The Other Christs Imitating Jesus in Ancient Christian Ideologies of Martyrdom [Paperback]

Through groundbreaking analysis of early Christian texts, Candida Moss reveals that the words, actions, and deaths of martyrs are modeled on those of Christ. Moss traces this imitation through the literature of the Jesus movement and early church, then examines interpretations of the martyr's death and afterlife. Arguing against the dominant theory that the martyr's death was seen as a sacrifice, Moss finds that beyond death martyrs continue to be assimilated to Christ as intercessors, judges, enthroned monarchs, and banqueters. Though characterization of the martyr as another Christ ultimately conflicted with theological commitments to Christ's uniqueness, Moss shows that, for a brief period, the martyr's imitation was viewed as sharing in the status of the exalted Christ.

Abbreviations
Introduction
Chapter 1: Suffering Like Christ
Chapter 2: The Martyr as Alter Christus
Chapter 3: The Savior Martyr
Chapter 4: The Martyr's Heaven
Chapter 5: The Martyr as Divine Heir
Conclusion
Appendix
Notes
Bibliography
Index

This is an original and insightful study that contributes significantly to our understanding of the cult of the saints, its literary representation in the acta martyrum, and the development of early Christian Christology and soteriology. It should become a standard work in the history of early Christian martyrdom and a valuable resource for the study of early Christian theology. ---Bryn Mawr Classical Review

In this fascinating study of Christian martyrdoms from the second and third centuries, Candida Moss opens up a new perspective by researching the implications of the imitatio Christi theme: presenting the martyrs as Other Christs.
--Jan Willem van Henten, Professor of New Testament and Director of the Graduate School for Humanities at the University of Amsterdam

Scholars of Christian antiquity have long been captivated by the accounts of the pre-Constantinian marló