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Book Summary
A New Family by Karl Olav Sandnes is a scholarly theological work exploring how early Christian communities redefined family bonds around faith in Christ. Drawing on New Testament texts and social history, Sandnes examines how believers became brothers and sisters, reconfiguring household structures and kinship ethics. This academic study offers fresh insight for students of early Christianity, theology, and biblical studies.
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About A New Family
In A New Family, Karl Olav Sandnes investigates the radical reconfiguration of family and kinship in early Christianity. Moving beyond traditional household codes, Sandnes argues that the early church created a new social reality in which spiritual kinship in Christ superseded biological ties. Through careful exegesis of New Testament passages and engagement with Greco-Roman social structures, the book explores how believers addressed one another as siblings, how conversion could disrupt household loyalties, and how community ethics reshaped obligations of care and belonging. Sandnes combines historical-critical method with social-scientific insight, offering a nuanced portrait of Christian identity formation. This scholarly volume contributes to ongoing conversations about family, community, and discipleship in the New Testament and will be valuable for theologians, historians, and serious students of Scripture seeking a deeper understanding of the early Christian movement.
Who should read A New Family?
This book is intended for academic readers: seminary students, New Testament scholars, historians of early Christianity, and theologians interested in social history and kinship studies. Pastors and thoughtful lay readers with a background in biblical studies will also benefit from its careful exegesis and historical context. It suits those exploring how Christian identity reshaped family life and community ethics in the ancient world, and it works well as a supplementary text in courses on New Testament ethics, early church history, or theological anthropology.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ Offers rigorous historical-critical exegesis of New Testament family language
- ✓ Engages Greco-Roman social history to illuminate early Christian kinship
- ✓ Provides a coherent thesis on spiritual kinship reshaping community identity
- ✓ Written by a recognized scholar in New Testament studies
- ✓ Useful for academic courses and research on early Christian social ethics
Cons
- ✗ Dense academic prose may deter general readers
- ✗ Assumes familiarity with Greek and scholarly debates
- ✗ Limited practical application for pastoral ministry contexts
- ✗ No accessible introduction for beginners in biblical studies
- ✗ Focused narrowly on kinship themes, not a comprehensive introduction
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Frequently asked questions
Is this a devotional book or an academic study?
It is an academic theological study aimed at scholars and students, not a devotional or popular-level book.
Does the book require knowledge of Greek?
While Sandnes engages Greek terms and scholarly debates, the main arguments are accessible to readers with some biblical studies background.
What is the central argument of A New Family?
Sandnes argues that early Christian communities redefined kinship around faith in Christ, creating new family bonds that reshaped social identity and ethics.
Is this suitable for a church book club?
It may be too technical for most book clubs, but groups with theological training could benefit from selected chapters.
Does the book cover both Paul and the Gospels?
Yes, Sandnes draws on a range of New Testament texts, including Pauline letters and Gospel traditions, to develop his argument.
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