Early Christianity in the Lycus Valley Early Christianity in Asia Minor (ECAM)
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Early Christianity in the Lycus Valley Early Christianity in Asia Minor (ECAM) The subseries “Early Christianity in Asia Minor”, of which this is the rst vol- ume to be published, is part of the series AJEC. It stands in the tradition of the work of Adolf von Harnack, Die Mission und Ausbreitung des Christen- tums in den ersten drei Jahrhunderten, Leipzig 41924. Each volume of ECAM will focus on the rise and expansion of Christianity in a speci c geographic region of Asia Minor up to the Council of Chalcedon in AD 451. The mono- graphs endeavor to take into account all relevant literary and non-literary evidence, paying special attention to epigraphical and archaeological mate- rial, and to document the current state of research. This rst volume deals with the rise and expansion of Christianity in the Lycus valley. A second volume on Lycaonian Christianity will follow soon. Volumes on Early Christianity in Phrygia, in Ionia, along the lower Meander and in Cilicia are in preparation. Cilliers Breytenbach Martin Goodman Early Christianity in Asia Minor (ECAM) Editors Cilliers Breytenbach (Berlin), Martin Goodman (Oxford), Christoph Markschies (Berlin), Stephen Mitchell (Exeter) VOLUME 1 Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity Arbeiten zur Geschichte des antiken Judentums und des Urchristentums Founding Editor Martin Hengel† (Tübingen) Executive Editors Cilliers Breytenbach (Berlin) Martin Goodman (Oxford) Editorial Board John Barclay (Durham), Lutz Doering (Durham) Pieter W. van der Horst (Utrecht), Tal Ilan (Berlin), Tessa Rajak (Reading), Daniel R. Schwartz (Jerusalem), Seth Schwartz (New York) VOLUME 85 The titles published in this series are listed at brill.com/ajec Early Christianity in the Lycus Valley By Ulrich Huttner Translation by David Green LEIDEN • BOSTON 2013 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Huttner, U. (Ulrich) Early Christianity in the Lycus Valley / by Ulrich Huttner ; translation by David Green. pages cm. – (Ancient Judaism and early Christianity, ISSN 1871-6636 ; Volume 85) (Early Christianity in Asia Minor (ECAM) ; Volume 1) Includes bibliographical references and indexes ISBN 978-90-04-26416-8 (hardback : alk. paper) – ISBN 978-90-04-26428-1 (e-book) 1. Church history–Primitive and early church, ca. 30-600. 2. Turkey–Church history. I. Title. BR185.H8813 2013 275.6101–dc23 2013037605 This publication has been typeset in the multilingual “Brill” typeface. With over 5,100 characters covering Latin, IPA, Greek, and Cyrillic, this typeface is especially suitable for use in the humanities. For more information, please see www.brill.com/brill-typeface. ISSN 1871-6636 ISBN 978-90-04-26416-8 (hardback) ISBN 978-90-04-26428-1 (e-book) Copyright 2013 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands. Koninklijke Brill NV incorporates the imprints Brill, Global Oriental, Hotei Publishing, IDC Publishers and Martinus Nijhof Publishers. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher. Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use is granted by Koninklijke Brill NV provided that the appropriate fees are paid directly to The Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Suite 910, Danvers, MA 01923, USA. Fees are subject to change. This book is printed on acid-free paper. CONTENTS Abbreviations. xiii Translation of Source Texts . xv List of Illustrations . xvii Acknowledgments . xix 1 Introduction . 1 1.1 Starting Points . 1 1.1.1 Sources and Chronological Framework . 1 1.1.2 Questions: Community Formation and the Search for a Position . 5 1.2 History of Research. 8 1.2.1 Fundamentals, Surveys, Conclusions . 