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Centre for the Study of Christian OriginsFoundation and AimsThe Centre for the Study of Christian Origins (CSCO) was established in 1997 to promote research on the emergence and early developments in Christianity, with a focus on the first two centuries of the common era.
CSCO represents a particular concern to bridge the study of the New Testament and second-century Christianity, and provides a means of linking interested scholars both within and beyond the University of Edinburgh in several traditional disciplines (e.g., New Testament/Christian Origins, Patristics, Roman History, Archaeology, Second-Temple Judaism, Palaeography). Moreover, current scholarly study of early Christianity includes traditional historical questions about texts, figures, ideas, and practices, and also more recent queries about gender, identity, and other matters. CSCO is intended to reflect and contribute to this breadth of expertise and interests. Also, PhD students in the School of Divinity working on relevant topics can be associated with CSCO. The main, initial purpose in establishing CSCO is to link relevant researchers in the University of Edinburgh from various departments as well as other researchers outside the University, so that lines of research convergence can be identified and fostered. The larger aims include
From time to time, CSCO offers seminars and symposia especially aimed at PhD students. Recent examples include a session on Prof. Timothy Lim's volume, A Short Introduction to the Dead Sea Scrolls, a one-day session featuring the work of the Muenster Institute for Text-Critical Research (with presentations from key figures in the Institute), and a case-study session devoted to a papyrological analysis of the Greek fragments of the Gospel of Thomas. In addition, CSCO holds scholarly conferences, most recently an international conference on the important second-century figure, Justin Martyr. A volume of essays arising from this conference appeared in 2007, Justin Martyr and His Worlds, edited by Sara Parvis and Paul Foster (Augsburg Fortress Press). This was followed in 2009 by a special conference on Irenaeus of Lyons, from which a volume of essays is expected. In 2006, a network of scholars interested in early Christian manuscripts emerged, and is associated with CSCO. We welcome inquiries from interested scholars, and also from others who may be interested in supporting the aims of CSCO. Within the School of Divinity, the following are particularly involved in the Centre for the Study of Christian Origins: Prof. Timothy Barnes: Honorary Fellow Dr Helen Bond: Senior Lecturer in New Testament Dr Paul Foster: Lecturer New Testament Professor Larry Hurtado: Professor of New Testament Language, Literature & Theology Professor Timothy Lim: Professor of Hebrew Bible and Second Temple Judaism Dr. Sara Parvis :Lecturer in Patristics Dr Paul Parvis: Honorary Fellow |
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