We are happy to announce the forthcoming publishing of T&T Clark Handbook to Early Christian Meals in the Greco-Roman World edited by Soham Al-Suadi and Peter-Ben Smit. The book will be available at the beginning of 2019.

From the description of the publisher:

“Meals are a highly significant element in the development of Christian identity. In this handbook Soham Al-Suadi and Peter-Ben Smit present chapters that situate early Christian meals in their broader context, with a focus on the core topics that will help us to understand Greco-Roman meal practice and how this relates to Christian origins. The issues covered include: the role of gender during meals; issues of monotheism and polytheism that arise from the structure of the meal; how sacrifice is understood in different meal practices; power dynamics during the meal and issues of inclusion and exclusion at meals.

In addition to looking at the broader Hellenistic context the chapters explain the unique nature of Christian meals, and what this says about early Christian communities. The handbook is structured around the key primary resources, with the literary, historical, theological and philosophical aspects of these resources being considered in turn. The handbook begins with Hellenistic documents/authors before moving on to the New Testament material itself according to genre (Gospels, Acts, Letters, Apocalyptic Literature). Finally, there is a section on the wider resources that describe daily life in the period (medical documents, inscriptions). This structure enables the editors and contributors to present an analysis of the social values exhibited at meals and their significance for early Christian theology.”

Table of contents

Introduction, Soham Al-Suadi, University of Bern, Switzerland and Peter-Ben Smit, VU University, the Netherlands

Part I. Ancient Authors and Texts
1. Philo – Maria Sokolskaya, University of Bern, Switzerland
2. Josephus – William den Hollander, Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary, USA
3. Plutarch – Matthias Becker, University of Tübingen, Germany
4. Qumran – Claudia Bergmann, University of Erfurt, Germany
5. Nag Hammadi – Jan Heilmann, TU Dresden, Germany
6. Apostolic Fathers – Andrew McGowan, Yale Divinity School, USA
7. Rabbinic Texts, Eric Ottenheijm, Utrecht University, the Netherlands

Part II. Gospel Tradition
8. Gospel of Mark – Martin Ebner, University of Würzburg, Germany 
9. Gospel of Luke – Matthias Klinghardt, TU Dresden, Germany
10. Gospel of Matthew – Hal Taussig, Westar Institute, USA
11. Gospel of John –Esther Kobel, University of Basel, Switzerland
12.Apocryphal Gospel(s) – Silke Petersen, University of Hamberg, Germany

Part III. Acts
13. Acts of the Apostles, Dennis Smith, Westar Institute, USA
14. Apocryphal Acts, Annette Merz, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
15. Apocryphal Acts – Jan Bremmer, University of Groningen, Germany
16. Joseph and Asenath – Angela Standhartinger, University of Marburg, Germany

Part IV. Epistolary Literature
17. Pauline Letters – Soham Al-Suadi
18. Pauline Letters – Kathy Ehrensperger, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, UK
19. Pseudepigraphic Letters of Paul – Soham Al-Suadi
20. Johannine Letters – Jan Heilmann, TU Dresden, Germany
21. Epistolary Literature – Hans-Joachim Eckstein, University of Tübingen, Germany
22. Hebrews – Gabriella Gelardini, University of Basel, Germany

Part V. Apocalyptic Literature
23. 4 Ezra – Peter-Ben Smit
24. Book of Revelation – Markus Oehler, University of Vienna, Austria

Part VI. Texts of Daily Life
25. Magical Texts – Monika Amsler, University of Zurich, Switzerland
26. Medical Texts – John Wilkins, University of Exeter, UK
27. Inscriptions – Lilian Larsen, University of Redlands, USA

Bibliography
Index

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