Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity Online

Get access Subject: Biblical Studies And Early Christianity
General Editors: David G. Hunter, Boston College, United States, Paul J.J. van Geest, Tilburg University, Netherlands, Bert Jan Lietaert Peerbolte, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands.

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 The Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity focuses on the history of early Christian texts, authors, ideas. Its content is intended to bridge the gap between the fields of New Testament studies and patristics, covering the whole period of early Christianity up to 600 CE. The BEEC aims to provide a critical review of the methods used in Early Christian Studies and to update the historiography.

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Oath

(365 mots)

Auteur(s): Vahrenhorst, Martin
Oaths and vows were widespread acts of speech in antiquity. Philo of Alexandria offers a definition of an oath which is also known in the Greek and Roman world. According to Philo “an oath is an appeal to God as a witness on some disputed matter” (Philo Sacr. 91). In legal or economic contexts, one could corroborate the truth of one’s statement by swearing an oath (e.g. m. Šebu. 4.1ff.). Vows on the other hand are solemn promises to God to do something in the future (see Vahrenhorst, 2002, 44f.). Both of them were not always clearly distinguished.The New Testament reflects common votive pra…
Date: 2024-01-19

Odilia

(871 mots)

Auteur(s): Caspers, Charles
According to the late medieval tradition, Odilia (d. c. 300–400 CE) was one of the virgins murdered by the Huns together with Ursula before the gates of Cologne in the 4th century CE (Virgin/Virginity/Velatio). She was said to have been a cousin of Ursula’s fiancé. Her name does not appear, however, in the oldest list of Ursula’s companions. Her fame as a saint only spread after she appeared to a Crosier brother called John of Eppa in Paris in 1287. She told him that she had been called by God t…
Date: 2024-01-19

Ogdoas

(3 387 mots)

Auteur(s): Burns, Dylan M.
In the arithmetically informed speculations of Christian and Hermetic theologians of the early centuries CE, the eighth “sphere” or region (ὀγδοάς, “ogdoad”), as well as groups of eight celestial places or entities (“ogdoads”) enjoyed great attention. This popularity of ogdoadic speculation in the first centuries CE is interesting, because the number eight does not appear to have held particular significance among pre-Christian Greeks or Romans, even the Pythagoreans (Staats, 1972, 37;…
Date: 2024-01-19