Early Christianity: A Brief History

by Joseph H. Lynch

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195138030
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	02/25/2009
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	606,353
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.50(d)

Table of Contents

Each chapter ends with Further Reading (both Ancient Sources and Modern Works)., Preface, Abbreviations and SignsChapter 1: JesusNon-Christian Sources about JesusChristian Sources about Jesus, Word-of-Mouth Good News, Written Good News, The Synoptic Problem, Mark and Matthew on Christology, Mark and Matthew on the DisciplesJesusPART I: THE CONTEXTS OF EARLY CHRISTIANITYTimeline for First-Century ChristianityChapter 2: The Jewish Context of the Jesus MovementThe Jews and HellenizationThe TempleSynagoguesOrdinary Judaism in Palestine, Sects and PartiesDiaspora ("Dispersion'), Proselytes and God-FearersRoman Rule and the Jews, The Jewish War of 66-73, The Jewish War of 132-135Chapter 3: The Greek and Roman Context of Early ChristianityOfficial CultsVoluntary Cults, Rebirth at Eleusis, The Cult of Mithras, The Cult of Isis, The Cult of the Great Mother, Astrology, Oracles, MagiciansPhilosophiesChapter 4: The Jesus Movement in the First CenturyJewish Christianity, Jewish Christians and Gentile Converts, Jewish Christians and the Jewish Rebellions, Later Jewish ChristianitiesGentile Christianities, Paul and Gentile Christians, Paul the Missionary, Paul the TheologianPART II: CHRISTIANITY IN THE SECOND AND THIRD CENTURIESTimeline for the Second and Third CenturiesA Note on Naming Christian GroupsChapter 5: Christian Diversity in the Second and Third Centuries, Gnostic Christianities, Marcionite ChristianityChapter 6: The Emergence of a Proto-Orthodox Christian Consensus: Bishop, Creed, and Canon of ScriptureOne Bishop, Elders, and Deacons/DeaconessesCreeds and Rules of FaithThe Canon of ScriptureA Case Study: The New ProphecyChapter 7: Roman Society and the ChristiansRoman Law and the ChristiansThe "Crowd" and the ChristiansThe First Phase of Persecution (about 29-about 250), Nero and the Christians, Pliny and the Christians, Persecution at Lyons and VienneThe Second Phase of Persecution (250-260), The Emperor Decius (249-251), The Emperor Valerian (253-260)Chapter 8: Christian IntellectualsJustin Martyr (about 100-about 165)Origen (about 185-251), Origen and the Scriptures, Origen the TheologianChapter 9: Proto-Orthodox Christian Communities in the Third CenturyThe Baptized FaithfulThe Catechumens ("Those under Instruction")Penitents, Apostates, ExcommunicatesChristian Buildings before ConstantineChristian Art before ConstantineWorship before Constantine, Baptism, Eucharist, Ordination, Christian CustomsPART III: THE CREATION OF A CHRISTIAN EMPIRETimeline of Later ChristianityChapter 10: Diocletian, the Great Persecution, and the Conversion of ConstantineThe Emperor Diocletian (Ruled 284-305)Constantine (Ruled 306-337)Chapter 11: The Christian Empire and the Imperial ChurchJulian 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 EmpireChapter 12: The Government of the ChurchThe Local BishopThe Bishops in CouncilThe Apostolic BishopricsThe Bishop of RomeThe EmperorThe Eastern Empire: ContinuityThe Western Empire: DiscontinuityChapter 13: The Trinitarian ControversySchismsThe Origins of the Trinitarian Controversy, The Holy SpiritThe Survival of ArianismChapter 14: Jesus, the God/ManNestorianismMonophysitismThe Council of Chalcedon (451)PART IV: LIFE IN THE CHRISTIAN EMPIRETimeline for Later ChristianityChapter 15: Worship and Piety in the Christian EmpireLiturgyChurch BuildingsChristian Time: The Liturgical CalendarThe Holy DeadPilgrimageChapter 16: The Ascetic MovementAnthony (about 251-356)Pachomius (290-345)Basil of Caesarea (about 339-379)Monasticism in the WestBenedict of Nursia (about 480-about 545)Criticism of AsceticsThe Impact of Asceticism Within ChristianityA Case Study: Clergy, Laity and Sexual Activity, Marriage of the Clergy before The Fourth Century, Marriage of the Clergy after The Fourth CenturyChapter 17: Fourth- and Fifth-Century Christian ThinkersAmbrose (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), PagansChapter 18: Conversion and ChristianizationConversion before the Fourth CenturyConversion after ConstantineChristianization after Constantine, Conversion in Hard TimesThe Eastern EmpireThe Western EmpireThe Conversion of the Franks, Conversion outside the Empire's BordersArmeniaAxum/EthiopiaIreland, SummaryChapter 19: The Eastern and Western Churches Go Their Separate WaysBishop 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

Editorial Reviews

"A fine introduction to early Christianity...This is a valuable and ably executed introductory textbook."—Religious Studies Review

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