Antti Marjanen, Th.D. (University of Helsinki 1996), Docent of New
Testament Studies, is presently working as a Research Fellow of the
Academy of Finland. He is the author of The Woman Jesus Loved
(Brill, 1996) and a translator and co-editor of a collection of
Finnish translations of the Coptic Nag Hammadi Library (2001). His
current research projects deal with influential women in Early
Christianity and social-historical issues among second- and
third-century Christians, traditionally called gnostics.
Petri Luomanen, Th.D. (University of Helsinki 1996), Docent of New
Testament Studies, is presently working as a Research Fellow of the
Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies. He is the author of
Entering the Kingdom of Heaven: A Study on the Structure of
Matthew’s View of Salvation (Mohr Siebeck, 1998). His current
research focuses on the textual sources of early Jewish
Christianity, Jewish-Christian gospels and the socio-cognitive
basis of hatred towards early Jewish Christians.
"The Companion is a landmark. A handbook of the so-called heresies
or heterodox Christianities of the first and second centuries, it
performs two functions at once, both equally important. It provides
us with the most authoritative and lucid presentations of the
consensus of scholarship on the given documents or tendencies or
groups as well as giving us the considered, cutting-edge thinking
of just the right scholar for each one." – Daniel Boyarin,
University of California, Berkeley
"So-called "heretics" in the early church have become an important
focus of interest for many in recent years. New texts and new
insights have increased our knowledge of some of these individuals
and groups which the "orthodox" rejected. These essays will provide
a valuable resource for those wanting to find out more about these
figures in the light of the most recent scholarship. All the essays
are thoroughly researched, clearly written and well documented.
This volume will be essential reading, and an important reference
work, for all those studying the variegated history of Christianity
in the second century. It is certainly an excellent and timely
production and will be very much appreciated as a resource by
readers." – Christopher Tuckett, Pembroke College
"This lively collection of essays, authored by an impressive cast
of international scholars, portrays some of the most creative and
provocative Christian thinkers of the second century - Basilides,
Valentinus, Marcion, Tatian, Montanus, and others - all of whom
were destined to be called "heretics" and were to be silenced by
their opponents. This fascinating book gives voice to these
teachers once again, and it allows their alternative
interpretations of Christianity to be heard with clarity." – Marvin
Meyer, Chapman University
"This volume offers the most up-to-date and sophisticated
introduction available to diverse types of second century
Christianity that were criticized by the patristic opponents of
heresy. In a series of brilliant and nuanced articles, scholarly
specialists assess recently discovered evidence alongside the
better known heresiological testimony. The result is a sound and
insightful portrait of the social dynamics and astonishing
inventiveness of these alternative Christianities." – Karen L.
King, Harvard University, The Divinity School
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