Perfect Martyr: The Stoning of Stephen and the Construction of Christian Identity

by Shelly Matthews

Book Overview

Recent studies have examined martyrdom as a means of constructing Christian identity, but until now none has focused on Stephen, the first Christian martyr. For the author of Luke-Acts, the stoning of Stephen-- even more than the death of Jesus-- underscores the perfidy of non-believing Jews, the extravagant mercy of Christians, and the inevitable rift that will develop between these two social groups. Stephen's dying prayer that his persecutors be...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0199924651
• ISBN13: 9780199924653
• Release Date: May 2012
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.1"