8 1.2.2 Epigraphy and Archaeology . 10 1.2.3 Archaeological Perspectives . 15 1.2.4 Theology . 17 1.3 Geography and Natural Resources . 17 1.3.1 Basic Geography . 17 1.3.2 Infrastructure . 18 1.3.3 Agriculture and Textile Production . 20 1.3.4 Building Trades and Technologies . 22 1.3.5 Settlement Geography I: Carura, Attouda, Trapezopolis, Tripolis . 23 1.3.6 Settlement Geography II: Laodicea, Hierapolis, Colossae. 24 2 Historical Background . 27 2.1 Cultural and Social Background: Identities and Associations . 27 2.2 Political Background . 31 2.2.1 Colossae in the “Early Period” . 31 2.2.2 The Lycus Valley in the Hellenistic Period: New Foundations and Political Changes . 33 2.2.3 Laodicea as a Central City of the Roman Province . 37 2.3 Indigenous and Greek Cults . 42 2.3.1 Cults of Zeus . 43 viii contents 2.3.2 Cults of Apollo . 44 2.3.3 The Sanctuary of Lairbenos . 48 2.3.4 Men..................................................... 52 2.3.5 The Mother of the Gods . 53 2.3.6 The Hellenistic Ruler Cult. 57 2.3.7 The Roman Emperor Cult . 59 2.4 Jewish Communities . 67 2.4.1 Judaism in the Lycus Valley: The Beginnings . 67 2.4.2 Laodicea as a Jewish Center . 70 2.4.3 Conicts between Jews and Greeks . 72 2.4.4 Symbiosis of Jews and Greeks in the Imperial Period . 75 3 Pauline Inuence: Philemon and Colossians . 81 3.1 Persons and Networks . 82 3.1.1 Paul’s Journeys in Asia Minor . 82 3.1.2 The Prosopography of Philemon and Colossians. 83 3.1.3 The Network of Churches and the Epistle to the Laodiceans . 92 3.1.4 Nympha of Laodicea . 95 3.1.5 First Summary: Social Networks and Paul’s Authority. 97 3.2 The Epistle to Philemon. 98 3.2.1 Date..................................................... 98 3.2.2 The Social Status of Onesimus . 103 3.2.3 The Religious Service of Onesimus . 107 3.2.4 Second Summary: Symbiosis of Christians and Pagans................................................... 109 3.3 The Epistle to the Colossians . 110 3.3.1 The Pseudepigraphic Problem of Colossians . 110 3.2.2 Date..................................................... 113 3.3.3 Addressee and Author . 114 3.3.4 Knowledge of Christ . 117 3.3.5 The Christological Hymn . 119 3.3.6 The Admonition against “Philosophy” . 122 3.3.7 Angel Worship . 126 3.3.8 Local Color in the Catalog of Vices . 131 3.3.9 Renewal and Liberation . 134 3.3.10 Liturgical Hymns . 137 3.3.11 The Domestic Code and Stabilization of the Social Order.................................................... 141 3.3.12 Mission through Rhetoric . 147 contents ix 3.3.13 Third Summary: The Quest for a Christian Position in Colossians . 148 3.4 Summary Regarding the Pauline Epistles . 148 4 The Letter in the Apocalypse of John . 149 4.1 Context......................................................... 149 4.1.1 Historical Imponderables . 149 4.1.2 Geographical Setting . 151 4.1.3 Philadelphia . 153 4.2 The Lukewarm Laodiceans . 154 4.3 Material Prosperity and Self-righteousness . 158 4.3.1 Pure Gold . 163 4.3.3 White Robes . 166 4.3.4 EyeSalve................................................ 170 4.4 Invitation to a Banquet . 177 4.5 Christian Participation in God’s Dominion . 180 4.6 Summary: Local Color and Open Questions . 182 5 Philip and His Daughters . 185 5.1 John and Philip: Apostolic Competition in the Lycus Valley? . 185 5.1.1 Laodicea in the Acts of John . 185 5.1.2 Early References to Philip in Hierapolis . 190 5.2 The Daughters of Philip: Prophecies from Hierapolis . 195 5.2.1 Divergent Traditions . 195 5.2.2 The Prophetic Activity of the Daughters of Philip . 197 5.2.3 The Institutionalized Prophets of Apollo . 200 5.2.4 Competing Kinds of Prophecy? . 203 5.2.5 The Message of Philip’s Daughters: Miracle Stories . 204 5.2.6 Pagan Miracle Stories . ..