Paul and the Second Century

This volume looks at the imprint and influence that the writings of the Apostle Paul had in the second century examining the Pauline corpus in conjunction with key second century figures and texts, such as Ignatius, Polycarp, and the Epistle of Diognetus. As such this volume is an exercise in the Wirkungsgeschichte or 'effective-history' of Paul. It investigates the impact of Paul's legacy and examines how this legacy shaped the Christianity that emerged in the second century as represented by the Apostolic Fathers, the early Christian Apologists, and among Gnostic and Judeo Christian groups. The contributors are experts in their respective areas. Each contributor in turn examines how a given document or group reflects the influence of Paul's life, letters, and theology and the various and even competing ways in which Paul's legacy may be seen to have been appropriated. As such this is the first volume to present an extended juxtaposition of Paul's thought with such a wide selection of writings from the second century.

Michael F. Bird teaches Theology and New Testament at Crossway College in Brisbane, Australia. Joseph R. Dodson is Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at Ouachita Baptist University, USA.