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Roman Faith and Christian Faith: Pistis and Fides in the Early Roman Empire and Early Churches
This study investigates why "faith" ( pistis/fides ) was so important to early Christians that the concept and praxis dominated the writings of the New Testament. It argues that such a study must be interdisciplinary, locating emerging Christianities in the social practices and mentalites of contemporary Judaism and the early Roman empire. This can, therefore, equally be read as a study of the operation of pistis/fides in the world of the early Roman principate, taking one small but relatively well-attested cult as a case study in how micro-societies within that world could treat it distinctively.
Drawing on recent work in sociology and economics, the book traces the varying shapes taken by pistis/fides in Greek and Roman human and divine-human whom or what is represented as easy or difficult to trust or believe in; where pistis/fides is "deferred" and "reified" in practices such as oaths and proofs; how pistis/fides is related to fear, doubt and scepticism; and which foundations of pistis/fides are treated as more or less secure.
The book then traces the evolution of representations of human and divine-human pistis in the Septuagint, before turning to pistis/pisteuein in New Testament writings and their role in the development of early Christologies (incorporating a new interpretation of pistis Christou ) and ecclesiologies. It argues for the integration of the study of pistis/pisteuein with that of New Testament ethics. It explores the interiority of Graeco-Roman and early Christian pistis/fides . Finally, it discusses eschatological pistis and the shape of the divine-human community in the eschatological kingdom.
Drawing on recent work in sociology and economics, the book traces the varying shapes taken by pistis/fides in Greek and Roman human and divine-human whom or what is represented as easy or difficult to trust or believe in; where pistis/fides is "deferred" and "reified" in practices such as oaths and proofs; how pistis/fides is related to fear, doubt and scepticism; and which foundations of pistis/fides are treated as more or less secure.
The book then traces the evolution of representations of human and divine-human pistis in the Septuagint, before turning to pistis/pisteuein in New Testament writings and their role in the development of early Christologies (incorporating a new interpretation of pistis Christou ) and ecclesiologies. It argues for the integration of the study of pistis/pisteuein with that of New Testament ethics. It explores the interiority of Graeco-Roman and early Christian pistis/fides . Finally, it discusses eschatological pistis and the shape of the divine-human community in the eschatological kingdom.
640 pages, Paperback
First published July 28, 2015
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About the author
Teresa Morgan
9 books2 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
The Reverend Dr Teresa Morgan is an English historian and cleric. She earned a M.A. from both Cambridge and Oxford and Ph.D. from Cambridge.
Her research interests are the study of popular ethics in antiquity and contemporary historiography.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
The Reverend Dr Teresa Morgan is an English historian and cleric. She earned a M.A. from both Cambridge and Oxford and Ph.D. from Cambridge.
Her research interests are the study of popular ethics in antiquity and contemporary historiography.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 9, 2023
A treasure trove of information. Morgan exhaustively surveys how the concept of pistis (which we typically translate as "faith" or "belief" in the New Testament) was used throughout the everyday culture of the ancient Greco-Roman world.
She effectively demonstrates her thesis that in the first century, pistis would have been widely understood as referring to an active relationship of trust rather than to an act of mental assent to ideas. Trust, loyalty, and faithfulness are thus generally better glosses for "faith" terminology in the New Testament in almost all of its uses, and any understanding of pistis as referring to a body of doctrine or the act of assenting to doctrine is anachronistic when it comes to biblical usage. It's a simple enough claim, and one I needed no additional convincing of, but after reading Morgan's book I feel as though I've gone from having a passing familiarity with this foreign word to being truly fluent with its full cultural import. It opens up a deeper conceptual world to the language. Morgan also helpfully elucidates passages like Romans 1:17, James 2:14-26. and references to pistis Christou (the "faith/faithfulness" of Christ).
