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Allen Hilton examines how pagan critics ridiculed the early Christians for being uneducated, and how a few literate Christians took up pen to defend the illiterate members of their churches. Hilton sheds light on the peculiarity of this “defense”, in which the authors openly admit that the critics have the facts on their side, noting that the Book of Acts even calls two of its heroes, Peter and John, illiterates. Why did the authors of these biblical texts, intent on presenting Christianity in a positive light, volunteer such a negative detail? The answer to this question reveals a fascinating social exchange that first surrounded education levels in antiquity, and proceeded to make its way into the New Testament. This volume provides context for pagan education as opposed to early Christian illiteracy – touching upon the methods of ancient learning and the relationship between Christian and pagan schools – and analyses the 'uneducated virtue' of the Apostles. Hilton provides a useful window onto the social construction of ancient education and ushers readers into the everyday experience of ancient Christians, and those who disdained and defended them.

Church history --- Christians --- Literacy --- Books and reading --- Christian literature, Early --- 225.08*8 --- 225.08*8 Theologie van het Nieuwe Testament: relatie met de klassieke oudheid --- Theologie van het Nieuwe Testament: relatie met de klassieke oudheid --- Illiteracy --- Education --- General education --- Apostolic Church --- Christianity --- Church, Apostolic --- Early Christianity --- Early church --- Primitive and early church --- Primitive Christianity --- Fathers of the church --- Great Apostasy (Mormon doctrine) --- Religious aspects&delete& --- Christianity&delete& --- History --- Social aspects --- History and criticism --- Religious aspects --- History. --- History and criticism. --- Church history - Primitive and early church, ca. 30-600. --- Christians - Books and reading - Rome. --- Literacy - Religious aspects - Christianity - History. --- Literacy - Rome - History. --- Literacy - Social aspects - Rome. --- Books and reading - Rome. --- Christian literature, Early - History and criticism.