Greco-Roman religions and superstitions, and early Christianity's engagement with them, are explored in 12 unique studies. The beliefs and fears with regard to demons (or daimons), their origins, and threatening behavior are examined, both in their pagan and Judaeo-Christian contexts. These new studies look at the Greco-Roman heroic gods, how they faced death, and how James and John, the "sons of Thunder," may well have been viewed in some circles as the equivalent of the "sons of Zeus", Castor and Pollux. The contributors also explore Roman omens, especially as they relate to Rome's legendary founder Romulus and what light they shed on the omens that accompany the birth and death of Jesus of Nazareth. Particular focus is placed upon Paul, binding spells, women and hymns of exaltation, along with atheism in late antiquity, with special consideration of the charlatan Alexander. Finally, there is a re-visitation of the confusion, misinformation and legends surrounding the discovery of the Qumran caves, including fear of jinn. This book provides invaluable resources for precisely how early Christians interacted with different ideas and traditions around gods and spirits - both benevolent and malevolent - in the Greco-Roman world.

PrefaceList of AbbreviationsList of ContributorsList of ImagesChapter One: The Isis Temple in the Campus Martius in Rome: Place, Space, and Identity in the Ancient Mediterranean World - Frederick E. Brenk, Arrupe House Jesuit Community, USAChapter Two: The Myth of the Diasporic Isiac-Family as Reflected in the Epigraphical Evidence Connected to the Delian Sarapeia - Elina Lapinoja-Pitkänen, University of Helsinki, FinlandChapter Three: Jesus, the Daimons and the Dead - Peter G. Bolt, Sydney College of Divinity, Australia Chapter Four: Jesus and the Archetypes: A Study of the Heroic Archetype - Adam Z. Wright, The College of Emmanuel and St. Chad, USAChapter Five: Fiery Twins: James, John, and the Sons of Zeus - Jeff Pettis, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, USAChapter Six: Romulus, Roman Omens, and the Portents of the Birth and Passion of Jesus - Craig A. Evans, Houston Baptist University, USAChapter Seven: Learning Rhetoric at Tarsus: The Apostle Paul and His Use of Aristotelian Rhetoric - Alexa Wallace and Adam Z. Wright, The College of Emmanuel and St. Chad, USAChapter Eight: Early Christian "Binding Spells"? The Formulas in 1 Cor 12:3 Read Against the Background of Ancient Curse Tablets - Susanne Luther, University of Groningen, The NetherlandsChapter Nine: Paul as the Originator of Women Teachers within Religious Circles - Chris S. Stevens, Independent ScholarChapter Ten: The Secret of the Hidden Cross: The Form, Meaning and Background of the Hellenistic Hymn Quoted in 1 Timothy 3:16 - Roy D. Kotansky, Independent ScholarChapter Eleven: "Out with the Christians ... Our with the Epicureans!" Atheism and Constructing the Other in Antiquity - Richard A. Wright, Abilene Christian University, USAChapter Twelve: Jinn and the Myth of the Shepherd - Jonathan Poletti, Independent Scholar Index of AuthorsIndex of Primary Sources