Who were the scribes that copied early Christian literature during the second and third centuries? What roles did they play in the reproduction and dissemination of these writings? To answer these questions, this study utilizes evidence from early Christian literature and the earliest Christian papyri--including their form, physical features, and textual characteristics.

"[Haines-Eitzen's] illumination of the intersection between literacy and power in antiquity and her interesting section on women scribes are important contributions to our understanding of the social and cultural history of early Christianity. Text critics, those interested in the history of manuscripts, and historians of early Christianity will all be interested in this study."

"Kim Haines-Eitzen has produced a thought-provoking, readable and enjoyable book, essential reading for anyone who desires to know more about the illustrious obscure Christians who copied the New Testament in the earliest days."

"Haines-Eitzen's study prods New Testament scholars, who often use the critical apparatus and ponder variant readings, to give some thought also to the people and processes that lie behind the manuscript traditions. It is also highly recommended not only for historians of early Christianity and textual critics but for anyone interested in the transition from orality to literacy, gender roles, educationm and the social history of the first several centuries of the Common Era."

Kim Haines-Eitzen, Assistant Professor of Early Christianity, Cornell University