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Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity Online
The BEEC aims to provide a critical review of the methods used in Early Christian Studies and to update the history of scholarship.
The BEEC addresses a range of traditions, including iconographic, martyrological, ecclesiastical, and Christological traditions, as well as cultic phenomena, such as the veneration of saints. The history of the transmission of texts and the attention to recent scholarship will play an important role. The BEEC focuses on early Christianity from a historical perspective in order to uncover the lasting legacy of the authors and texts until the present day.
Currently over 885 articles are available. The encyclopedia will consist of over 1100 articles. Planned completion is expected in 2024.
Also available in print as Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity..
Please contact our sales team for more information on prices and licensing.
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- 1 Clement by H.H. Drake Williams
- 1 Peter by Travis B. Williams
- 2 Clement by H.H. Drake Williams
- Aelius Donatus by Axel Schönberger
- Alexandria, 01: City by Jürgen K. Zangenberg
- Alexandria, 03: Councils of by Christopher T.M. West
- Archelaus, Acts of by Jason D. BeDuhn
- Ariminian Churches in the Germanic Kingdoms by Volker Menze
- Armageddon by Arjan van den Os
- Athanasius of Alexandria by Xavier Morales
- Basil of Caesarea by Stephen M. Hildebrand
- Bible, 01: Hebrew Bible/Old Testament by Willem T. van Peursen
- Bible, 03: Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha by Bert Jan Lietaert Peerbolte
- Bishops of Rome, Pre-Constantinian by András Handl
- Canons of Hippolytus by Alistair C. Stewart
- Carpocrates by M. David Litwa
- Cathedra by Sible de Blaauw
- Christ, Jesus, 06: Quests for the Historical by Bert Jan Lietaert Peerbolte
- Christology, 01: 1st–2nd Centuries CE by Carol A. Korak
- Christology, 03: 4th Century CE and Later by Samuel Fernández
- Church Buildings, 01: Survey and Development by Sible de Blaauw
- Cosmos/Cosmology in Second Temple Judaism and the New Testament by Jamie Davies
- Cosmos/Cosmology in the Greek Philosophical Tradition by Jennifer Barry
- Crispina by Mary Hope Griffin
- Crispinus and Crispinianus by Mary Hope Griffin
- Córdoba by Alexandra Chavarría Arnau
- De excidio Hierosolymitano by Richard Matthew Pollard
- Deacon/Deaconess by Bart J. Koet
- Dead, Care for the by Eric C. Smith
- Demetrias by Mary Hope Griffin
- Demonology/Demons by Sonja Anderson
- Desert Fathers by Candace Buckner
- Diatribe by Justin D. King
- Emperor/Imperial Cult by Gwynaeth McIntyre
- Ephesus by F.J. Elizabeth Boddens Hosang
- Ephesus, First Ecumenical Council by Richard Price
- Eugnostos the Blessed by René Falkenberg
- Euphemia of Chalcedon by Vasileios Marinis
- Evagrius of Antioch by Aleksandar Anđelović
- Evagrius the Monk by Charles Kuper
- Fall by Gaetano Lettieri
- Fulgentius of Ruspe by Mathijs Lamberigts
- Funeral by Gerard Rouwhorst
- Gaius by Emanuela Prinzivalli
- Galerius (Emperor) by Benet Salway
- Gelasius I (Bishop of Rome) by Carles Buenacasa
- Gennadius of Marseilles by Michael Frassetto
- Gervasius and Protasius by Alžběta Filipová
- God, Doctrine of by Andrew Hofer
- God, Knowledge of by Paul van Geest
- Golgotha by Jordan J. Cruz Ryan
- Hadrian’s Rescript by D.H. Williams
- Heresy by Mark Edwards
- Holiness by M.J.H.M. Poorthuis
- Iberia of the Caucasus by Nikoloz Aleksidze
- Isaiah, 03: In the Fathers by Mark W. Elliott
- Italy, 03: Archaeology by Mark Humphries
- James, First Apocalypse of by Julio Cesar Dias Chaves
- James, Second Apocalypse of by Julio Cesar Dias Chaves
- Joseph of Arimathea on Demas, Narrative of by Mark G. Bilby
- Jude, Epistle of by Bert Jan Lietaert Peerbolte
- Judgment, Biblical Concept by Arjan van den Os
- Justin, Acts of by Mary Hope Griffin
