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Book
Bart D. Ehrman · 2004
A 24-lecture course examining the rise of Christianity from a small Jewish sect in the Roman Empire to a dominant religious and cultural institution, covering Jesus, Paul, early Christian communities, persecution, theological development, and the religion's transformation through Constantine.
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What this book knows
Christianity's rise from obscure Jewish sect to imperial religion required centuries of contested belief, persecution, and institutional self-definition.
faith-and-doubt
They followed a virtually unknown Jewish teacher who was executed for treason against the state — how did Christianity have such a stunning impact after such an unpromising beginning?
JCHE-RC-007From its beginning, Christianity stressed the importance of correct belief — unlike pagan religion or Judaism, which focused on worship and practice rather than doctrine.
JCHE-RC-085obedience-and-authority
Others submitted themselves to public torment and death, because in doing so they were escaping the reality of this world for the world of God.
JCHE-RC-054What motivated pagan opponents to treat Christians this way? How involved were civil authorities? Was the religion seen as illegal, and for what reasons?
JCHE-RC-046belonging
People called themselves Christians yet held an incredibly wide range of beliefs; it may make more sense to speak of early Christianities rather than early Christianity.
JCHE-RC-059Faith in Christ was available to all, marking Christianity as a non-Jewish religion that could portray the Jews themselves as outsiders to God's promises.
JCHE-RC-029Illuminates
6 published passages · book excerpt · research analysis
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