Among the Gentiles: Greco-Roman Religion and Christianity (The Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library)

I got and read this book in late 2013, and I have been excited about it ever since. On the one hand, it is a refreshing look at some interesting historical questions ... and I love history. But the most compelling part/other hand, it challenges us Church people to re-examine our practices in the present time and place. It has given me a whole new lens through which to see the successes and short-comings of our contemporary local churches. I am excited to apply these insights in our Presbytery's attempts to organize new congregations and re-vivify/re-purpose existing ones. I have spent a lifetime arguing for the relevance of history. Seldom does a work of history radiate practical relevance like this one does. Its ideas, findings, arguments need to be brought into all the contemporary conversations about American Christianity. Unfortunately relatively few of our colleagues will undertake the work it might take to follow and appreciate it. I take it as my responsibility to present the findings in their contemporary relevance to my neighbors -- which I am doing. But without the solid scholarly foundation, I would have nothing important to 'retail.' (Isn't that why we are called to be a learned ministry?)Full disclosure: I came to know Luke Johnson when he was a junior faculty member at Yale Divinity School (and I an M.Div. student). I never took any of his courses, but I had quite a few enjoyable and profitable conversations with him then ... and maybe half-a-dozen through the years since then. He is one of the authors I read with greatest interest and profit. Few such first-rate scholars are also so helpful to the personal disciples of Christ and to the front-line congregational leaders.

It seems Luke Johnson always has something interesting to say. And, what he has to say is founded on his extensive research. Therefore, if someone desires to disagree with Johnson's interpretation it requires an extensive moment of silence before his evidence prior to opening one's mouth. Yes, the 100+ pages of footnotes is daunting but one has to appreciate that someone is doing the study for which others (me!) don't have the time or the inclination to do. I would have enjoyed a longer section on "implications" and I would hope that Johnson would consider such in a later book. Nonetheless, his "implications" are instructive. Arguing that the structure of my religiousness is right does not make the structure of religious expression of someone else, wrong. That premise appears sadly lacking in many debates. To reflect on Christianity in light of the structure of "pagan" religions simply confirms to me that much of human religiousness finds common human structure allowing us to investigate content a bit more intentionally. I have profited by reading this book.

I was interested in filling in the context for the growth of Chrisitanity over the first four centuries, especially in connection with the Roman and Greek culture at the time. The book shows the many interactions in four areas, receiving the gifts and power of the divine, moral transformation, flight from the world, and stabiliization of life through the respective cultic activities. Aside from reading the original texts this provides a good summery and understanding of the material. It also as the author says is very relevant to understand how persons of the Christian persuasion have overly demonized other religious persuasions in a way that is not helpful in aa time of interfaith diversity.

Luke Timothy Johnson does it again. This most creative and learned interpreter of New Testament and early church history challenges his readers to use four new interpretive categories to explore Jewish, Christian, and Gentile religion. Scales fall from readers' eyes as they see familiar texts in exciting and brilliant new ways. For example, why should it be surprising that new converts in Galatia wanted to add circumcision to baptism? After all, the religious practices with which they were familiar invited deeper levels of initiation.

I like the details but not the $2.00 vocabulary. He could have used many more down to earth words to share the information. His information is very helpful and well documented. It adds a perspective that can help Church better communicate and not be so defensive. God is in charge and we are part of creation, on a journey toward eternity.

This book is so useful to understanding Christianity in the context of Greco-Roman religion. Johnson takes a difficult, wide ranging subject and is able to bring some sort of overall synthesis to the reader. I was amazed that such a complicated, learned subject could be presented so clearly. It is not a fast or easy read, but well worth the time.

Johnson's four ways of being religious do apply, as he says, to almost all authentic religious experiences. What I hoped for was a more thorough analysis of the Greco-Roman religious experience, and how the early Christian evangelists interacted with it.

kindle delivery was without problem,very familiar witth this author and his material,great as usual.I would recommend it to anyone interested in an, in-depth, study of early christianty.