- Justin, Pseudo- by Jens Fischer
- Knowledge, Interpretation of by Dylan M. Burns
- Lawrence by Simonetta Serra
- Liber monstrorum de diversis generibus by Andy Orchard
- Lord, Day of the (Judgment) by Arjan van den Os
- Luke, Gospel of by Arie W. Zwiep
- Lérins by Ralph W. Mathisen
- Mandaeans/Mandaeism by Edmondo Lupieri
- Marcion/Marcionites/Marcionism by H. Clifton Ward
- Marius Claudius Victorius by Isabella D'Auria
- Marriage by Mark D. Ellison
- Martyrologium Hieronymianum by Mary Hope Griffin
- Mensa by Marica Cassis
- Military by John F. Shean
- Militia by John F. Shean
- Miracles by Giselle de Nie
- Monotheism by James F. McGrath
- Negative Theology by Giulio Maspero, Paul van Geest
- Nicodemus by Athanasios Despotis
- Nicolaitans by Paul Trebilco
- Nomina sacra by Elijah Hixson
- Numenius of Apamea by George Karamanolis
- Orthodoxy by Paul van Geest
- Oxyrhynchus Papyri by Melissa Harl Sellew
- Paul (Apostle) by Andrew Burrow
- Paul of Mérida by Raúl Villegas Marín
- Paul of Samosata by Daniëlle Slootjes
- Paul, 2 Thessalonians by Bert Jan Lietaert Peerbolte
- Paul, Acts of by Jeremy W. Barrier
- Paul, Apocalypse of by Matthew Twigg
- Paul, Colossians by Angela Standhartinger
- Paul, Ephesians by George van Kooten
- Paul, Revelation of (Nag Hammadi) by David Brakke
- Paul, Romans by Alain Gignac
- Paula by Kathryn Kleinkopf
- Pelagia by Kathryn Kleinkopf
- Peter, Apocalypse of by Thomas J. Kraus
- Philosophy by Arthur P. Urbano
- Pilate Cycle by David W. Chapman
- Pilate to Claudius, Letter of by Rémi Gounelle
- Pilate to Herod, Letters of by Rémi Gounelle
- Pilate to Tiberius, Letters of by Rémi Gounelle
- Pilate, Pontius by Helen K. Bond
- Pisidia by Hartwin Brandt
- Priesthood of Believers by Bryan A. Stewart
- Prophecy/Prophet by Heidrun E. Mader
- Protology by Ilaria L.E. Ramelli
- Providence by Mark W. Elliott
- Pseudepigraphy by Sandra Huebenthal
- Quodvultdeus of Carthage by Michael Heintz
- Ravenna by Deborah Mauskopf Deliyannis
- Refrigerium by Cara Aspesi
- Resurrection, Treatise on by Christine Jacobi
- Revelation, Book of by Bert Jan Lietaert Peerbolte
- Sabbath/Sabbatical Year by Peter J. Tomson, Zeev Safrai
- Savior, Dialogue of the by Madeleine Scopello
- Sebastian by Matthieu Pignot
- Sethians by Gerard P. Luttikhuizen
- Sexuality by Benjamin H. Dunning
- Sin by Abigail Firey
- Siricius (Bishop of Rome) by Geoffrey D. Dunn
- Sirmium by F.J. Elizabeth Boddens Hosang
- Son(s) of God by John Behr
- Soteriology by Ilaria L.E. Ramelli
- Soul by Giulio Maspero
- Spain by Jordina Sales-Carbonell
- Spiritual Gifts (Charismata) by Brigidda Bell
- Stephen the Martyr by Robert Wiśniewski
- Stoicism and the Fathers by Ilaria L.E. Ramelli
- Sunday by Gerard Rouwhorst
- Synesius of Cyrene by Michiel Op de Coul
- Tarsus by Alain Gignac
- Thecla by Philipp Pilhofer
- Theodosius I by Justin M. Pigott
- Theophilus of Alexandria by Krastu Banev
- Tiberius by Harry O. Maier
- Tithing by Jan Hallebeek
- Titus by Harry O. Maier
- Trajan by Thomas Witulski
- Truth, Testimony of by Antti Marjanen
- Valentinian Exposition by Taylor G. Petrey
- Valentinians by Risto Auvinen
- Venantius Fortunatus by Michael Roberts
- Verona Sacramentary by Matthew Cheung Salisbury
- Virgin/Virginity by Sissel Undheim
- Wisdom of Jesus Christ by Madeleine Scopello
- Witness by Henk A. Bakker
- Zacchaeus by Christian P. Sanchez
- Zealots by Joshua D. Garroway
Early Christianity is a multi-faceted and complex phenomenon – if we can even refer to it as a single phenomenon at all. Since the publication of W. Bauer’s groundbreaking study Rechtgläubigkeit und Ketzerei im frühesten Christentum in 1934, the scholarly world has come increasingly to the conclusion that the variety of early Christian groups was not the result of the disintegration of a single, original form of Christianity over the course of several centuries but rather that variety has always been at the heart of what we call early Christianity.
