Product Description

Transported two thousand years into the past, readers are introduced to Antipas, a Roman civic leader who has encountered the writings of the biblical author Luke. Luke's history sparks Antipas's interest, and they begin corresponding. As Antipas tells Luke of his reactions to the writing and of his meetings with local Christians, it becomes evident that he is changing his mind about them and Jesus. Finally, a gladiatorial contest in Pergamum forces difficult decisions on the local Christians and on Antipas. While the account is fictional, the author is a respected biblical scholar who weaves into this fascinating scenario reliable historical information. Bruce Longenecker is able to mix fact and fiction and paint an interesting and valuable study of the New Testament world and early Christianity. Readers are invited to view Jesus and the early church from a fresh perspective, as his first followers are brought to life. More reliable than typical historical fiction and far more interesting than standard textbooks and reference books, The Lost Letters of Pergamum provides readers with a delightful opportunity to step into the world of the New Testament. Pastors, Bible study groups, and all thoughtful readers will enjoy this book, which one reviewer said he "couldn't put down."

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #312502 in Books
• Published on: 2002-12-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

About the Author
Bruce W. Longenecker (Ph.D., University of Durham) is lecturer in New Testament Studies at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland. He is the author of several books, including The Triumph of Abraham's God.

Customer Reviews

Historical fiction of a different sort
This is an innovative work both of historical fiction as well as biblical scholarship. The Lost Letters of Pergamum are in fact pure fiction, but the underlying truth is that there were far more letters going around the ancient world than we often realise. To think that Paul and the other apostles only wrote the handful we still have stretches credulity.

This is also an interesting and creative way of introducing biblical issues of interpretation. We take for granted the histories written based upon letters in the New Testament and other similar writings - actual history texts were few and far between, particularly when it comes to early Christianity. The few references in major historians of the time show how seemingly insignificant the original Christian community was in context of the time.

Longenecker begins in earnest with the idea that there has been a discovery of lost letters (akin to the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls - indeed, the discovery of New Testament writings would be a major event). Antipas, who is mentioned in the book of the Revelation to John, died as a martyr in the city of Peramum, in Asia Minor, but not before being subject of a good volume of correspondence. Antipas is a correspondent with the gospel writer Luke, and also keeps his own sort of journal or record of events. These are laid out in an interesting development that shows the growth of faith, practice, and ultimate call to martyrdom, as was not uncommon in the early church.

Longenecker introduces interesting historical items in the course of the correspondence and journals. For example, one of the charges against Christians by the Romans was that they were atheists - while this may seem a strange thing to charge Christian believers with today, in fact what the Roman authorities meant by this was that the Christians didn't honour the Roman gods. While the Jews had a special dispensation to permit them not to worship Roman gods, this was not a general trend (and caused suspicion against the Jews, too). When the gods include the ruling elite of the empire, to refuse to worship them borders on treasonous activity.

Longenecker borrows from the scholarship of Ben Witherington III, prolific writer and New Testament scholar, to flesh out some of the details. There is an appendix at the end of the volume that organises the facts from the fictional aspects, so that the careful reader can be certain as to what was wholly created for this narrative, and what has a stronger basis in fact. Descriptions of urban life, rural life, economic situations, political figures and more are all drawn from historical documents and analyses.

This is a fascinating book, done in a style so as to enhance the appreciation of the reader of biblical texts for the kind of material that he or she is reading. This is good for the general reader as well as for study groups, youth groups, and classroom texts.

Unexpectedly brilliant
I was drawn to buy this after reading it dealt with early New Testament Christianity.

What I wasn't expecting was a cleverly written novel, in the form of letters exchanged between a Roman seeking status and recognition, and early Christians.

The letters draw you in to the characters and the time, and the outcome is poignant, giving a satisfying read, both as a novel, and as an introduction to early New Testament Christians and the era they lived in.

A Fly on the Wall in Pergamum
Students of the New Testament world will be intrigued by this book. While a work of fiction it is based on historical sources and therefore offers a 'fly on the wall' view of the correspondance between a Roman citizen staying in Pergamum and the Gospel writer Luke. It chronicles his journey from his typically Roman polytheistic worldview towards acceptance of the Christian faith. Longenecker does this while giving us glimpses of an ancient world that otherwise might be lost. Having had several discussions myself with a friend who is studing such ancient letters I am confident the book has academic and historical integrity while telling an engaging story in the form of letters.