Overview

""Arguably the most distinctive feature of the early Christian literature,"" writes Bart Ehrman, ""is the degree to which it was forged."" The Homilies and Recognitions of Clement; Paul's letters to and from Seneca; Gospels by Peter, Thomas, and Philip; Jesus' correspondence with Abgar, letters by Peter and Paul in the New Testament--all forgeries. To cite just a few examples.Forgery and Counterforgery is the first comprehensive study of early Christian pseudepigrapha ever produced in English. In it, Ehrman argues that ancient critics--pagan, Jewish, and Christian--understood false authorial claims to be a form of literary deceit, and thus forgeries. Ehrman considers the extent of the phenomenon, the ""intention"" and motivations of ancient Greek, Roman, and Jewish forgers, and reactions to their work once detected. He also assesses the criteria ancient critics applied to expose forgeries and the techniques forgers used to avoid detection. With the wider practices of the ancient world as backdrop, Ehrman then focuses on early Christian polemics, as various Christian authors forged documents in order to lend their ideas a veneer of authority in literary battles waged with pagans, Jews, and, most importantly, with one another in internecine disputes over doctrine and practice. In some instances a forger directed his work against views found in another forgery, creating thereby a ""counter-forgery."" Ehrman's evaluation of polemical forgeries starts with those of the New Testament (nearly half of whose books make a false authorial claim) up through the Pseudo-Ignatian epistles and the Apostolic Constitutions at the end of the fourth century. Shining light on an important but overlooked feature of the early Christian world, Forgery and Counterforgery explores the possible motivations of the deceivers who produced these writings, situating their practice within ancient Christian discourses on lying and deceit.

Full Product Details

Author:   Bart D. Ehrman (, James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill)
Publisher:   Oxford University Press Inc
Imprint:   Oxford University Press Inc
Dimensions:   Width: 15.70cm , Height: 5.10cm , Length: 23.60cm
Weight:   0.953kg
ISBN:  

9780199928033

ISBN 10:   0199928037
Pages:   624
Publication Date:   10 January 2013
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Tertiary & Higher Education ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   To order  
Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents Acknowledgments Chapter One: Introduction PART ONE: FORGERY IN THE GRECO-ROMAN WORLD Chapter Two: Forgers, Critics, and Deceived Deceivers Chapter Three: Terms and Taxonomies Chapter Four: Forgery in Antiquity: Aspects of the Broader Phenomenon Chapter Five: Forgery in Antiquity: Motives, Techniques, Intentions, Justifications, and Criteria of Detection PART TWO: FORGERY IN EARLY CHRISTIAN POLEMICS Chapter Six: Introduction to Forgery and Counter-forgery in Early Christian Polemics Chapter Seven: Early Pauline Forgeries Dealing with Eschatology Chapter Eight: Later Forgeries Dealing with Eschatology Chapter Nine: Forgeries in Support of Paul and His Authority Chapter Ten: Forgeries in Opposition to Paul and His Message Chapter Eleven: Anti-Jewish Forgeries Chapter Twelve: Forgeries involving Church Organization and Leadership Chapter Thirteen: Forgeries involving Debates over the Flesh Chapter Fourteen: Forgeries Arising from Later Theological Controversies Chapter Fifteen: Apologetic Forgeries Chapter Sixteen: Lies and Deception In the Cause of Truth Bibliography

Reviews

<br> The quality is very high; it is very thorough and well-researched. ... Ehrman has produced a learned and engaging survey of early Christian controversial literature from the vantage point of authorial identity and rhetorical deceit, asking why Christians lied about themselves when writing polemical works and why scholars are so resistant to acknowledging their forgeries. ... There is no other major scholarly study in English that tackles this subject with such thoroughness, and its usefulness to students of early Christian literature will be undeniable. ... There is no comparable work in English on forgery. ... I also think general readers will pick it up and find it fascinating. ... The prose is solid, the arguments are clear and effective, and the significance of this study is undeniable. <br>--Andrew Jacobs, Associate Professor and Chair of Religious Studies at Scripps College<p><br> The book is excellent. It will make an enormous impact on the field of New Testament studies and also studies of pseudepigraphy in the ancient world. ... The book will make a huge contribution to the field. There are comparable books in German, but this one goes beyond them all. And it will be the only thing of its kind in English. <br>--Dale B. Martin, Professor of Religious Studies at Yale University<p><br> The book tackles an important subject--the nature of ancient Christian pseudepigraphy--and makes a significant contribution to it.... The author's contribution lies in updating Speyer's thesis that pseudepigraphy was usually, on the contrary, an attempt to deceive, and in establishing this thesis in a comprehensive English-language monograph. The greatest strength of the book is its comprehensiveness. <br>--Joel Marcus, Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins at Duke Divinity School<p><br> Examining over fifty examples of early Christian forgery and their polemical contexts, Ehrman uncovers the varied motives that prompted ancient Christian authors intentionally

<br> The quality is very high; it is very thorough and well-researched. ... Ehrman has produced a learned and engaging survey of early Christian controversial literature from the vantage point of authorial identity and rhetorical deceit, asking why Christians lied about themselves when writing polemical works and why scholars are so resistant to acknowledging their forgeries. ... There is no other major scholarly study in English that tackles this subject with such thoroughness, and its usefulness to students of early Christian literature will be undeniable. ... There is no comparable work in English on forgery. ... I also think general readers will pick it up and find it fascinating. ... The prose is solid, the arguments are clear and effective, and the significance of this study is undeniable. <br>--Andrew Jacobs, Associate Professor and Chair of Religious Studies at Scripps College<p><br> The book is excellent. It will make an enormous impact on the field of New Testament studies and also studies of pseudepigraphy in the ancient world. ... The book will make a huge contribution to the field. There are comparable books in German, but this one goes beyond them all. And it will be the only thing of its kind in English. <br>--Dale B. Martin, Professor of Religious Studies at Yale University<p><br> The book tackles an important subject--the nature of ancient Christian pseudepigraphy--and makes a significant contribution to it.... The author's contribution lies in updating Speyer's thesis that pseudepigraphy was usually, on the contrary, an attempt to deceive, and in establishing this thesis in a comprehensive English-language monograph. The greatest strength of the book is its comprehensiveness. <br>--Joel Marcus, Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins at Duke Divinity School<p><br>

Author Information

Bart D. Ehrman is the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Widely recognized as one of the world's leading authorities on the New Testament and early Christianity, he has lectured at major universities throughout North America and has been featured on CNN, BBC, the History Channel, National Geographic, the Discovery Channel, A&E, major PBS stations, and the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He is the author of the New York Times best-selling book Misquoting Jesus.

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