Illiterate Apostles: Uneducated Early Christians and the Literates Who Loved Them (The Library of New Testament Studies Book 541)

Allen Hilton examines how pagan critics ridiculed the early Christians for being uneducated and how a few literate Christians took up pen to defend the uneducated members of their churches. Hilton sheds light on the peculiarity of this “defense” in which the authors openly admit that the critics have the facts on their side, noting that the Book of Acts even calls two of its heroes, Peter and John, illiterates. Why did these authors, intent on presenting Christianity in a positive light, volunteer such a negative detail? The answer to this question reveals a fascinating social exchange that surrounded education levels in antiquity and made its way into the New Testament. Hilton provides a useful window onto the social construction of ancient education and ushers readers into the everyday experience of ancient Christians and those who disdained and defended them. Cover Title Copyright Contents Part 1: The Cause of the Criticism Introduction to Part 1 Chapter 1: An Ethnography of Ancient Literacy An Anecdote Definitions Quantifying Literacy and Education Orality and Literacy Quantifying Ancient Literacy Early Christian Literacy The Social Impact of Literacy and Education Ancient Issues and Attitudes Attitudes toward Letters Attitudes toward the Lettered and Unlettered Chapter 2: Attitudes Toward the Illiterate Pagan Perception Lucian Galen Explicit Criticism Celsus Caecilius Implicit Criticism Justin Athenagoras Conclusion Chapter 3: The Christians and the Schools Introduction Primary Education: Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic Secondary Education: Learning the Poets Higher Education: Speaking, Thinking, and Living Well Rhetorical Schools Philosophical Schools Exercise Imitation The Peril of the Pretender The Angle of the Apologists Part 2: A First-Century Christian Reply Introduction to Part 2 Chapter 4: The Social Dynamics of ΠΑΡΡΗΣΙΑ Introduction Παρρησία Defined The Character of Παρρησία as Speech Παρρησία and Social Status Strategies for Safety Democracy and Friendship The Receptive Audience The Tolerable Speaker Acts 4 and the Social Dynamic Παρρησία Conclusion Chapter 5: The Virtue of ΠΑΡΡΗΣΙΑ Παρρησία as the Speech of the Courageous Παρρησία and Education Training (ἄσκησις) Example (παράδειγμα) The “Philosophical” Setting of Acts 4 Philosophical Community A Philosophical Jesus A Philosophical Paul A Philosophical Peter Conclusion Chapter 6: The “Education” of the Apostles The Power of the Spirit The Holy Spirit and Prophecy The Holy Spirit and ?a???s?a The Example of Jesus Conclusion Bibliography Index Allen Hilton examines how pagan critics ridiculed the early Christians for being uneducated, and how a few literate Christians took up pen to defend the illiterate members of their churches. Hilton sheds light on the peculiarity of this “defense”, in which the authors openly admit that the critics have the facts on their side, noting that the Book of Acts even calls two of its heroes, Peter and John, illiterates. Why did the authors of these biblical texts, intent on presenting Christianity in a positive light, volunteer such a negative detail? The answer to this question reveals a fascinating social exchange that first surrounded education levels in antiquity, and proceeded to make its way into the New Testament. This volume provides context for pagan education as opposed to early Christian illiteracy – touching upon the methods of ancient learning and the relationship between Christian and pagan schools – and analyses the 'uneducated virtue' of the Apostles. Hilton provides a useful window onto the social construction of ancient education and ushers readers into the everyday experience of ancient Christians, and those who disdained and defended them. Allen Hilton examines how pagan critics ridiculed the early Christians for being uneducated, and how a few literate Christians took up pen to defend the illiterate members of their churches. Hilton sheds light on the peculiarity of this "defense," in which the authors openly admit that the critics have the facts on their side, noting that the Book of Acts even calls two of its heroes, Peter and john, illiterates. Why did the authors of these biblical texts, intent on presenting Christianity in a positive light, volunteer such a negative detail? The answer to this question reveals a fascinating social exchange that first surrounded education levels in antiquity, m and proceeded to make its way into the New Testament. This volume provides context for pagan education as opposed to early Christian illiteracy--touching upon the methods of ancient learning and the relationship between Christian and pagan schools--and analyzes the "uneducated virtue" of the Apostles. Hilton provides a useful window onto the social construction of ancient education and ushers readers into the everyday experience of ancient Christians, and those who disdained and defended them The cause of the criticism -- An ethnography of ancient literacy -- Attitudes toward Christian illiteracy -- The Christians and the schools -- A first-century Christian reply -- The social dynamics -- The virtue -- Education of the apostles