Christians in the formative period of their religion, from the mid first to early third centuries, sought new ways of relating their lives to the dominant society that surrounded them. As doctrine and practice became established, hostility from the wider world was often extreme. Christians used many literary forms to strengthen their own self-definition. Prominent among these were the Apologies as well as the semi-fictional Apocryphal Acts and Martyr Acts. These forms used the existing literary patterns of Greco-Roman society to present distinctively Christian ideas, attitudes and adventures.
In this thoroughgoing study, Helen Rhee shows how the forms of classical literature were adapted to present the superiority of Christian monotheism; the superiority of Christian sexual morality; and Christian (dis)loyalty to the Empire. These propagandistic writings shaped the theological, moral and political trajectories of Christian faith and contributed largely to the definition of orthodoxy.
This outstanding work of scholarship explores issues of cultural identity in an area which has hitherto lacked definition. In clear prose the author presents arguments that will be of equal interest to the student of early Christianity and of Greco-Roman literary culture and civilization.

Abbreviations Introduction 1. Second Century Literature in Its Historical-Cultural Context Christianity in the mid-second and the early third centuries Christian interaction with Greco-Roman society Literature of the second century: the Apologies, Apocryphal Acts and Martyr Acts Triangular relationship 2. Superiority of Christian Monotheism Apologies: Christianity as true philosophy Apocryphal Acts: Christianity as true power Martyr Acts: Christianity as true piety Summary and Conclusion 3. Superiority of Christian Sexual Morality Asceticism in general: the controlling paradigm Asceticism: sexual chastity and renunciation Chastity, marriage and family in Greco-Roman society Marriage and celibacy in the New Testament Apologies: harmony with the established social order Tatian and enratism Apocryphal Acts: antithesis of the social ideal and resistance to the social order Martyr Acts: renunciation of social mores Summary and Conclusion 4. Christian Loyalty to the Empire Imperial cult: unity of religion and politics Apologies: Christian loyalty to the Empire Apocryphal Acts: Christian subversiveness to the Empire Martyr Acts: Christian resistance to the Empire Summary and Conclusion Conclusion Bibliography Index