Book contents
- The Early Christians
- Classical Scholarship in Translation
- The Early Christians
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Foreword
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Prologue: A Dead Body Is Lost to the World
- Chapter 1 Neither Jewish nor Pagan?
- Chapter 2 Christian Authorities
- Chapter 3 (Not) of This World
- Chapter 4 Citizens of Two Worlds
- Looking Back and Ahead
- Postscript
- Translations of Primary Sources
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index of persons and places
Chapter 2 - Christian Authorities
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 October 2023
- The Early Christians
- Classical Scholarship in Translation
- The Early Christians
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Foreword
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Prologue: A Dead Body Is Lost to the World
- Chapter 1 Neither Jewish nor Pagan?
- Chapter 2 Christian Authorities
- Chapter 3 (Not) of This World
- Chapter 4 Citizens of Two Worlds
- Looking Back and Ahead
- Postscript
- Translations of Primary Sources
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index of persons and places
Summary
Since late antiquity, bishops have been regarded as possessing the highest authority among Christians. But there was no linear path leading there. Rather, there were different bearers of authority among Christians: James, as the respected brother of Jesus, was a key figure at the beginning; intellectuals were able to gain importance as teachers, prophets also appeared after Jesus, among them many women; widows and virgins attained a special position; finally, the authority of ascetics increased. Basically, authority could be derived from an office within the church or from personal charisma, which was considered God given. Good bishops tried to combine both, but charismatics could always challenge them and would continue to do so throughout the history of Christianity.
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- The Early ChristiansFrom the Beginnings to Constantine, pp. 116 - 222Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2023