Runar M. Thorsteinsson presents a challenge to the view that Christianity introduced an entirely new, better, and decidedly universal morality into the ancient world. Presenting evidence from Stoic and Christian texts from first century Rome, he emphasizes the similarities between the two belief systems.
FORMAT Hardcover LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand NewChristianity is commonly held to have introduced an entirely new and better morality into the ancient world, a new morality that was decidedly universal, in contrast to the ethics of the philosophical schools which were only concerned with the intellectual few. Runar M. Thorsteinsson presents a challenge to this view by comparing Christian morality in first-century Rome with contemporary Stoic ethics in the city.Thorsteinsson introduces anddiscusses the moral teaching of Roman Stoicism; of Seneca, Musonius Rufus, and Epictetus. He then presents the moral teaching of Roman Christianity as it is represented in Paul's Letter to the Romans, theFirst Letter of Peter, and the First Letter of Clement. Having established the bases for his comparison, he examines the similarities and differences between Roman Stoicism and Roman Christianity in terms of morality. Five broad themes are used for the comparison, questions of Christian and Stoic views about: a particular morality or way of life as proper worship of the deity; certain individuals (like Jesus and Socrates) as paradigms for the proper way of life; theimportance of mutual love and care; non-retaliation and 'love of enemies'; and the social dimension of ethics. This approach reveals a fundamental similarity between the moral teachings of Roman Christianityand Roman Stoicism. The most basic difference is found in the ethical scope of the two: While the latter teaches unqualified universal humanity, the former seems to condition the ethical scope in terms of religious adherence.
Runar Thorsteinsson is from the University of Copenhagen.
IntroductionI: Moral Teaching in Roman Stocism1: Introduction to Roman Stoicism2: Lucius Annaeus Seneca3: Gaius Musonius Rufus4: EpictetusII: Moral Teaching in Roman Christianity5: Introduction to Roman Christianity6: Paul's Letter to Romans7: The First Letter of Peter8: The First Letter of ClementIII: Roman Christainity and Roman Stocism: A Comparison9: Moral Teachings Compared10: Ethical Scope ComparedConclusionBibliographyIndex of Modern AuthorsIndex of Ancient References
In this excellent study, Runar M. Thorsteinsson adds significantly to our knowledge of the similarities and possible interactions between Roman Stoicism and what he defines as Roman Christianity in the realm of ethics and morality Its conclusions will be controversial to many, but as they clearly emerge from a process of careful and well conducted historical research, they must be taken into account by anyone seriously engaged with ancient philosophy and early Christian studies. * Stefan Nordgaard, Review of Biblical Literature *
Thorsteinsson's book is indispensable for all with an interest in the origins of Christian morality. * Niko Huttunen, Journal of Ecclesiastical History *
well written and well worth consulting. * Ulrich Volp, Vigiliae Christianae *
A challenge to the view that Christianity introduced an entirely new, better, and decidedly universal morality into the ancient world
Christianity is commonly held to have introduced an entirely new and better morality into the ancient world, a new morality that was decidedly universal, in contrast to the ethics of the philosophical schools which were only concerned with the intellectual few. Runar M. Thorsteinsson presents a challenge to this view by comparing Christian morality in first-century Rome with contemporary Stoic ethics in the city.Thorsteinsson introduces and
discusses the moral teaching of Roman Stoicism; of Seneca, Musonius Rufus, and Epictetus. He then presents the moral teaching of Roman Christianity as it is represented in Paul's Letter to the Romans, the First Letter of Peter, and the First Letter of Clement. Having established the bases for his
comparison, he examines the similarities and differences between Roman Stoicism and Roman Christianity in terms of morality. Five broad themes are used for the comparison, questions of Christian and Stoic views about: a particular morality or way of life as proper worship of the deity; certain individuals (like Jesus and Socrates) as paradigms for the proper way of life; the importance of mutual love and care; non-retaliation and 'love of enemies'; and the social dimension
of ethics. This approach reveals a fundamental similarity between the moral teachings of Roman Christianity and Roman Stoicism. The most basic difference is found in the ethical scope of the two: While the latter teaches unqualified universal humanity, the former seems to condition the ethical scope
in terms of religious adherence.
well written and well worth consulting.
Provides an overview of Roman Stoic ethics highly relevant to the field of Early Christian Studies
Includes a number of primary examples from the Stoic texts of Seneca, Musonius Rufus, and Epictetus
Provides an overview of Roman Christian ethics, drawing on letters of Paul, Peter, and Clement
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