Memory, Mission, and Identity: Orality and the Apostolic Miracle Tradition (Studia Traditionis Theologiae)

This book uses social memory theory to evaluate the miracle stories of Peter and Paul in three second-century texts: canonical Acts, the Acts of Peter and the Acts of Paul. Far from negligible to the spread of early Christianity, the memory of Jesus' miracles and those related to apostles Peter and Paul were important for establishing early Christian identity and promoted discipleship. The memory of miracles of Peter and Paul were retained and developed in an effort to promote imitation of Jesus in second-century Christian communities.