Sex, Violence, and Early Christian Texts

Sexual violence and mentions of it appear with a disturbing level of frequency in the literature of early Christianity, and this collection of essays explores these occurrences in canonical and noncanonical Christian texts from the first until the fifth centuries CE. It aims to identify how their authors employ the language of sexual assault, rape, and violence to formulate and support various rhetorical and theological claims, and to address how and why these episodes of sexual violence have been ignored or read in a way that would make them less problematic.

Format: Hardback
Length: 298 pages
Publication date: 15 October 2022
Publisher: Lexington Books

Sexual violence and its mentions in early Christian literature are a distressing theme that permeates various canonical and noncanonical texts from the first to the fifth centuries CE. This collection of essays delves into these occurrences, employing a diverse range of interpretive lenses to understand how authors employ language related to sexual assault, rape, and violence to formulate and support their rhetorical and theological claims. Individual chapters also explore the reasons behind the neglect or problematic readings of these episodes of sexual violence. By examining these texts meticulously, ethically, and with a focus on shedding light on the pervasive issue of sexual violence in both ancient and contemporary Christian communities, this collection aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of these complex and often overlooked aspects of early Christian history.
Sexual violence and its mentions in early Christian literature are a distressing theme that permeates various canonical and noncanonical texts from the first to the fifth centuries CE. This collection of essays delves into these occurrences, employing a diverse range of interpretive lenses to understand how authors employ language related to sexual assault, rape, and violence to formulate and support their rhetorical and theological claims. Individual chapters also explore the reasons behind the neglect or problematic readings of these episodes of sexual violence. By examining these texts meticulously, ethically, and with a focus on shedding light on the pervasive issue of sexual violence in both ancient and contemporary Christian communities, this collection aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of these complex and often overlooked aspects of early Christian history.

Sexual violence and its mentions in early Christian literature are a distressing theme that permeates various canonical and noncanonical texts from the first to the fifth centuries CE. This collection of essays delves into these occurrences, employing a diverse range of interpretive lenses to understand how authors employ language related to sexual assault, rape, and violence to formulate and support their rhetorical and theological claims. Individual chapters also explore the reasons behind the neglect or problematic readings of these episodes of sexual violence. By examining these texts meticulously, ethically, and with a focus on shedding light on the pervasive issue of sexual violence in both ancient and contemporary Christian communities, this collection aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of these complex and often overlooked aspects of early Christian history.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781793637840