Overview

The Church in Ancient Society provides a full and enjoyable narrative history of the first six centuries of the Christian Church. Ancient Greek and Roman society had many gods and an addiction to astrology and divination. This introduction to the period traces the process by which Christianity changed this and so provided a foundation for the modern world: the teaching of Jesus created a lasting community, which grew to command the allegiance of the Roman emperor. Christianity is discussed in relation to how it appeared to both Jews and pagans, and how its Christian doctrine and practice were shaped in relation to Graeco-Roman culture and the Jewish matrix. Among the major figures discussed are Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Constantine, Julian the Apostate, Basil, Ambrose, and Augustine.Following a chronological approach, Henry Chadwick's clear exposition of important texts and theological debates in their historical context is unrivalled in detail. In particular, theological and ecclesial texts are examined in relation to the behaviour and beliefs of people who attended churches and synagogues. Christians did not find agreement and unity easy and the author displays a distinctive concern for the factors - theological, personal, and political - which caused division in the church and prevented reconciliation. The emperors, however, began to foster unity for political reasons and to choose monotheism. Finally, the Church captured the society.

Full Product Details

Author:   Henry Chadwick (, Emeritus Regius Professor of Divinity, University of Cambridge)
Publisher:   Oxford University Press
Imprint:   Oxford University Press
Dimensions:   Width: 15.60cm , Height: 3.90cm , Length: 23.30cm
Weight:   1.128kg
ISBN:  

9780199265770

ISBN 10:   0199265771
Pages:   742
Publication Date:   03 July 2003
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   To order  
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Table of Contents

Introduction 1: The First Followers of Jesus 2: The Jewish Matrix 3: Jews and Christians Survive Rome's Crushing of Revolts 4: The Hebrew Scriptures in the Church 5: Interpreting Scripture: Philo and paul 6: Apostles and Evangelists 7: Women among Jesus' Followers 8: 'Barnabas', Jewish Christianity, Trouble at Corinth 9: Ignatius of Antioch 10: Didache 11: Marcion 12: Justin 13: Irenaeus of Lyon 14: The New Testament Text 15: Celsus: A Platonist Attack 16: Montanism: Perpetua 17: Tertullian, Minucius Felix 18: Clement of Alexandria 19: Julius Africanus 20: Hippolytus and Liturgy 21: Origen 22: Cyprian of Carthage 23: Dionysius of Alexandria 24: Paul of Samosata 25: Mani 26: Plotinos, Porphyry 27: Diocletian and the Great Persecution, Rise of Constantine 28: Constantine, Lactantius, and Eusebios of Caesarea 29: The Seeds of Reaction 30: The Church at Prayer 31: Athanasios, Marcellus, and the Gathering Storm 32: Fiasco at Serdica 33: Religious Division: A Note on Intolerance 34: Athanasios' Return: A Wind of Change 35: Constantius' Double Council of Unity 36: Julian and the Church 37: Damasus, Siricius, Papal Authority, Synesios of Cyrene 38: Basil of Caesarea (Cappadocia) 39: Ambrose 40: Ambrosiaster 41: Donatism 42: Monks: The Ascetic Life 43: Messalians; The Macarian Homilies 44: Schism at Antioch: The Council of Constantinople (381) 45: Jerome and Rufinus: Controversy about Origen 46: Pelagius, Celestius, and the Roman See in Gaul and North Africa 47: Julian of Eclanum: Augustine's Critics in Gaul and North Africa 48: Augustine 49: John Chrysostom 50: Innocent I and John Chrysostom's Honour. Alaric and the fall of Rome 51: The Christological Debate I: To the First Council of Ephesus 52: The Christological Debate II: From Reunion to a breakdown of unity (449) 53: The Christological Debate III; From the Second Council of Ephesus (449) to Chalcedon (451) 54: Chalcedon II: fall of Dioscoros. the emperor Leo's Encyclia 55: The aftermath of the Council of Chalcedon; Zeno's Henotikon 56: Justinian: Origen and the Three Chapters 57: The Church and the Barbarian Invasions in the West; Salvian, Sidonius, Caesarius 58: Worship after Constantine 59: Pope Gregory the Great (590 - 604) 60: Pilgrims 61: Penance Further Reading Dates of Roman Emperors List of Bishops of Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, Constantinople, and Jerusalem

Reviews

`Review from previous edition The first 600 years: that is nearly one third of the Church's entire history. No one but Henry Chadwick ... could have given us so full and so authoritative an account of these decisive centuries. His new book crowns a body of illuminating work on several of the outstanding figures as well as on many of the thorniest problems of the early Church's history.' R. A. Markus, The Tablet `The book is a tour de fource to which we will keep turning as an essential reference work.' R. A. Markus, The Tablet `This is a tour de force by a great scholar ... a magisterial account of the doctrinal and institutional history of the early Church, particularly in the east Roman provinces. The easy style, not without a sprinkling of colloquialisms, conceals the author's great learning and enthusiasm for his subject ... Henry Chadwick's book will remain a standard work on the history of early Christianity for the forseeable future.' English Historical Review Whoever looks for a reliable and highly readable companion to the formative centuries of Christianity and, in many respects, of European culture as well could hardly make a better choice ... The exposition is rich in detail, and makes an enjoyable read that will appeal to an academic and to a general readership alike. `Marked by a monumentality both of scope and detail ... the last great narrative history of the twentieth century in its field ... Henry Chadwick ranks as one of the great figures of the twentieth century in his field, and there is every reason to believe that a future generation of scholars will be keen to have access to his guidance on any one of a thousand points of detail.' Kate Cooper, Times Literary Supplement `A masterpiece beyond classification.' Church Times

This is a tour de force by a great scholar.... A magisterial account of the doctrinal and institutional history of the early Church, particularly in the east Roman provinces. The easy style, not without a sprinkling of colloquialisms, conceals the author's great learning and enthusiasm for his subject.... Chadwick's book will remain a standard work on the history of early Christianity for the forseeable future. --English Historical Review<br> Marked by a monumentality both of scope and detail.... The last great narrative history of the twentieth century in its field. --Times Literary Supplement<br> Henry Chadwick's latest book is a contribution to the Oxford History of the Church...His book is, in a number of ways, magnificent. --Journal of Early Christian Studies<br>

Author Information

Henry Chadwick is Emeritus Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Cambridge

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