Answers Quote by Larry Hurtado

“In the Marquette Lecture volume, I focus on the question in the title. I emphasize the social and political costs of being a Christian in the earliest centuries, and contend that many attempts to answer the question are banal. I don't attempt a full answer myself, but urge that scholars should…” quote by Larry Hurtado — Download Open image

“In the Marquette Lecture volume, I focus on the question in the title. I emphasize the social and political costs of being a Christian in the earliest centuries, and contend that many attempts to answer the question are banal. I don't attempt a full answer myself, but urge that scholars should take the question more seriously.”

Larry Hurtado

About This Quote

Source Lecture: Marquette Lecture, 2005

The quote highlights the overlooked social and political hardships early Christians faced, urging deeper scholarly attention.

In simple terms: Early Christians faced costly challenges; scholars should study them seriously.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and investigate early Christian hardships.

Themes

history religion politics scholarship

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

analytical scholarly

When to use this quote

academic research
theological study
historical analysis

Key Concepts

social cost political cost early Christianity

Questions to Reflect On

How can we better assess early Christian struggles?
What methodologies deepen our understanding?

A Different Perspective

The quote may overstate banality of existing work.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3.7 out of 5 (9 ratings)

Answers Attempts Answer Century Christian Christian Earliest Cost Costs Christian Focus Lectures Political Question Banal Religion Scholar Scholars Question Should Social Titles Urges Volume

More by Larry Hurtado

Justin's testimony about becoming a Christian is that he had been searching various philosophical traditions of the time, and then accidentally encountered a man…

Larry Hurtado

Image

I think that Rodney Stark studies of new religious movements in the modern world give us some insights into the kinds of questions that…

Larry Hurtado

Image

Justin Martyr says that he was impressed in his study of the Old Testament, at the seriousness and contents of these writings, and became…

Larry Hurtado

Image

Early Christianity, like Roman-era philosophical traditions, laid emphasis on everyday behavior, about how to live your life.

Larry Hurtado

Image

Studies of the people named and described in earliest Christian texts show that, right from the earliest years, they included craftsmen, merchants, and owners…

Larry Hurtado

Image

"Religions" of the Roman world varied. Most of it was ritual practices. There were periodic occasions when cities honored their guardian deities with sacrifices…

Larry Hurtado

Image

Galen recognized, with some considerable puzzlement it seems, that Christians exhibited the virtues that he associated with the discipline of philosophy.

Larry Hurtado

Image

I think that Rodney Stark puts his foot wrong on some things where he simply wasn't sufficiently current on scholarly developments.

Larry Hurtado

Image

In its Roman-era setting, for example, Christianity was so different that critics of the time referred to it as a "superstition" (meaning a bogus…

Larry Hurtado

Image

I think Rodney Stark makes a substantial contribution to the study of early Christianity in posing the kinds of questions that he pursues (which…

Larry Hurtado

Image

In Destroyer of the gods I focus on several major features of early Christianity that made it distinctive, even odd or bizarre .We don't…

Larry Hurtado

Image

Galen's observations reflect one of the distinctive features of early Christianity. Roman-era religion was mainly about ritual actions vis-à-vis the gods, and there was…

Larry Hurtado

Image

[Christians] practiced moderation and chastity in marriage, for example, and Galen was puzzled at how they were able to do so. His comments are…

Larry Hurtado

Image

I offer early Christianity as a case-study to show that the phenomena that we group under "religion(s)" comprise a somewhat artificial category, and that…

Larry Hurtado