Defending and Defining the Faith

D. H. Williams is Professor of Patristics and Historical Theology in the Departments of Religion and Classics, Baylor University. Ph.D. 1991 University of Toronto; Th.M. 1985 Princeton Theological Seminary. Williams specializes in early Christian literature and theology, ancient Roman religions, the history of doctrine; the fourth century Trinitarian controversies and ancient Christianity in China.

• PrefaceAbbreviationsIntroductionI Matters of Definition and QualificationII The Roman World of Early Christianity III Construction of Christian Self-Definition IV Persecution and the Ambiguity of Roman Law V Earliest Christian Responses VI Christian Faith and Intellectual Culture VII Hellenized Antagonism Toward Hellenism VIII Philosophy as Protagonist IX Brilliant Diatribe X Apology as Dialogue and Appeal XI Clash of the Giants: XII Divine Judgment in Vindication and Salvation XIII Apologist Par ExcellenceXIV Apologetic as Exhortation XV The Unexpected Pagan Emperor XVI Cities in ConflictXVII Final Anti-Pagan PolemicsEpilogue

Williams consistently demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of both the various contexts in which the apologists wrote as well as critical issues related to the apologies themselves. Williams should be commended for producing a resource that all scholars writing on the early Christian apologists will be eager to consult in the course of their own research.