Book Review: Candida R. Moss, Divine Bodies: Resurrecting Perfection in the New Testament and Early Christianity

Abstract

origins or historical narrative” (p. 18). Just as he shows that Roman culture and early Christianity are complex and interconnected, so too are the chapters that this book covers. In terms of structure, the book is arranged topically, despite the fact that all the topics seem intertwined. On one hand, this structure supports Maier’s main argument about the interconnectedness of these phenomena, but on the other hand, it tends to create a repetitive reading experience. The chapters make sense separately, but when reading them consecutively, it can be difficult to keep track of the complexity and the interrelatedness of themes of religion, empire, city, household, and so on. That being said, Maier introduces the complexity of these topics in a way that is easy to understand for an audience new to the subject. Overall, this book is an excellent introduction to early Christianity in the Roman Empire, and it reminds us of the importance of contextualizing the New Testament in its ancient environment.