Title
Gospel as Recipe Book: Nonlinear Reading and Practical Texts in Late Antiquity
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-24-2021
Publisher
Mohr Siebeck
Abstract
The article addresses the question of how Christians and non-Christians in late antiquity dealt with the »Gospel« as a textual artifact. First, practice texts from Late Antiquity, such as ritual formularies, medical manuals, agricultural guides, and astronomical tables, are considered, which were used in stages in a variety of situations, such as reading aloud, following instructions for performing a ritual, preparing a medicine, or designing a horoscope. To make this easier, such practical texts were designed for non-linear access. Similar organizational strategies and usages are evidently reflected in late antique gospel codes. The possibility (affordance) of non-linear use was integrated into the gospel manuscripts with various structuring and reference systems. The nature of the material nature and textuality of late antique gospel codes overlaps with that of the practice texts mentioned, in guiding certain courses of action and inciting non-linear use. A look at these different usage techniques - and the associated usage contexts - reveals patterns of knowledge and action that outline the "Gospel" as a text artifact in late antiquity. by guiding certain actions and providing incentives for non-linear use. A look at these different usage techniques - and the associated usage contexts - reveals patterns of knowledge and action that outline the "Gospel" as a text artifact in late antiquity. by guiding certain actions and providing incentives for non-linear use. A look at these different usage techniques - and the associated usage contexts - reveals patterns of knowledge and action that outline the "Gospel" as a text artifact in late antiquity.
Recommended Citation
Coogan, J. (2021). Gospel as Recipe Book. Early Christianity (EC), 12(1), 40–60. https://doi.org/10.1628/ec-2021-0006