The label “Christianity” is itself not unproblematic. Although the term naturally has a long history in the tradition of the Christian movement, its use, for example, to refer to 1st-century CE followers of Jesus is nevertheless an anachronism given that the term is first mentioned in the epistles of Ignatius of Antioch (Magn. 10.1, 3; Rom. 3.3; Phld. 6.1), dated to the early 2nd century CE. One can also question the appropriateness of its use for a number of groups that are currently seen as belonging to the extended family of early Christianity. Far from implying that “early Christianity” was a unified or monolithic movement, therefore, this encyclopedia uses the term as an umbrella covering a wide variety of historical phenomena.
In creating this Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity, the editors have made a number of decisions with regard to its subject matter, scope, and structure. The first choice made was to focus on the most significant topics concerning early Christianity: the most important authors, texts, ideas, and places that played a role in the history of the development of Christianity. While it is impossible to provide the user with a comprehensive survey of every detail in the growth of the Christian movement, an effort was made to cover the topics that would best provide the reader with a reliable map of the early Christian movement.
A second decision made was the time period to be covered. Any periodization is bound to be arbitrary to some extent, and thus prone to criticism. For the purposes of this encyclopedia, the editors decided that the end of the 6th century CE should be the cut-off point, as by that time Christianity was established as the Orthodox, Catholic Church in both the West as well as in the East. The formative debates on the nature of God and Christ had been more or less settled, and the biblical canon had been selected and approved by church councils. In the West, the demise of the Roman Empire had led to a new political constellation, and in the East, the rise of the Byzantine Empire ushered in a new era. Late antiquity may not have a clear beginning nor a well-defined end, but it is clear that the 6th century CE belongs to late antiquity and ushered in the start of the Middle Ages. These terms are also modern labels, of course, and also subject to debate. And yet the 6th century CE has the characteristics of a transitional age in the history of early Christianity and, as such, the editors decided to include it within the scope of the encyclopedia.
Early Christianity, in all its variety, did not originate in a vacuum. It started as an intra- Jewish reform movement in Palestine, led by Jesus of Nazareth. Within one generation after Jesus’ ministry it spread over large parts of the Roman Empire, reaching Rome even before Paul. As more and more non-Jews joined the movement, Greco-Roman customs and ideas also came to play an important role. For this reason, early Christianity is just as connected with the Greco-Roman context within which it grew as with its Jewish roots. However, notwithstanding these connections, the focus of the encyclopedia is early Christianity, and Jewish and Greco-Roman topics feature only where strictly relevant.
Two other choices were important for the scope and form of BEEC: the need to bridge the divide between the fields of New Testament studies and Patristics, and the history of scholarship of the entries.
The fields of New Testament studies and Patristics have, over the years, grown into two separate specializations, organized into two different disciplines with their own methodologies and scholarly traditions. This makes collaboration on a project such as this a sometimes complicated task. And yet, there is no logical reason to divide early Christianity into these two separate fields. For this encyclopedia, the period covered is seen as an organic whole in which a large number of developments took place that led to the formation of the Christian church as a recognizable entity, and to the formulation of the orthodox Christian creeds as guidelines for the faith tradition.
