
- John Dominic Crossan
- James Davila
- De Bello
- Josephus
- Contra Celsus
- Against Celsus
- Origen
- Karlheinz Deschner
- Justin Martyr
- Dialogus
- Apologia
- Apologiae
- Diodorus Siculus
- Bibliotheca historica
- Epiphanius
- Robert Eisenman
- James the Brother of Jesus
- Robert Eisler
- Messiah
- Enigma
- Alvar Ellegård
- Eusebius
- Russelll Gmirkin
- Ernst Haenchen
- Haeresibus
- John of Damascus
- Harugei Malkhut
- Historia Ecclesiastica
- Zeloten
- Holy Bible
- Holy Scriptures
- In Flaccum
- Philo
- Yianis Kordatos
- Ιησούς Χριστός και Χριστιανισμός
- Maccabees
- Septuaginta
- Christian conspiracy
- Jewish conspiracy
- anti-Semitism
- Hyam Maccoby
- José Montserrat Torrents
- Jesús el Galileo armado
- Nestle–Aland
- Novum Testamentum Graecae
- Niese
- Flavii Iosephi opera
- Panarion
- Papias
- Parente Onias
- Oniads
- Patrologia Graecae
- Bibliotheca
- Rahlfs
- Septuaginta
- Tessa Rajak
- Refutatio Omnium Haeresium
- Hippolytus
- Tatian
- Geza Vermes
- James VanderKam
- Weitling
- Das Evangelium eines armen Sünders
- Yigael Yadin
- Ananias Sapphira
- Christian Communist
- Shulamis Frieman
- most scholars
- inauthentic
- interpolated
- Slavonic Josephus