Imperial Cult and Honorary Terms in the New Testament.

'This study of the relationship between early Christian cult and Roman emperorship contains much basically interesting material, but unfortunately lacks a truly critical focus on unification. (?) Topics of discussion include the titles Lord, Savior, and Son of God, the legend of ?Nero Redivisu?, the use of acclamations, and the significance of the ?Second Beast? (Apocrypha. 13.11-17) for imperial worship. The final chapters deal with the relationship of persecution to the imperial cult, and with the terms ?Ascension? and ?Epiphany? as signs of divinity. (?) In studying the relationships between primitive Christian cult and imperial worship, the author seems to adopt a methodology which stands between the approach of an orthodox Christian historian and that of a cultural or comparative approach to religion. Similarities are discussed and indicated, but final conclusions are generally couched in terms of a discretions agnosticism. The approach and conclusions ring true, but lack the conviction that comes with clear evidence. (?) Sister Dominique Cuss has provided a summary of much useful material for further study in the ?hellenization? of Christianity.? (G.H. ETTLINGER IN The Classical World, 1978, pp.488-489). From the library of Prof. Carl Deroux.