The Rise and Fall of ‘Gentile’ Identity in Early Christianity

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

Scholars narrate how the church became in the second century ‘increasingly gentile’. ‘Gentile’, however, is a Jewish construct. In this article I argue that the story of the rise and fall of the ‘gentile’ identity in nascent Christianity may help us better understand its expansion and crystallization.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationJews and Christians in the First and Second Centuries: Mapping the Second Century
EditorsMatthijs den Dulk, Joshua Schwartz, Peter Tomson, Joseph Verheyden
Place of PublicationLeiden ; Boston
PublisherBrill Academic Publishers
Chapter8
Pages226-245
Number of pages20
ISBN (Electronic)9789004704404
ISBN (Print)9789004704398
DOIs
StatePublished - 2025

Publication series

NameCompendia Rerum Ludaicarum ad Novum Testamentum
Volume18
ISSN (Print)1877-4970

Keywords

  • Christianity
  • Paul
  • gentile
  • rabbis

RAMBI Publications

  • rambi
  • Judaism -- Relations -- Christianity
  • Church history -- Primitive and early church, ca. 30-600
  • Gentiles (Jewish law)

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