Resetting the Origins of Christianity: A New Theory of Sources and Beginnings

by Markus Vinzent

How do we know what we know about the origins of the Christian religion? Neither its founder, nor the Apostles, nor Paul left any written accounts of their movement. The witnesses' testimonies were transmitted via successive generations of copyists and historians, with the oldest surviving fragments dating to the second and third centuries - that is, to well after Jesus' death. In this innovative and important book, Markus Vinzent interrogates standard interpretations of Christian origins handed down over the centuries. He scrutinizes - in reverse order - the earliest recorded sources from the sixth to the second century, showing how the works of Greek and Latin writers reveal a good deal more about their own times and preoccupations than they do about early Christianity. In so doing, the author boldly challenges understandings of one of the most momentous social and religious movements in history, as well as its reception over time and place.

Genres: Christianity, Religion, Science

350 pages, Hardcover

Published March 16, 2023

Reviews

[Monica Mitri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly researched and quite thought-provoking for rethinking reception studies, memory, origin stories and especially early Christianity.

[Tim Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Cambridge University Press volume by Prof. Markus Vinzent (King's College, London) is a work-in-progress covering, in reverse order, earliest church origins/developments from Gregory of Tours, Eusebius of Caesarea, Origen, Tertullian, Irenaeus, Epistle of the Apostles, Acts of the Apostles (canonical book of N.T.), and the canonical early and later versions of the Gospels and Marcion's Evangel & Apostolikon & Antitheses. For those already rather conversant with apostolic writings, antiheretical writings, and the 2nd-3rd century letter collections of Pauline & General/Catholic epistles. The author is in dialogue with his advanced students/colleagues in research on canonical as well as precanonical Gospels and Epistle collections. More cutting-edge material will be forthcoming from this excellent expositor and historian.