New Testament History and Literature

Lecture Details

Introduction to New Testament (RLST 152)

The Epistle of Jude can be dated to somewhere during post-apostolic Christianity and before the formation of the Canon. It refers to the apostles as representing a prior generation, yet it quotes from texts later excluded (perhaps, for example, by 2 Peter) from the Canon. The letters of Ignatius of Antioch contain evidence of a move toward the institutionalization of early Christianity. It mentions, for example, three different church offices bishops, presbyters, and deacons. It also heavily emphasizes the authority held by those with these titles. The Didache contains liturgical and ritual instructions for rites such as baptism, the Lords Prayer, and the Eucharist. All these documents show the change in early Christianity toward greater church structure and institutionalization.

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This course was recorded in Spring 2009.