Ancient Christian care for prisoners: first and second centuries
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Date
2016
Authors
Nicklas, T.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State
Abstract
This study deals with the question as to whether first- and second-century sources
reflect ancient Christian practices of care for prisoners and in how far these sources
help clarify the reasons why Christians cared for prisoners in different contexts. The
study explores material not only from the New Testament Gospels (Matt. 25; Luke 4)
and Acts, but also from the Pauline Corpus and extra-canonical literature such as
Ignatius of Antioch’s Epistles, later Acts of the Apostles, Martyrdom literature and
even a passage from Lucian of Samosata’s Life of Peregrinus. The article concludes
that the evidence for Christian care for prisoners is earlier and more widespread than
usually assumed. While some sources do not reflect on reasons for this practice,
others put it into wider horizons: Matthew links care for prisoners with the notion
that actions toward people in need are actions toward Christ, the judge himself
– an innovative view that is certainly tied to the special circumstances of early
Christians. Luke, however, borrows Isaianic motifs, linking freedom for captives with
the Messianic Age.
Description
Keywords
Ancient prisons, Early Christianity, Care for prisoners, Early Christian charitable practices
Citation
Nicklas, T. (2016). Ancient Christian care for prisoners: first and second centuries. Acta Theologica, 23, 49-65.