Prophecy in Carthage: Perpetua, Tertullian, and Cyprian by Cecil M. Robeck, Jr. (review)

494 BOOK REVIEWS spective or orthogonal drawings of buildings, and mosaic floors. The first four chapters are devoted to the evidence of synagogues, while the last six describe the finds relative to churches. Thus the survey is tipped in favor of church remains . The author explains that the purpose of the book is to fill out the reader's understanding of ancient Judaism and Christianity by showing how Jewish and Christian beliefs came to expression in the construction ofplaces of worship. Not only does the author lead the reader through the architectural remains of these buildings,but he introduces the reader to preliminary issues in synagogue and church building research. The issues for synagogue research include theories of the origins of the synagogue,"activities" in the sense of worship, and theories of synagogue design. He introduces the reader to recent studies of the effect of"regionalism" on religious practice. This is one of the few places in the book where the author opens the door to understanding Judaism—and therefore Christianity—as a multiplex entity with various expressions in various places. The issues for church building research include theories of the origins of the church building, the architectural style of the church building, typical features of a church building, the regional distribution of churches before Constantine, and churches before Constantine (caves, private homes, and synagogues, none of which are extant). The book is equipped with a glossary and a brief bibliography. The "Sources of Illustrations" on pages 140-141 serves as an adjunct to the bibliography, which is noticeably obsolescent. For instance, one should not list M. Avi-Yonah and E. Stern (editors),Encyclopedia ofArchaeological Excavations in the Holy Land (1977), but its successor: E. Stern et al. (editors), The New Encyclopedia ofArchaeological Excavations in the Holy Land (4 vols;Jerusalem, 1993). In all fairness to the author, it is listed on page 140 as the source for illustration 6. This is a very valuable little book and should be required reading for students embarking upon the study of churches and synagogues, be they undergraduate or graduate students. It is also valuable for scholars not conversant with the material culture of either ancient Judaisms or Christianities who hope to update their knowledge in this area. James E Strange The University ofSouth Florida, Tampa Prophecy in Carthage:Perpetua, Tertullian, and Cyprian. By Cecil M. Robeck, Jr. (Cleveland, Ohio: The Pilgrim Press. 1992. Pp. xii,329. $29.95.) The phenomenon of prophecy in the New Testament and early Christian literature has not always received its due. That imbalance is beginning to receive correction through such good research as that by David Aune, David Hill, and BOOK REVIEWS 495 Christopher Rowland. We may now also add the name of Cecil Robeck, who in this book undertakes the task of providing a historical and theological account of prophetic gifts in North African Carthage during the first half of the third century. Robeck investigates the Passion ofPerpetua and the writings of Tertullian and Cyprian to determine what factors gave rise to the visions and oracles reported by these authors, what backgrounds account for their symbolism, and what factors influenced their interpretations and applications. Robeck, wisely (I think), eschews any attempt to explain psychologically the prophetic gifts mentioned in these signal figures of early North African Christianity. In his introduction he distinguishes between "prophetic function" (interpretation, application , and effect on other Christians) from the "prophetic person," and he makes clear that this book concerns itself only with "prophetic function" (p. 4). In the conclusion, however, Robeck contends that certain psychological factors were at work in the visions and oracles and that further work"in psycho-history and/or psychoanalysis would be helpful." Having read a little ofthat already,I am not so sure. Overall Robeck presents an insightful and balanced analysis of the prophetic material found in the writings of Perpetua,TertuIlian, and Cyprian. He evinces a thorough familiarity with the primary sources and the secondary scholarship and is judicious in his own argument and conclusions. While he certainly at times engages other scholars in debate, a strength of the book is Robeck's concentration on the texts themselves. Since the author declares himself to be...