Emotion in Early Christianity (Paperback or Softback)

A fascinating study of the inner lives of early Christians

In this groundbreaking book, Andrew Crislip explores the emotional landscape of early Christianity, illuminating how emotion shaped Christian identity, community practices, and theological understanding. Crislip investigates five emotions in detail―joy, sadness, anger, disgust, and envy―revealing how they were understood, experienced, and expressed in the formative years of the Christian tradition.

Through close examination of early Christian teachings, sermons, and philosophical debates, Crislip demonstrates how emotions were considered essential for fostering communal bonds, reinforcing moral norms, and differentiating believers from outsiders. He also shows how emotional concepts, norms, and experiences changed over time and differed among communities. By exploring diverse figures from the first to the fifth centuries, Crislip highlights how emotions like joy and love were central to Christian self-identity, while negative emotions such as anger and envy were seen as threats to spiritual well-being. The book also addresses the emotional complexity of Christian suffering, where sadness and grief were transformed into expressions of hope and spiritual endurance.

Combining insights from cognitive science, psychology, and historical analysis, Crislip presents a nuanced view of how emotional concepts evolved within early Christian thought. He emphasizes that emotions were not merely spontaneous feelings but intentional practices that reflected and shaped religious identity. Readers will come away with a deeper understanding of how emotion functioned as a powerful force in the early church, connecting individuals to their faith, community, and the divine. Comprehensive yet accessible, Emotion in Early Christianity is a brilliant introduction to an important topic in New Testament studies and the history of Christianity.

Andrew Crislip is Blake Chair in the History of Christianity at Virginia Commonwealth University. He is the author of From Monastery to Hospital: Christian Monasticism and the Transformation of Health Care in Late Antiquity, Thorns in the Flesh: Illness and Sanctity in Late Ancient Christianity, and Emotion in Early Christianity.