The authors of this volume illustrate the exceptional function, occupied by religion in the formation and transformation of narrative forms in antiquity and late antiquity in various ways. This is particularly evident in ancient Jewish and Christian stories, but also in some "pagan" as the novels of Heliodorus. The contributions from various points of view the interplay between narrative and religion and show how religious concerns and agendas shaped the narrative forms in Judaism and early Christianity. These innovative texts are all based on the current research of outstanding scientists. Site Ilaria Ramelli / Judith Perkins: Introduction: The Role of Religion in Shaping Narrative Forms Part 1: Ancient Jewish Narrative Lawrence M. Wills: The differentiation of History and Novel: Controlling the Past , Playing with the Past - Erich S. Gruen: The Twisted Tales of Artapanus: Biblical rewriting as novelistic narratives - David Konstan: The Testament of Abraham and Greek RomancePart 2: Christian Gospels, Acts, Biographies, and Martyrdoms Karen L. King: Endings: The Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of Judas - Laura Salah Nasrallah: "Out of love for Paul": History and Fiction and the Afterlife of the Apostle Paul - Dennis R. MacDonald: Jesus and Dionysian Polymorphism in theActs of John - Lautaro Roig Lanzillotta: A Syriac original Hanes Acts of Thomas? The Hypothesis of Syriac Priority Revisited - Mark J. Edwards: The Deferred Fulfilment of Prophecy in Early Christian Fiction - Vincent Hunink: Following Paul: The Acts of Xanthippe, Polyxena, and Rebecca as in Ancient Novel - Richard I. Pervo: Dare and Back : The Stories of Xanthippe and Polyxena - IlariaRamelli: The Addai-Abgar Narrative: Its Development through Literary Genres and Religious Agendas - Kathryn Chew: "On Fire with Desire" (πυρουμένη πόθῳ): Passion and Conversion in the Ancient Greek Novels and Early Christian Female Virgin Martyr Accounts Part 3: "Pagan" and Christian Narratives: Social Worlds and Philosophical Agendas Judith Perkins: Competing Voices in Imperial Fiction - Svetla Slaveva-Griffin: argumentum ex Silentio: Religion in Heliodorus' Aethiopica