The Other Christs: Imitating Jesus in Ancient Christian Ideologies of Martyrdom

by Candida R. Moss

Overview

The martyrs in early Christian texts are consistently portrayed as Christ figures. Their words, actions, and deaths are modeled on the person and work of Jesus. As such they provide us with insights into the interpretation and use of scripture in geographically diverse locations and a variety of social settings in a period for which there are lamentably few sources. Moss begins by tracing out the theme of imitating Jesus through suffering in the literature of the Jesus movement and early church and its application in martyrdom literature. She demonstrates the importance of imitating the sufferings of Christ as a practice and ethos in the Jesus movement. She then proceeds to the interpretations of the martyr's death and afterlife. Moss argues against the dominant theory that the martyr's death was viewed as a sacrifice, finding that in their post-mortem existence martyrs continue to be assimilated to Christ, closely resembling the exalted Christ as intercessors, judges, enthroned monarchs and banqueters. The characterization of the martyr as "another Christ" ultimately conflicted with emerging theological commitments to Christ's uniqueness and the egalitarian nature of post-mortem existence for his followers. But for a brief period, Moss finds, the martyr's imitation was viewed as a way in which he or she shared in the status of the exalted Christ.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199739875
Publisher:	Oxford University Press, USA
Publication date:	05/24/2010
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Candida R. Moss is Assistant Professor of Liberal Studies and Concurrent Assistant Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame.

Table of Contents

Abbreviations Introduction Chapter 1: Suffering Like Christ Chapter 2: The Martyr as Alter Christus Chapter 3: The Savior Martyr Chapter 4: The Martyr's Heaven Chapter 5: The Martyr as Divine Heir Conclusion Appendix Notes Bibliography Index

Editorial Reviews

"This is an original and insightful study that contributes significantly to our understanding of the cult of the saints, its literary representation in the acta martyrum, and the development of early Christian Christology and soteriology. It should become a standard work in the history of early Christian martyrdom and a valuable resource for the study of early Christian theology."---Bryn Mawr Classical Review

" In this fascinating study of Christian martyrdoms from the second and third centuries, Candida Moss opens up a new perspective by researching the implications of the imitatio Christi theme: presenting the martyrs as Other Christs."
--Jan Willem van Henten, Professor of New Testament and Director of the Graduate School for Humanities at the University of Amsterdam

"Scholars of Christian antiquity have long been captivated by the accounts of the pre-Constantinian martyrs. With fresh eyes and theoretically informed interests, Candida "Moss devotes this ground breaking study to one the most significant and overlooked themes of this ancient literature: martyrdom as an imitatio Christi. Anyone in the least interested in the early Christian movement should relish this full and insightful study."
-- Bart D. Ehrman, James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

"In The Other Christs, Candida Moss offers a rich and many-layered examination of the ancient Acta of the martyrs, showing how --- despite their many other differences --- these compositions both portray and encourage the imitation of Christ in death as well as in life. Of particular significance is her argument that the Acta represent an important mode of New Testament reception and interpretation. Her skill at putting relatively obscure texts into conversation with all-too-familiar ones leads to a greater appreciation for the place of martyrdom in early Christian thought and practice."
--Luke Timothy Johnson, Robert W. Woodruff Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins, Emory University

"...this is an original and insightful study that contributes significantly to our understanding of the cult of the saints, its literary representation in the acta martyrum, and development of the early Christian Christology and soteriology."--David G. Hunter, University of Kentucky

"...Moss's study is an impressive work of scholarship..."--Kristin Colberg, St. John's University

"This fine work is an important contribution to an understanding of martyrdom...highly recommended."--CHOICE

"Moss's argument...will stimulate thought, both about history and about theology."--Viginia Burrus, Church History

"Moss offers an intriguing glimpse into earlt Christian worldviews."--Interpretation:A Journal of Bible and Theology

"In this carefully argued study, Candida R. Moss makes a convincing case for the broad diversity of theologies and ideologies at play in pre-Constantinian Christian martyr acts...Moss has a remarkable grasp of the relevant primary literature beyond just the "usual suspects" so often assigned in introductory courses. And the work that she does in this book to put more familiar texts in conversation with lesser known ones is a welcome contribution to the field."--Journal of the American Academy of Religion

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