The second decision was to include in each entry some discussion of the modern history of scholarship. Often, this historiographical discussion is included as a separate paragraph; sometimes it is interwoven with the description of the topic of the entry. Our hope is that students of early Christianity who intend to research a particular subject will find their first information in BEEC, and will be able to proceed with their research on the basis of the information found here. The articles included in the BEEC are based on exhaustive research, using both primary and secondary sources. Wherever relevant, we also include an overview of the historiography of the subject of a particular entry. If the subject of an entry has been extensively studied in the past, its historiography is included in a separate paragraph. In all other cases, the historiography is referred to where necessary. In several cases, no historiography was required, as only one or two studies on the particular subject have been published.
The editors of BEEC hope that this encyclopedia will find its way into the libraries of universities, colleges, religious, and other institutions, as well as the studies of many individual scholars. The digital version of the encyclopedia will not require much space on the shelves of a library or study, and will be easy to access and search. May it prove to be a useful and inspiring tool for the study and further understanding of early Christianity.
The General Editors
David G. Hunter
Paul J.J. van Geest
Bert Jan Lietaert Peerbolte
General Editors:
David G. Hunter, Boston College, United States
Paul J.J. van Geest, Tilburg University, Netherlands
Bert Jan Lietaert Peerbolte, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Consultant Editor:
Angelo di Berardino, Augustinianum, Italy
Section Editors:
Juliette Day, University of Helsinki, Finland
Maria Doerfler, Yale University, United States
David Eastman, Ohio Wesleyan University, United States
Robin M. Jensen, University of Notre Dame, United States
Robert Kitchen, Sankt Ignatios Theological Academy, Sweden
Rebecca Krawiec, Canisius College, Buffalo, New York, United States
Jacob AbrahamLatham, University of Tennessee, United States
Outi Lehtipuu, University of Helsinki, Finland
Christoph Markschies, Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany
Bronwen Neil, Macquarie University, Australia
Karin Berber Neutel, University of Oslo, Norway
Geert van Oyen, University of Louvain, Belgium
Karla Pollmann, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
Joshua Schwartz, Bar-Ilan University, Israel
Kristina Sessa, Ohio State University, United States
Tarmo Toom, John Leland Center for Theological Studies & Georgetown University, United States
Abbreviations:
Primary Sources
Journals and Series
Lexicons
General
David G. Hunter, Boston College, United States
Paul J.J. van Geest, Tilburg University / Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands,
Bert Jan Lietaert Peerbolte, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands
Consultant Editor:
Angelo di Berardino, Augustinianum, Italy
Section Editors:
Juliette Day, University of Helsinki, Finland
Maria Doerfler, Yale University, United States
David Eastman, Ohio Wesleyan University, United States
Robin M. Jensen, University of Notre Dame, United States
Robert Kitchen, Sankt Ignatios Theological Academy, Sweden
Rebecca Krawiec, Canisius College, Buffalo, New York, United States
Jacob Abraham Latham, University of Tennessee, United States
Outi Lehtipuu, University of Helsinki, Finland
Christoph Markschies, Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Germany
Bronwen Neil, Macquarie University, Australia
Karin Berber Neutel, Umeå University, Sweden
Geert van Oyen, University of Louvain, Belgium
Karla Pollmann, University of Tübingen, Germany
Joshua Schwartz, Bar-Ilan University, Israel
Kristina Sessa, Ohio State University, United States
Tarmo Toom, Tartu University, Estonia
David G. Hunter is Margaret O'Brien Flatley Professor of Catholic Theology,Boston College, United States.
Paul J.J. van Geest is Professor of Church History and History of Theology, Tilburg University and Professor of Theology and Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Bert Jan Lietaert Peerbolte is Professor of New Testament and Early Christian Literature, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity Online
The BEEC aims to provide a critical review of the methods used in Early Christian Studies and to update the history of scholarship.
The BEEC addresses a range of traditions, including iconographic, martyrological, ecclesiastical, and Christological traditions, as well as cultic phenomena, such as the veneration of saints. The history of the transmission of texts and the attention to recent scholarship will play an important role. The BEEC focuses on early Christianity from a historical perspective in order to uncover the lasting legacy of the authors and texts until the present day.
Currently over 885 articles are available. The encyclopedia will consist of over 1100 articles. Planned completion is expected in 2024.
Also available in print as Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity..
Please contact our sales team for more information on prices and licensing.