Readings in the Greek New Testament and Greco-Roman Religions

3 units

This course reads selections from the Greek New Testament and places early Christianity in its historical, literary, and political setting in the Roman Empire in comparison with other religions of the ancient Mediterranean. First, we will read about the new religion of the snake-god Glycon, a manifestation of the Greek god Asclepius, founded by Alexander the prophet, as described by his chief critic, Lucian of Samosata. We will seek to understand both Lucian’s disdain for Alexander, whom he calls a “false” prophet, and the historicity of the temple beyond Lucian’s allegations of fraud. Second, we will read about the spread of early Christianity in the Roman world through the missions of the apostle Paul, as narrated by his chief proponent, Luke, in the Acts of the Apostles. We will seek to understand both Luke’s apologetic version of the story and the historicity of the movement beyond Luke’s propagandistic motives.