Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity Online
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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.
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.
More information: Brill.com
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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.
More information: Brill.com
Nicodemus
(1,129 words)
Nicodemus occurs for the first time in the Gospel of John (3) as an “old” (γέρων/
gerōn) “teacher” (διδάσκαλος/
didaskalos), coming from the Pharisaic party and intending to have a dialogue with Jesus (Christ, Jesus, 01: Survey) by night. The reference to his leading function as an ἄρχων/
archōn (“leader”) of the Jews, that is, a lay member of the Sanhedrin, presupposes that he was aristocratic and wealthy. Thus, several attempts have been undertaken so far to link Nicodemus of John 3 to a historical person of the ruling elite in pre-70 CE Jerusalem called Naqdimon ben Gurion (
Sifre Deut. 305…
Date:
2024-01-19
Nicolaitans
(2,492 words)
In the book of Revelation (2:6 NRSV; Revelation, Book of), this is said to the church in Ephesus: “Yet this is to your credit: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.” No more is said of the Nicolaitans at this point, but in Rev 2:14–15 to the church in Pergamum we read:But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the people of Israel, so that they would eat food sacrificed to idols and practice fornication. So [οὕτως] you also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.Here, after…
Date:
2024-01-19
Nimbus
(2,821 words)
The term “halo” is often used generically to label a family of symbols in sacred art that are in fact distinguishable.
Halo derives from the Greek for “disk of the sun” and
nimbus from the Latin for “cloud.” Both terms can be applied to the aura that surrounds the heads of holy, divine, and allegorical figures in visual art. Similarly, the
aureaole, which is diminutive of the Latin “aurea,” meaning “golden,” can refer either to a halo of the head or of the full body – usually more of an ambiguous glow than a distinct shape. The
mandorla refers to an almond-shaped full-body aura. The
vesica piscis (“f…
Date:
2024-01-19
Nîmes, Council of
(1,639 words)
Ancient sources do not provide much information on the Council of Nîmes, in the Narbonne province. Its canons are exclusively known from the Cologne Collection (
Collectio Coloniensis), compiled in southern Gaul in the mid-6th century CE and transmitted by a single manuscript: Köln, Erzbischöfliche Diözesan- und Dombibliothek 212 (digitized: https://digital.dombibliothek-koeln.de/hs/content/zoom/184262); written in semi-uncial and uncial script by several hands, and dated to the late 6th century CE (CLA 8.1162), the…
Date:
2024-01-19