searching for plagues

Josh Hunt

I have a vague memory of reading how the early church stepped up during various pandemics. I don't know enough to formulate a question. I am looking for resources to possibly buy as well as search suggestions. 

Richard Villanueva

It may be good to search for the names of the plagues (IE "Antonine Plague" or "Black Death") or by whatever disease was creating havoc at the time "smallpox, bubonic, etc.) I would at least start there and that would possibly give you results of resources that mention them.

I am not particularly good at creating logos search formulae, but would suspect words like epidemic, pandemic, plague, all searched WITHIN 15 WORDS (or so...) of a word like response, church, prayer, healing, treatment, etc. That would be my blunt force approach.

On my list to study was to research the church's response to the Spanish Flu, but have not had time lately, thanks to the current pandemic's busyness.

Side note, I was blesed reading Rodney Stark's Semiea article and his Chapter on epidemics in "Rise of Christianity" that are linked here: https://community.logos.com/forums/p/188921/1091365.aspx#1091365. That may be helpful and maybe perusing his Bibliography may help as well. Stark discusses the importance of social networks in relation to the church's response to the antonine plague.

I am not certain. I was wondering if Keener's "Miracles" would have any input on epidemics or anything from my church history books.