Routledge The Origin of Heresy - Second Temple Judaism & Early Christianity

Trace the intellectual roots of heresy through ancient Jewish and Christian discourse with this scholarly examination from Routledge. Robert Royalty investigates how the concept of heresy emerged within Second Temple Judaism and early Christian polemical rhetoric, revealing that ideological disagreements preceded the formal labelling of 'heresy' in the second century. This academic study explores heresiology and the construction of orthodoxy, offering readers a nuanced understanding of how religious communities defined themselves through rhetorical conflict and theological boundaries. Part of the Routledge Studies in Religion series, this book provides essential context for understanding the development of Christian orthodoxy and the mechanisms by which early religious leaders established doctrinal standards and condemned alternative interpretations.