This concise and engaging introduction to the history of early Christianity examines the development of Christianity from its origins up through the year 620. Accessible to beginning students with no background in the subject, Early Christianity: A Brief History is also captivating reading for more advanced students. The book is organized chronologically into four parts: The Contexts of Early Christianity, Christianity in the Second and Third Centuries, The
Creation of a Christian Empire, and Life in the Christian Empire. Each part begins with a timeline in order to guide students in the chronology of events. Opening with a look at the historical Jesus--which
considers what we know and how we know it--the book continues on with coverage of the Jewish and Roman worlds in which Christianity arose. It then charts the extraordinary progress of Christianity, ranging from its status as a fringe sect in Judaism, to that of a dominant religion, up through the reign of Pope Gregory I. Chapters on society and culture and an epilogue on Muhammad and the rise of Islam are also included. Focusing on important themes and developments throughout,
author Joseph H. Lynch does not overwhelm students with an encyclopedic amount of detail. In addition, he acknowledges the often neglected diversity of early Christian views without losing sight of the
major lines along which the religion developed. Lynch integrates excerpts and quotations from a wide variety of ancient sources--including the New Testament, the Gospel of Thomas, the Didache, and the writings of Dio Chrysostom, Fronto, and Tactitus--in order to engage students and show them how historians learn about the ancient world. Each chapter ends with carefully selected suggestions for further reading that are drawn from both ancient and modern sources. The book also features
custom-drawn maps and photos to help students understand the visual and geographical developments of ancient Christianity.
This concise and engaging introduction to the history of early Christianity examines the development of Christianity from its origins up through the year 620. Accessible to beginning students with no background in the subject, Early Christianity: A Brief History is also captivating reading for more advanced students. The book is organized chronologically into four parts: The Contexts of Early Christianity, Christianity in the Second and Third Centuries, The
Creation of a Christian Empire, and Life in the Christian Empire. Each part begins with a timeline in order to guide students in the chronology of events. Opening with a look at the historical Jesus--which
considers what we know and how we know it--the book continues on with coverage of the Jewish and Roman worlds in which Christianity arose. It then charts the extraordinary progress of Christianity, ranging from its status as a fringe sect in Judaism, to that of a dominant religion, up through the reign of Pope Gregory I. Chapters on society and culture and an epilogue on Muhammad and the rise of Islam are also included. Focusing on important themes and developments throughout,
author Joseph H. Lynch does not overwhelm students with an encyclopedic amount of detail. In addition, he acknowledges the often neglected diversity of early Christian views without losing sight of the
major lines along which the religion developed. Lynch integrates excerpts and quotations from a wide variety of ancient sources--including the New Testament, the Gospel of Thomas, the Didache, and the writings of Dio Chrysostom, Fronto, and Tactitus--in order to engage students and show them how historians learn about the ancient world. Each chapter ends with carefully selected suggestions for further reading that are drawn from both ancient and modern sources. The book also features
custom-drawn maps and photos to help students understand the visual and geographical developments of ancient Christianity.
Each chapter ends with Further Reading (both Ancient Sources and
Modern Works).
