Society for the Study of Early Christianity
Encyclopedia
The Society for the Study of Early Christianity is a professional association of ancient historians and Biblical scholars, established within the Ancient History Documentary Research Centre at Macquarie University
. The purposes of the society are "to assist[the Centre] fulfilling its aims through the study of the New Testament
in its times, including its Jewish context, and the development of Early Christianity
."
and Jewish theology colleges and communities. The current president is Professor Alanna Nobbs. The society circulates three Newsletters a year outlining their activities.
The society lists its aims as:
Macquarie University
Macquarie University is an Australian public teaching and research university located in Sydney, with its main campus situated in Macquarie Park. Founded in 1964 by the New South Wales Government, it was the third university to be established in the metropolitan area of Sydney...
. The purposes of the society are "to assist
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
in its times, including its Jewish context, and the development of Early Christianity
Early Christianity
Early Christianity is generally considered as Christianity before 325. The New Testament's Book of Acts and Epistle to the Galatians records that the first Christian community was centered in Jerusalem and its leaders included James, Peter and John....
."
History and Purpose
The Society was established by the Vice-Chancellor on 8 May 1987, and a Constitution for the Society was approved by the Council of Macquarie University in December 1987. The society has no ecclesiastical ties, however it collaborates on academic occasions with ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
and Jewish theology colleges and communities. The current president is Professor Alanna Nobbs. The society circulates three Newsletters a year outlining their activities.
The society lists its aims as:
Projects
The Society supports a number of associated projects including:- New Documents Illustrating early Christianity - a project publishing Greek papyri and inscriptions related to the rise of Christianity within the multi-volume New Documents Illustrating Early Christianity.
- Papyri from the Rise of Christianity in Egypt (formerly known as Corpus Papyrorum Christianarum or Corpus of Christian Papyri) - a project aiming to "collect all the papyri (including ostraca, parchment, and tablets) which document the rise of Christianity in Egypt down to the victory of Constantine over Licinius in 324."
- Corpus Fontium Manichaeorum - a project sponsored by a number of international organisations including UNESCOUNESCOThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
and the Union of International Academies which aims to produce over 60 volumes of Manichaean texts from Egypt and Central Asia. - May Conference - an annual conference hosting international speakers on issues of the New Testament and early Christianity.
See also
- Society of Biblical LiteratureSociety of Biblical LiteratureThe Society of Biblical Literature, founded 1880, is a constituent society of the American Council of Learned Societies , with the stated mission to "Foster Biblical Scholarship"...
- Macquarie UniversityMacquarie UniversityMacquarie University is an Australian public teaching and research university located in Sydney, with its main campus situated in Macquarie Park. Founded in 1964 by the New South Wales Government, it was the third university to be established in the metropolitan area of Sydney...
- Early ChristianityEarly ChristianityEarly Christianity is generally considered as Christianity before 325. The New Testament's Book of Acts and Epistle to the Galatians records that the first Christian community was centered in Jerusalem and its leaders included James, Peter and John....