Our systems are now restored following recent technical disruption, and we’re working hard to catch up on publishing. We apologise for the inconvenience caused. Find out more

Recommended product

Popular links

Popular links


Celsus in his World

Celsus in his World

Celsus in his World

Philosophy, Polemic and Religion in the Second Century
James Carleton Paget, University of Cambridge
Simon Gathercole, University of Cambridge
November 2021
Available
Hardback
9781108832441
£75.00
GBP
Hardback
USD
eBook

    Celsus penned the earliest known detailed attack upon Christianity. While his identity is disputed and his anti-Christian treatise, entitled the True Word, has been exclusively transmitted through the hands of the great Christian scholar Origen, he remains an intriguing figure. In this interdisciplinary volume, which brings together ancient philosophers, specialists in Greek literature, and historians of early Christianity and of ancient Judaism, Celsus is situated within the cultural, philosophical, religious and political world from which he emerged. While his work is ostensibly an attack upon Christianity, it is also the defence of a world in which Celsus passionately believed. It is the unique contribution of this volume to give voice to the many dimensions of that world in a way that will engage a variety of scholars interested in late antiquity and the histories of Christianity, Judaism and Greek thought.

    • Provides a comprehensive sculptural account of the neglected ancient Greek philosopher, Celsus
    • An interdisciplinary volume, which brings together ancient philosophers, specialists in Greek literature, and historians of early Christianity and of ancient Judaism
    • Will engage a variety of scholars interested in late antiquity and the histories of Christianity, Judaism and Greek thought

    Reviews & endorsements

    '… one of the best comprehensive volumes on Celsus in recent memory.' Juraj Franek, Bryn Mawr Classical Review

    See more reviews

    Product details

    November 2021
    Adobe eBook Reader
    9781108962964
    0 pages
    This ISBN is for an eBook version which is distributed on our behalf by a third party.

    Table of Contents

    • Introduction James Carleton Paget and Simon Gathercole
    • 1. Of scholarship, piety, and community: origen's purpose(s) in contra celsum Lewis Ayres
    • Apologetic and internal Christian argument in the contra celsum: a reponse Rowan Williams
    • 2. Annotations on the literary structure of celsus' alÄ“thÄ“s logos with special reference to the second speech of the Jew Johannes Arnold
    • The problem of the structure of celsus' alethes logos: a response Simon Gathercole
    • 3. Celsus as platonist philosopher David Sedley
    • 4. Celsus' theology: Ineffable logos and impersonal providence George Boys-Stones
    • 5. Origen's celsus and imperial religiosity Teresa Morgan
    • Celsus on texts and practices of ritual power: a response Sophie Lunn-Rockliffe
    • 6. Celsus, or Philosophy and the second sophistic Gretchen Reydam-Schils
    • Shaping the religious debate from within second sophistic culture: a response Simon Goldhill
    • 7. Homer in origen, against celsus Richard Hunter
    • Homer in the polemics between celsus and origen: a response George van Kooten
    • 8. The gospel according to celsus: Celsus' representation of Christianity Loveday Alexander
    • Celsus on Christianity – a detractor with a constructive agenda: a response Josef Lössl
    • 9. The reception of the alethes logos Sébastien Morlet
    • Literary influence and polemical tradition: a response William Horbury
    • 10. Celsus' Judaism Philip Alexander
    • Celsus' Jew as celsus' Christian construct? A response Martin Goodman
    • 11. The multiple personalities of celsus' Jew Judith Lieu
    • The distinctiveness of Celsus' Jew: a response James Carleton Paget
    • 12. Afterword Mark Edwards.
      Contributors
    • James Carleton Paget, Simon Gathercole, Lewis Ayres, Rowan Williams, Johannes Arnold, David Sedley, George Boys-Stones, Teresa Morgan, Sophie Lunn-Rockliffe, Gretchen Reydam-Schils, Simon Goldhill, Richard Hunter, George van Kooten, Loveday Alexander, Josef Lössl, Sébastien Morlet, William Horbury, Philip Alexander, Martin Goodman, Judith Lieu, Mark Edwards

    • Editors
    • James Carleton Paget , University of Cambridge

      James Carleton Paget is Reader in Early Christianity and Ancient Judaism, University of Cambridge. His interests include the Jewish origins of Christianity and the history of biblical interpretation. He has written a number of books and articles on second-century Judaism and Christianity and is co-editor of the Journal of Ecclesiastical History and Fellow and Tutor at Peterhouse.

    • Simon Gathercole , University of Cambridge

      Simon Gathercole is Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of Cambridge. He is the author of Where is Boasting? (Eerdmans, 2003), The Pre-Existent Son (Eerdmans, 2006), The Gospel of Judas (OUP, 2007), The Composition of the Gospel of Thomas (Cambridge, 2012), The Gospel of Thomas (Brill, 2014) and The Apocryphal Gospels (Penguin Classics, 2021). He is the editor of the journal New Testament Studies.