Preface:
Abbreviations and Signs:
Chapter 1: Jesus
Non-Christian Sources about Jesus
Christian Sources about Jesus
Word-of-Mouth Good News:
Written Good News:
The Synoptic Problem:
Mark and Matthew on Christology:
Mark and Matthew on the Disciples:
Jesus
PART I: THE CONTEXTS OF EARLY CHRISTIANITY
Timeline for First-Century Christianity
Chapter 2: The Jewish Context of the Jesus Movement
The Jews and Hellenization
The Temple
Synagogues
Ordinary Judaism in Palestine
Sects and Parties:
Diaspora ("Dispersion')
Proselytes and God-Fearers:
Roman Rule and the Jews
The Jewish War of 66-73:
The Jewish War of 132-135:
Chapter 3: The Greek and Roman Context of Early Christianity
Official Cults
Voluntary Cults
Rebirth at Eleusis:
The Cult of Mithras:
The Cult of Isis:
The Cult of the Great Mother:
Astrology, Oracles, Magicians:
Philosophies
Chapter 4: The Jesus Movement in the First Century
Jewish Christianity
Jewish Christians and Gentile Converts:
Jewish Christians and the Jewish Rebellions:
Later Jewish Christianities:
Gentile Christianities
Paul and Gentile Christians:
Paul the Missionary:
Paul the Theologian:
PART II: CHRISTIANITY IN THE SECOND AND THIRD CENTURIES
Timeline for the Second and Third Centuries
A Note on Naming Christian Groups
Chapter 5: Christian Diversity in the Second and Third
Centuries
Gnostic Christianities:
Marcionite Christianity:
Chapter 6: The Emergence of a Proto-Orthodox Christian Consensus:
Bishop, Creed, and Canon of Scripture
One Bishop, Elders, and Deacons/Deaconesses
Creeds and Rules of Faith
The Canon of Scripture
A Case Study: The New Prophecy
Chapter 7: Roman Society and the Christians
Roman Law and the Christians
The "Crowd" and the Christians
The First Phase of Persecution (about 29-about 250)
Nero and the Christians:
Pliny and the Christians:
Persecution at Lyons and Vienne:
The Second Phase of Persecution (250-260)
The Emperor Decius (249-251):
The Emperor Valerian (253-260):
Chapter 8: Christian Intellectuals
Justin Martyr (about 100-about 165)
Origen (about 185-251)
Origen and the Scriptures:
Origen the Theologian:
Chapter 9: Proto-Orthodox Christian Communities in the Third
Century
The Baptized Faithful
The Catechumens ("Those under Instruction")
Penitents, Apostates, Excommunicates
Christian Buildings before Constantine
Christian Art before Constantine
Worship before Constantine
Baptism:
Eucharist:
Ordination:
Christian Customs:
PART III: THE CREATION OF A CHRISTIAN EMPIRE
Timeline of Later Christianity
Chapter 10: Diocletian, the Great Persecution, and the Conversion
of Constantine
The Emperor Diocletian (Ruled 284-305)
Constantine (Ruled 306-337)
Chapter 11: The Christian Empire and the Imperial Church
Julian the "Apostate" (361-363)
The Dynasty of Theodosius I (379-455)
Pagans in the Christian Empire:
Christian Heretics in the Christian Empire:
Jews in the Christian Empire:
Chapter 12: The Government of the Church
The Local Bishop
The Bishops in Council
The Apostolic Bishoprics
The Bishop of Rome
The Emperor
The Eastern Empire: Continuity
The Western Empire: Discontinuity
Chapter 13: The Trinitarian Controversy
Schisms
The Origins of the Trinitarian Controversy
The Holy Spirit:
The Survival of Arianism
Chapter 14: Jesus, the God/Man
Nestorianism
Monophysitism
The Council of Chalcedon (451)
PART IV: LIFE IN THE CHRISTIAN EMPIRE
Timeline for Later Christianity
Chapter 15: Worship and Piety in the Christian Empire
Liturgy
Church Buildings
Christian Time: The Liturgical Calendar
The Holy Dead
Pilgrimage
Chapter 16: The Ascetic Movement
Anthony (about 251-356)
Pachomius (290-345)
Basil of Caesarea (about 339-379)
Monasticism in the West
Benedict of Nursia (about 480-about 545)
Criticism of Ascetics
The Impact of Asceticism Within Christianity
A Case Study: Clergy, Laity and Sexual Activity
Marriage of the Clergy before The Fourth Century:
Marriage of the Clergy after The Fourth Century:
Chapter 17: Fourth- and Fifth-Century Christian Thinkers
Ambrose (339-397)
Jerome (about 347-419)
Gregory of Nyssa (between 331 and 340-about 395)
Augustine of Hippo (354-430)
Manichaeans:
Donatists:
Pelagius (about 350-about 425):
Pagans:
Chapter 18: Conversion and Christianization
Conversion before the Fourth Century
Conversion after Constantine
Christianization after Constantine
Conversion in Hard Times:
The Eastern Empire
The Western Empire
The Conversion of the Franks
Conversion outside the Empire's Borders:
Armenia
Axum/Ethiopia
Ireland
Summary:
Chapter 19: The Eastern and Western Churches Go Their Separate
Ways
Bishop Gregory of Tours (573-593/594)
Pope Gregory I the Great (590-604)
John the Almsgiver, Patriarch of Alexandria (610-about 619)
Chapter 20: Epilogue: Muhammad and Islam
Credits:
Index:
Joe R. Engle Designated Professor of the History of Christianity, Department of History, The Ohio State University
"A fine introduction to early Christianity...This is a valuable and ably executed introductory textbook."--Religious Studies Review
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