Alexander the Great in the Early Christian Tradition: Classical Reception and Patristic Literature

Description

What has Alexander the Great to do with Jesus Christ? Or the legendary king's conquest of the Persian Empire (335–23 BCE) to do with the prophecies of the Old Testament? In many ways, the early Christian writings on Alexander and his legacy provide a lens through which it is possible to view the shaping of the literature and thought of the early church in the Greek East and the Latin West. This book articulates that fascinating discourse for the first time by focusing on the early Christian use of Alexander. Delving into an impressively deep pool of patristic literature written between 130–313 CE, Christian Thrue Djurslev offers original interpretations of various important authors, from the learned lawyer Tertullian to the 'Christian Cicero' Lactantius, and from the apologist Tatian to the first church historian Eusebius. He demonstrates that the early Christian adaptations of the Alexandrian myths created a new tradition that has continued to develop and expand ever since. This innovative work of reception studies is important reading for all scholars of Alexander the Great and early church history. Cover page Halftitle page Series page Title page Copyright page Contents Acknowledgments Conventions and Abbreviations Introduction How early? Which Christians? Innovating tradition Approaching Alexander Plan of attack 1 Apologists and Co. Introduction Tatian of Assyria Athenagoras of Athens Clement of Alexandria Hippolytus “of Rome” Julius Africanus Tertullian of Carthage Minucius Felix Origen of Alexandria/Caesarea Methodius of Olympus Arnobius of Sicca Lactantius Eusebius of Caesarea Jerome of Stridon Observations 2 Classical Themes and Christian Tradition Introduction Educating Alexander Burn after reading Deification denied Coda: Alexander, Origen’s Jew, and Jesus on the cross 3 Tales from Judea and the Diaspora Introduction Alexander’s city Alexander and the Bible Josephus and Hellenistic stories 1 Maccabees Coda: Rise and shine, Alexandria 4 History and Rhetoric Introduction Adventures in apologetic historiography Facts and factoids Christian comparisons Coda: Alexander, Rome, and the Gospel Conclusion Epilogue: Writing Alexander, Writing Constantine References Index Locorum General Index