"Whoever scandalizes one of these little ones": Matthew 18:1-14 and the Exposure and Sexual Abuse of Children in Early Christianity

Join us Thursday, February 25 at 4:00pm for a presentation by Dr. Lorne Zelyck.

  • 1 February 2016

Time: 4:00pm
Date: Thursday, February 25
Location: Boardroom, St. Joseph's College

Presenter: Dr. Lorne Zelyck

Most commentators acknowledge that Matt 18:1-5 portrays the humility of a child as greatness in the kingdom; 18:6-9 addresses the disciple who leads other disciples away from the truth; and 18:10-14 provides a picture of God’s concern for the errant disciple. However, this common interpretation has not adequately addressed the differences between Matthew 18:1-14 and the Synoptic parallels (Mark 9:33-37, 42-47; Luke 9:46-48, 15:4-7), and has not accounted for the prevalence of child exposure and sexual abuse in the Roman world. This paper will argue that Jesus is concerned about the welfare of children, and he offers a severe warning to anyone who exposes or sexually abuses a child.

Dr. Lorne Zelyck is an Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at St. Joseph's College specializing in the Canonical and apocryphal gospels, the New Testament, early Christianity, early church fathers and Gnosticism.

Everyone is welcome; an RSVP is requested but not required to Sara at: sara.mckeon@ualberta.ca
Light refreshments will be served.

 

Stay tuned for our upcoming academic lecture series:

  • March 23: Mary, Marry, and Menstruation: Female Sexuality in the Catholic Tradition Academic Presentation by Dr. Doris Kieser
  • April 20: Sex, Love and Marriage in the Light of Following Jesus A book launch event for Dr. Paul Flaman