Martha from the margins : the authority of Martha in early Christian tradition / / by Allie M. Ernst.

• Superior document: Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae, v. 98
• Author: Ernst, Allie M.
• Year of Publication: 2009
• Language: English
• Series: Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae ; v. 98.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (392 p.)
• Notes: Description based upon print version of record.
• Other title: Authority of Martha in early Christian tradition; Preliminary Materials /; Chapter One. Retrieving Martha From The Margins /; Chapter Two. A Second Peter? Martha In The Gospel Of John /; Chapter Three. A Different Tomb, A Different Story: The Epistula Apostolorum /; Chapter Four. Apostola Apostolorum: Hippolytus On The Song Of Songs /; Chapter Five. Singing A New Song: Martha In Liturgy And Hymnody /; Chapter Six. Picturing The Myrrhophore /; Chapter Seven. Martha, Diakonia And The Gospel Of Luke /; Chapter Eight. A Eucharistic Ministry For Martha: The Apostolic Church Order And The Acts Of Philip /; Chapter Nine. Martha As Authority Figure For Early Christian Groups /; Chapter Ten. Gathering The Strands /; Appendix The. Easter Narrative In The Epistula Apostolorum /; Bibliography /; Index Of Modern Authors /; Index Of Ancient Sources /; Index Of Subjects /
• Bibliography: Includes bibliographical references (p. [307]-340) and indexes.
• ISBN: 1283061392; 9786613061393; 9004186875
• ISSN: 0920-623X
• Hierarchical level: Monograph
• Statement of Responsibility: by Allie M. Ernst.

In the popular imagination Martha has become synonymous with the harried housewife, fretting over excessive preparations. The Martha known to early Christians is far removed from this stereotype. Martha was better known for her role in the story of the raising of Lazarus and as apostle and witness of the resurrection. This book gathers and assesses the early traditions about Martha in text, liturgy and iconography. It shows that the significance of Martha has been seriously underestimated and recovers an important and widespread tradition of Martha as apostle and authority figure for early Christians. The analysis of Martha traditions with attention to issues of gender and authority render this book an important contribution to studies on women in early Christianity.