Description
God, Slavery, and Early Christianity offers a groundbreaking examination of the Shepherd of Hermas, a significant but often overlooked early Christian text. Chance E. Bonar investigates how divine possession functioned as a theological concept within early Christian communities and its profound implications for understanding slavery and ethics in the ancient world.
The book explores the paradoxical relationship between divine inspiration and human agency, particularly in how early Christians reconciled notions of divine control with individual moral responsibility. Bonar’s analysis demonstrates how the Shepherd’s teachings on possession and divine influence shaped early Christian attitudes toward slavery, social hierarchy, and ethical conduct. By situating this text within its historical and cultural context, the study reveals the complex theological frameworks that early Christians developed to address fundamental questions about freedom, obedience, and spiritual authority.
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