Morgan's expertise is clear not only in the amount of primary sources she quotes, but also in the nuanced way she evaluates their use of language and her engagement with previous scholarship on the topic. Any serious student or scholar interested in how the Bible speaks about faith/trust will need to take this book into account. That said, it is VERY meaty and technical and thus also not for the faint of heart. Interested lay readers (particularly Christians interested in New Testament studies) can find a popular-level treatment that draws on many of Morgan's conclusions in Matthew Bates' Salvation by Allegiance Alone.
She effectively demonstrates her thesis that in the first century, pistis would have been widely understood as referring to an active relationship of trust rather than to an act of mental assent to ideas. Trust, loyalty, and faithfulness are thus generally better glosses for "faith" terminology in the New Testament in almost all of its uses, and any understanding of pistis as referring to a body of doctrine or the act of assenting to doctrine is anachronistic when it comes to biblical usage. It's a simple enough claim, and one I needed no additional convincing of, but after reading Morgan's book I feel as though I've gone from having a passing familiarity with this foreign word to being truly fluent with its full cultural import. It opens up a deeper conceptual world to the language. Morgan also helpfully elucidates passages like Romans 1:17, James 2:14-26. and references to pistis Christou (the "faith/faithfulness" of Christ).
Morgan's expertise is clear not only in the amount of primary sources she quotes, but also in the nuanced way she evaluates their use of language and her engagement with previous scholarship on the topic. Any serious student or scholar interested in how the Bible speaks about faith/trust will need to take this book into account. That said, it is VERY meaty and technical and thus also not for the faint of heart. Interested lay readers (particularly Christians interested in New Testament studies) can find a popular-level treatment that draws on many of Morgan's conclusions in Matthew Bates' Salvation by Allegiance Alone.
May 2, 2024
Who am I to review such an in-depth academic work such as this?
I appreciated the excellent translations of some well-known passages, though that is not the main aim of the book. Otherwise, the in-depth examination of the meaning of the Pistis lexicon was beautifully eye-opening. I have read and heard over the past several years favorite scholars express that most of what we hear of “faith and belief” in the New Testament can be better understood as something like loyalty. This book enabled me to see all the many ways that is both true and not enough. The idea that pistis is always part of a relationship and almost always active were great takeaways for me.
It is fascinating to find how much influence Augustine has over our understanding of Christianity, and it was helpful to break out of the fides qua/ fides quae paradigm.
I have no Greek and my Latin skills all come from mere root familiarity thanks to some Spanish and English vocabulary studies. I am no scholar by any definition. Needless to say, I am not the Intended audience. But with dogged determination and a library due date that would not be extended past this week, I made it through! A good percentage of the book is just right over my head (most of what was in English was something I could understand, though even some of that required an occasional check in the dictionary.)
Do I recommend this for others? If the topic interests you, and you are comfortable bumbling along, I do. On the other hand, if this is adjacent to your scholarly studies and might be writing sermons or even books that touch on Christian “faith” then you definitely should read this and take it to heart.
I appreciated the excellent translations of some well-known passages, though that is not the main aim of the book. Otherwise, the in-depth examination of the meaning of the Pistis lexicon was beautifully eye-opening. I have read and heard over the past several years favorite scholars express that most of what we hear of “faith and belief” in the New Testament can be better understood as something like loyalty. This book enabled me to see all the many ways that is both true and not enough. The idea that pistis is always part of a relationship and almost always active were great takeaways for me.
It is fascinating to find how much influence Augustine has over our understanding of Christianity, and it was helpful to break out of the fides qua/ fides quae paradigm.
I have no Greek and my Latin skills all come from mere root familiarity thanks to some Spanish and English vocabulary studies. I am no scholar by any definition. Needless to say, I am not the Intended audience. But with dogged determination and a library due date that would not be extended past this week, I made it through! A good percentage of the book is just right over my head (most of what was in English was something I could understand, though even some of that required an occasional check in the dictionary.)
Do I recommend this for others? If the topic interests you, and you are comfortable bumbling along, I do. On the other hand, if this is adjacent to your scholarly studies and might be writing sermons or even books that touch on Christian “faith” then you definitely should read this and take it to heart.
Want to read
May 13, 2022Recommended by William Lane Craig.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews