Slavery in Early Christianity
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Published: February 18, 2002
Language: eng
Number of pages: 218
ISBN-13: 9780195136098
First sentence: This study focuses on the impact of the ubiquitous ancient institution of slavery on the emergence and development of Christianity.
Description: "Slavery was widespread throughout the Mediterranean lands where Christianity was born and developed. Though Christians were both slaves and slaveholders, there has been surprisingly little study of what early Christians thought about the realities of slavery. How did they reconcile slavery with the Gospel teachings of brotherhood and charity? Slaves were considered the sexual property of their owners. What was the status within the Church of enslaved women and young male slaves who were their owners' sexual playthings? Is there any reason to believe that Christians shied away from the use of corporal punishments so common among ancient slave owners?"

"Jennifer A. Glancy brings a multilayered approach to these and many other issues, offering a comprehensive reexamination of the evidence pertaining to slavery in early Christianity."--Jacket.