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Among the Gentiles: Greco-Roman Religion and Christianity (The Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library) Hardcover – November 10, 2009

by Luke Timothy Johnson (Author)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 20 ratings
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The question of Christianity’s relation to the other religions of the world is more pertinent and difficult today than ever before. While Christianity’s historical failure to appreciate or actively engage Judaism is notorious, Christianity’s even more shoddy record with respect to “pagan” religions is less understood. Christians have inherited a virtually unanimous theological tradition that thinks of paganism in terms of demonic possession, and of Christian missions as a rescue operation that saves pagans from inherently evil practices. 

In undertaking this fresh inquiry into early Christianity and Greco-Roman paganism, Luke Timothy Johnson begins with a broad definition of religion as a way of life organized around convictions and experiences concerning ultimate power. In the tradition of William James’s Variety of Religious Experience, he identifies four distinct ways of being religious: religion as participation in benefits, as moral transformation, as transcending the world, and as stabilizing the world. Using these criteria as the basis for his exploration of Christianity and paganism, Johnson finds multiple points of similarity in religious sensibility.

Christianity’s failure to adequately come to grips with its first pagan neighbors, Johnson asserts, inhibits any effort to engage positively with adherents of various world religions.  This thoughtful and passionate study should help break down the walls between Christianity and other religious traditions.

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Previous page
  1. Part of series
    The Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library
  2. Print length
    480 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Yale University Press
  5. Publication date
    November 10, 2009
  6. Dimensions
    6.13 x 1.31 x 9.25 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0300142080
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0300142082
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Defending the Christian religion against Greco-Roman paganism, the early Christian writer Tertullian once famously asked, What indeed does Athens have to do with Jerusalem? In his thoughtful, judicious and provocative new book, New Testament scholar Johnson answers, Plenty. Drawing deeply upon Greco-Roman literature, Johnson isolates four ways of being religious in the Greco-Roman world: the way of participation in divine benefits, the way of moral transformation, the way of transcending the world and the way of stabilizing the world. He illustrates each type of religiosity with a sketch of a Greco-Roman writer or text. Johnson then places this template of religiosity on the Christianity of the first through fourth centuries to illustrate how deeply embedded Greco-Roman patterns of religion influenced and contributed to the growth of Christianity. Johnson's careful and compelling approach avoids both the apologetic and the antagonistic tones that such conversations about early Christianity and Hellenistic religions often take. (Nov.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

“Luke Johnson, a contrarian of the most constructive kind, defying all the usual categories, looks at the age-old story of Christianity’s ‘triumph’ over ‘paganism’ and turns it topsy turvy. A provocative and deeply humane book, to be savored and argued with.”—Wayne A. Meeks, author of First Urban Christians

(Wayne A. Meeks)

“Seeking to overturn an attitude towards Greco-Roman religion epitomized in Tertullian's famous rejection of Athens, Johnson demonstrates four ways of being religious that were common to Greeks, Romans, Jews, and early Christians. The work is important not only for the study of ancient religion, but for inter-faith dialogue today.”—Gregory E. Sterling, University of Notre Dame

(Gregory E. Sterling)

“A remarkable synthesis that challenges reigning assumptions about early Christianity’s relationship to the Graeco-Roman world, this book proposes new analytical categories to advance and enliven the ongoing ‘Christ and culture’ debate.”—Carl R. Holladay, Emory University

(Carl R. Holladay)

“In this important, well-documented, and challenging book, Johnson shows forcefully how demonizing and deprecating other religions has not served early Christianity well in the past, obscured its development, and has left a pernicious legacy.”—Frederick E. Brenk, Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome

(Frederick E. Brenk)

"In [Johnson's] thoughtful, judicious and provocative new book. . . . [his] careful and compelling approach avoids both the apologetic and the antagonistic tones that. . . conversations about early Christianiry and Hellenistic religions often rake."—Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly 2009-09-14)

“One of those rare books that is at once an excellent reference work and a great read . . . it promises to change the way most of us understand early Christianity.”--Timothy Beal, Christian Century

(Timothy Beal Christian Century)

null (Grawemeyer Award in Religion Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and the University of Louisville 2010-12-03)

"A stunning achievement."—David L. Balch, The Catholic Biblical Quarterly (David L. Balch The Catholic Biblical Quarterly)

"The author's discussion of the religious symphony that is polytheism is very helpful and clear—this is by no means usual and is to be applauded. . . . This volume is a valuable edition to the Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library. It is richly annotated, provoking thought and questions and providing the notes and resources needed to pursue those questions further. I believe it achieves the author's goal of presenting Greco-Roman religious practice and sensibility without the Christian apologetics and value judgments that have so often obscured the appreciation of this rich and unique tradition."—Lynn Lidonnici, Journal of Church History (Lynn Lidonnici Journal of Church History)

"Who will fail to benefit from this stimulatingly provocative contribution from Luke Timothy Johnson?"—James D.G. Dunn, Interpretation (James D.G. Dunn Interpretation)

