Ignatius of Antioch and the Parting of the Ways : Early Jewish-Christian Relations

How did the early Christian movement, which began amongst Jewish people, soon develop into a community that was nearly devoid of Jews? Was this "parting of the ways" spurred by internal tensions within the Christian church, socio-political factors in the Roman empire, or growing animosity between Christians and the broader Jewish community? In Ignatius of Antioch and the Parting of the Ways, Thomas A. Robinson addresses these intriguing historical questions by taking a careful look at one of the few Christian authors who wrote about this parting firsthand-Ignatius, the Bishop of Antioch, who was martyred early in the second century. Robinson stresses the importance of hearing the voice of Ignatius in his own historical setting. In contrast with scholars who argue that a sharp separation between Jews and Christians happened centuries later, Robinson contends that Ignatius's writings show that the parting of the ways was already well underway in his lifetime. Book jacket.

Thomas A. Robinson is Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada.