In this groundbreaking study, Michael Cosby uncovers the unknown history of the transformation of the Apostle Barnabas from a peacemaker to a warrior saint. Modern Cypriot beliefs about Barnabas diverge significantly from the New Testament depiction of the man as a leader involved in creative solutions to ethnic conflicts in the early church. Over the centuries, he morphed into a symbol of Greek Cypriot nationalism, bequeathing his power to the archbishop in Nicosia. This modern mythical St. Barnabas resulted from a complicated blend of religious and political maneuvering at key points in the history of Cyprus. Orthodox clergy made a consensus builder complicit in the ongoing strife between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. Cosby's thought-provoking book challenges readers to ponder their own beliefs to sort through what is history and what is legend.
Michael R. Cosby received his Ph.D. in New Testament from Emory University in 1985 and taught Biblical Studies at the university level for 33 years. Known for combining rigorous scholarship with innovative teaching, he twice received a teacher-of-the-year award and was a member of the leadership team of the "Teaching Introductory Theology and Religion: Lessons from the Practices of Fifty Effective Teachers" initiative led by Barbara Walvoord of Notre Dame. In 2011, Cosby journeyed to Cyprus as a Senior Fulbright Fellow to conduct groundbreaking research on the development of traditions about Barnabas in the history of the Church--resulting in the 2017 publication of Creation of History: The Transformation of Barnabas from Peacemaker to Warrior Saint. Continued research in Cyprus and significant, additional discoveries necessitated publishing the second edition of Creation of History. In this book, Cosby provides a highly readable narration based on careful scholarship. His skill at producing engrossing prose is truly a gift to readers. Cosby is the author of eight books and a variety of journal articles. His textbooks include Interpreting Biblical Literature: An Introduction to Biblical Studies; Apostle on the Edge: An Inductive Approach to Paul; and Portraits of Jesus: An Inductive Approach to the Gospels.
For further information see the author's webpage at http://www.michaelrcosby.com.
