Text in German with summaries in German and English / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 197-211) / Biblical studies in New Testament are generating considerable interest in the investigation of historical groups, for example by using prosopographic approaches. This thesis presents a new approach to reconstruct the early Christian network in Acts 1-12. We consider the social network analyses (SNA), critical spatiality and Proximal Point Analyses (PPA). Although these approaches show interesting results, they suffer from a global distance measure. Thus, we introduce a novel approach combining SNA and critical spatiality to analyse geographic and social distances. This method represents a valuable alternative to traditional theological tools for answering exegetical questions concerning the social network in Acts 1-12 offering ways for re-thinking and re-interpretation. The network represents the first fulfillment of the promise given in Acts 1:8. Moreover, it allows us to distinguish between protagonists and their influence. Using different distance measurements, we were not only able to describe the high level of solidarity in this network but could also find strong evidences for Peter, Philip and Barnabas being key figures. Acts 1-12 describes mission as led by God and performed by different people with Jerusalem as the centre of activity. This mission is both peripheral and open to people with diverse social, religious and geographic backgrounds. In the novel network of people belonging to the body of Christ human leadership is not important. It was not possible to apply this method to all exegetical questions due to the fact that there are only limited historic sources available. / In der neutestamentlichen Wissenschaft wurden verschiedene Methoden wie die Prosopographie zur Erforschung bestimmter Personenkreise verwendet. Diese Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der Rekonstruktion des frühchristlichen sozialen Netzwerks nach der Darstellung in Apg 1-12. Dazu wird die Methode der sozialen Netzwerkanalyse (SNA), der critical spatiality sowie die Proximal Point Analyse (PPA) verwendet. Dabei werden die methodischen Ansätze von verschiedenen historischen Netzwerkanalysen zusammengetragen und durch eine Verknüpfung von SNA und critical spatiality eine einheitliche Herangehensweise hergeleitet, die auch geographische wie soziale Distanzen darstellen kann. Dabei finden sich in Apg 1-12 sowohl exegetische Fragestellungen, auf die diese Methode aufgrund der schlechten Quellenlage nicht angewendet werden kann, als auch Fragestellungen, die mit dieser Methode unter neuen Gesichtspunkten interpretiert werden kann. So lässt sich im rekonstruierten Netzwerk von Apg 1-12 der erste Abschnitt der Erfüllung der Verheißung aus Apg 1,8 erkennen. Außerdem hilft die SNA, die einzelnen Akteure und ihr Handeln in der Apg besser zu würdigen. So ist ein eigenes Kapitel nicht nur Petrus, sondern auch Philippus und Barnabas gewidmet. Apg 1-12 stellt eine Mission dar, deren alleiniger Urheber Gott ist und die von verschiedensten Menschen mit der Stadt Jerusalem als Zentrum überwiegend dezentral und offen für verschiedene soziale, religiöse und geographische Hintergründe ausgeführt wird. Sie zeichnet ein besonderes Bild vom urchristlichen sozialen Netzwerk, das wenig menschliche Leitung beinhaltet und sich qualitativ unterscheidet. Die Analyse mit verschiedenen Zentralitätsmaßen zeigt ebenfalls die starke Verbundenheit der urchristlichen Gemeinschaft und den signifikanten Beitrag mehrerer Personen / New Testament / M. Th. (New Testament)

The aim of the thesis is to determine the influence exerted by the heads of the Catechetical School (Didaskaleion) in Alexandria on the growth and development of Christianity in Africa prior to the Arab invasion in 642 CE in Egypt. The methodological tool used is the Historical Method. Chapter 1 contains a discussion of the founding and development of the city of Alexandria through its Golden Era and until the Arab invasion in 642 CE. This city played an important role in the development of Christianity as it is there that the early Christians (the "followers of Christ's teachings") settled and established their faith. Chapter 2 deals with the founding of the Didaskaleion as an addition to the other big schools/"universities" in the city, for example the Musaion (also called the Museion), the Serapium (also called the Serapeum) and the Sebastion. All the possible heads of the School are discussed in order to get a full picture of the School and her activities during the time. In Chapter 3 all the extant and lost documents written by the heads of the School are discussed to provide insight into the formation of the Theology of the School and the contributions of her various heads. Chapter 4 constitutes the pinnacle of the thesis and depicts the influence of the School on the known parts of Africa – to the west and the south of Alexandria – during the first seven centuries CE (until the Arab invasion in 642). The influence is described at two levels: Influence, where mentioned by a specific writer, is called factual influence and includes personal influence. • Influence that is not mentioned but observed, is called derived influence. As there is ample evidence that the (heads of the) School exerted both factual and derived influence on the people in Africa, the conclusion can be drawn that the School and her heads played a significant role in the growth and development of Christianity in Africa. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D.Th. (Church history)