Overview

This text presents an examination of how a small movement formed around Jesus in Galilee became the pre-eminent religion of the ancient world. The volume begins by firmly situating early Christianity within its Mediterranean social, political and religious contexts, before charting the history of the first Christian centuries. The creation and perpetuation of Christian communities through means including mission and monasticism is then explored, as is the everyday experience of early Christians, through discussion of gender and sexuality, religious practice, communication and social structures. The intellectual (particularly theological) and artistic heritage of the period is considered, and a picture provided of the internal and external challenges faced by early Christianity. The book concludes with profiles of the most notable figures of the age.

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9780415241410

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Reviews

'This is a splendid collection of essays by renowned scholars in the field that presents a coherent, authoritative and yet readable account of how a small Jewish sect became a major world religion ... A useful resource that any graduate or undergraduate library would do well to have on its shelves.' - Kenneth G.C. Newport, Theological Book Review<br><br>The publishers of the Women's Source Library ... can only be applauded in their efforts to make these materials more generally available, and the series should be on the shelves of every serious library.' - Times Higher Education Supplement

... Esler's book is a major accomplishment. It will surely become a standard reference. Beautifully produced and sumptuously illustrated.... <br>-A.M. Casiday, Theological Studies <br> With 230 figures, including maps, and five indexes of biblical, classical, Jewish, patristic, and subject references, this is the consummate succinct reference set. The fifty authors are experts in their subject matter, and they span a wide range of institutional sites and religious perspectives. A required purchase for any library that deals with early Christianity, and an outstanding aid for students.. <br>- Religious Studies Review, January 2002 <br> Esler, his collaborators, and Routledge deserve enormous credit and praise for their achievement. <br>-Robert M. Grant, University of Chicago, in the Journal of Religion <br> The fifty articles in this well-planned collection almost read like one continuous social and culture history of Christianity from 30 to 430CE. The emphasis is neither upon early Christian literature nor doctrinal development, though those are covered in passing, but rather the collection offers a map of the rich phenomenon of early Christianity understood in the closest connection with the social context in which it was born and grew to maturity... The fifty authors are experts in their subject matter, and they span a wide range of institutional sites and religious perspectives. A required purchase for any library that deals with early Christianity, and an outstanding aid for students.. <br>- Religious Studies Review, <br> The Early Christian World is a compendious introduction to the first four centuries of othe Christian movement and the social, cultual, and political worldthat surrounded it....Written by acknowledged experts in each field, this work is a necessary resource for every institutionial library. <br>- Ashland Theological Journal <br>

Author Information

Philip F. Esler is Professor of Biblical Criticism at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. He has written extensively on social-scientific approaches to biblical interpretation.

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