“Outstanding”—Martin W. Mittelstadt, Religious Studies Review  (Martin W. Mittelstadt Religious Studies Review)

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Yale University Press; 0 edition (November 10, 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 480 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0300142080
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0300142082
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.3 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.13 x 1.31 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 20 ratings

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Luke Timothy Johnson

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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
20 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Michael D. Haggin
5.0 out of 5 stars A solid scholarly ground for contemporary congregational and regional ministry strategy
Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2015
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I got and read this book in late 2013, and I have been excited about it ever since. On the one hand, it is a refreshing look at some interesting historical questions ... and I love history. But the most compelling part/other hand, it challenges us Church people to re-examine our practices in the present time and place. It has given me a whole new lens through which to see the successes and short-comings of our contemporary local churches. I am excited to apply these insights in our Presbytery's attempts to organize new congregations and re-vivify/re-purpose existing ones. I have spent a lifetime arguing for the relevance of history. Seldom does a work of history radiate practical relevance like this one does. Its ideas, findings, arguments need to be brought into all the contemporary conversations about American Christianity. Unfortunately relatively few of our colleagues will undertake the work it might take to follow and appreciate it. I take it as my responsibility to present the findings in their contemporary relevance to my neighbors -- which I am doing. But without the solid scholarly foundation, I would have nothing important to 'retail.' (Isn't that why we are called to be a learned ministry?)
Full disclosure: I came to know Luke Johnson when he was a junior faculty member at Yale Divinity School (and I an M.Div. student). I never took any of his courses, but I had quite a few enjoyable and profitable conversations with him then ... and maybe half-a-dozen through the years since then. He is one of the authors I read with greatest interest and profit. Few such first-rate scholars are also so helpful to the personal disciples of Christ and to the front-line congregational leaders.
5 people found this helpful
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Chicago reader
5.0 out of 5 stars Impressive and profitable effort
Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2010
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It seems Luke Johnson always has something interesting to say. And, what he has to say is founded on his extensive research. Therefore, if someone desires to disagree with Johnson's interpretation it requires an extensive moment of silence before his evidence prior to opening one's mouth. Yes, the 100+ pages of footnotes is daunting but one has to appreciate that someone is doing the study for which others (me!) don't have the time or the inclination to do. I would have enjoyed a longer section on "implications" and I would hope that Johnson would consider such in a later book. Nonetheless, his "implications" are instructive. Arguing that the structure of my religiousness is right does not make the structure of religious expression of someone else, wrong. That premise appears sadly lacking in many debates. To reflect on Christianity in light of the structure of "pagan" religions simply confirms to me that much of human religiousness finds common human structure allowing us to investigate content a bit more intentionally. I have profited by reading this book.
8 people found this helpful
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John Hudson
5.0 out of 5 stars Four Centuries of Christian interaction with Roman and Greek religious persuasions.
Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2014
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I was interested in filling in the context for the growth of Chrisitanity over the first four centuries, especially in connection with the Roman and Greek culture at the time. The book shows the many interactions in four areas, receiving the gifts and power of the divine, moral transformation, flight from the world, and stabiliization of life through the respective cultic activities. Aside from reading the original texts this provides a good summery and understanding of the material. It also as the author says is very relevant to understand how persons of the Christian persuasion have overly demonized other religious persuasions in a way that is not helpful in aa time of interfaith diversity.
6 people found this helpful
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R. J. Karris
5.0 out of 5 stars challenging interpretive categories
Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2010
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Luke Timothy Johnson does it again. This most creative and learned interpreter of New Testament and early church history challenges his readers to use four new interpretive categories to explore Jewish, Christian, and Gentile religion. Scales fall from readers' eyes as they see familiar texts in exciting and brilliant new ways. For example, why should it be surprising that new converts in Galatia wanted to add circumcision to baptism? After all, the religious practices with which they were familiar invited deeper levels of initiation.
18 people found this helpful
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Walter A. Lukaszek
5.0 out of 5 stars Among the Gentiles: Greco-Roman Religion and Christianity
Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2010
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I like the details but not the $2.00 vocabulary. He could have used many more down to earth words to share the information. His information is very helpful and well documented. It adds a perspective that can help Church better communicate and not be so defensive. God is in charge and we are part of creation, on a journey toward eternity.
5 people found this helpful
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Patrick J. Goggins
3.0 out of 5 stars Good comparative analysis
Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2014
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Johnson's four ways of being religious do apply, as he says, to almost all authentic religious experiences. What I hoped for was a more thorough analysis of the Greco-Roman religious experience, and how the early Christian evangelists interacted with it.
7 people found this helpful
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warren davenport
5.0 out of 5 stars my reaction to recent book order
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2013
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kindle delivery was without problem,very familiar witth this author and his material,great as usual.I would recommend it to anyone interested in an, in-depth, study of early christianty.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2023
This book is so useful to understanding Christianity in the context of Greco-Roman religion. Johnson takes a difficult, wide ranging subject and is able to bring some sort of overall synthesis to the reader. I was amazed that such a complicated, learned subject could be presented so clearly. It is not a fast or easy read, but well worth the time.
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