Pagan Readers of Christian Scripture: the Role of Books in Early Autobiographical Conversion Narratives.
Most scholars agree that "pagans" did not read Christian scripture. This critical consensus, however, places inordinate weight on a decontextualized quotation from Tertullian and neglects a body of evidence to the contrary. In particular, the role of books in early autobiographical conversion narrat...
| Publicado en: | Vigiliae Christianae Vol. 73; no. 5; pp. 481 - 507 |
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| Autor principal: | |
| Formato: | Artículo |
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Brill Academic Publishers
2019
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | Ver este registro en EBSCOhost |
| Sumario: | Most scholars agree that "pagans" did not read Christian scripture. This critical consensus, however, places inordinate weight on a decontextualized quotation from Tertullian and neglects a body of evidence to the contrary. In particular, the role of books in early autobiographical conversion narratives suggests that early Christian authors and copyists could sometimes work with a reasonable expectation of pagan readership. Against traditional notions of the restricted appeal and circulation of Christian literature, pagan and Christian sources alike indicate that Christian writings found an audience among philo-barbarian thinkers and that certain Christians promoted their books in pagan circles. |
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