Resetting Christian Origins
Edited by W. Arnal, this volume presents the essays arising from a review panel convened to examine Markus Vinzent’s provocative Resetting the Origins of Christianity: A New Theory of Sources and Beginnings (Cambridge University Press, 2023). An introductory chapter outlines the book’s leading theses and notes the significant implications they may hold for our understanding of Christian origins. The subsequent studies assess key elements of Vinzent’s proposal: the later dating of New Testament writings; the formative rôle assigned to Marcion in shaping both the Gospel and the Pauline Ten-Letter Collection of his “New Testament”; and the relevance of Josephus’ Antiquitates Judaicae and the Didache as alternative points of comparison. The possible Pauline imprint upon the Gospel of Mark is also explored. Together, the essays combine admiration for the book’s bold reach with a measured critique of its gaps and open questions. A concluding bibliography surveys Vinzent’s contributions to the study of Christian beginnings.
