Theology

This volume sheds light on the intellectual engagement with wealth in the various literary genres of the Hebrew Bible, Greek philosophical and Greek poetic literature, Jewish writings from the Hellenistic-Roman period, Qumran, the writings of the New Testament and the Early Church.

Paul von Otting is the first to present a comprehensive monograph on the cultural history of the (late) ancient death penalty, critically revising the prevailing conception of a regime of violence during this period. In addition, he determines the place of capital punishment within the changing society and culture of the late antique world, offering new insights into the nature of pre-modern criminal justice.

For Christian authors of the second century, Paul's criticism of wisdom (1 Cor 1-4) stands in a tense relationship to the positive image of wisdom from the book of Proverbs, as well as to their own self-image as intellectuals. Johanna Brankaer analyses how they dealt with this criticism.

What is theology? How is it possible to have a knowledge of God? What is the relationship between reason and faith? What is the main focus of theology? Christine Axt-Piscalar describes the specific profile of the classic concepts in theology, thus revealing the diversity which has defined and is still defining theology through its history. In addition, she introduces the reader to the relevant conceptions of philosophy (Plato, Descartes, Kant, Hegel) and shows how they deal with the question of the knowledge of God and of how people can reasonably talk about God. The author approaches the subject from the perspective of the history of ideas and compiles central questions fundamental to any communication about the function and significance of theology. The interpretation of pivotal text passages enables independent studies of the individual works and is supplemented by references to other books.