Holy Bishops in Late Antiquity
Book Description
In the transformative centuries between 300 and 600 CE, Christianity underwent a profound metamorphosis from a persecuted faith to the official religion of the Roman Empire. This scholarly exploration reveals how bishops evolved during this pivotal period, transitioning from exemplars of Christian devotion to influential civic leaders who shaped both spiritual and secular life.
Claudia Rapp presents a fresh perspective on episcopal authority that moves beyond traditional academic frameworks. Rather than viewing bishops through the conventional lens of institutional versus charismatic leadership, she introduces a nuanced understanding of how spiritual, ascetic, and pragmatic authority intertwined in the bishop's role. Her analysis demonstrates how a bishop's visible commitment to ascetic practices served as both evidence of divine favor and justification for wielding public influence.
This work challenges the common emphasis on Emperor Constantine's reign as the defining moment in Church development. Instead, Rapp illuminates the continuous importance of religious foundations underlying the bishop's expanding civic responsibilities. Through careful examination of social mobility patterns in episcopal appointments, she reveals how these religious leaders navigated the complex intersection of sacred calling and worldly power.
For readers interested in understanding how spiritual authority manifests in practical leadership, this study offers valuable insights into the delicate balance between inner devotion and outer influence that characterized early Christian leadership.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~10 hours)
📄 Length: 358 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Bishops
- ✓ Explore Kirche
- ✓ Explore Church history, primitive and early church, ca. 30-600
- ✓ Explore Église
- ✓ Explore Évêques
- ✓ Explore Church history
- ✓ Explore Histoire
- ✓ Explore Bischof
