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| christianity before christ: Christianity Before Christ John Jackson, 2020-12-22 In Christianity Before Christ, comparative religion scholar John G Jackson explores ancient traditions from many societies, asserting that Christianity is the recasting of beliefs which are older and pervasive through many cultures. |
| christianity before christ: Christianity Before Christ John G. Jackson, 2016-03-22 An unabridged, unedited printing of J. G. Jackson's pamphlet 'Christianity Before Christ' - |
| christianity before christ: Christianity Before Christ John G. Jackson, 2002-02 Nothing is new or original in Christianity. All features and components of what is now known as Christianity were present in mythologies that flourished before Jesus is alleged to have lived, and this book shows how those myths evolved into today's religion. |
| christianity before christ: Jesus Before Christianity Albert Nolan, 1986 The second edition of this classic has been revised and its language made more gender-inclusive. |
| christianity before christ: Our Sun God John Denham Parsons, 2020-01-02 Our Sun God Or Christianity Before Christ traces down the origins of the Judeo-Christian monotheism and the idea of one God. The author presents numerous similarities between the sole Judeo-Christian God and various forms of sun gods. From a Broad Church Point of View Pauline Christianity From a Gnostic Point of View Christianity in Existence Before Christ The Beginning The Hebrew Scriptures The Sun-god Iaou (Jehovah) Non-Jewish Evidence Concerning Iaou The Origin and Date of Genesis The Sun-god of the New Testament Sun-god Worship in the Days of the Fathers The Sun-god of Philosophy |
| christianity before christ: After Jesus Before Christianity Erin Vearncombe, Brandon Scott, Hal Taussig, The Westar Institute, 2024-11-12 From the creative minds of the scholarly group behind the groundbreaking Jesus Seminar comes this provocative and eye-opening look at the roots of Christianity that offers a thoughtful reconsideration of the first two centuries of the Jesus movement, transforming our understanding of the religion and its early dissemination. Christianity has endured for more than two millennia and is practiced by billions worldwide today. Yet that longevity has created difficulties for scholars tracing the religion's roots, distorting much of the historical investigation into the first two centuries of the Jesus movement. But what if Christianity died in the fourth or fifth centuries after it began? How would that change how historians see and understand its first two hundred years? Considering these questions, three Bible scholars from the Westar Institute summarize the work of the Christianity Seminar and its efforts to offer a new way of thinking about Christianity and its roots. Synthesizing the institute's most recent scholarship--bringing together the many archaeological and textual discoveries over the last twenty years--they have found: There were multiple Jesus movements, not a singular one, before the fourth century There was nothing called Christianity until the third century There was much more flexibility and diversity within Jesus's movement before it became centralized in Rome, not only regarding the Bible and religious doctrine, but also understandings of gender, sexuality and morality. Exciting and revolutionary, After Jesus Before Christianity provides fresh insights into the real history behind how the Jesus movement became Christianity. After Jesus Before Christianity includes more than a dozen black-and-white images throughout. |
| christianity before christ: Christianity Before Christ John G. Jackson, 1938 |
| christianity before christ: The Holy Spirit Before Christianity John R. Levison, 2019 With his latest book, The Holy Spirit before Christianity, John R. Levison again changes the face and foundation of Christian belief in the Holy Spirit. The categories Christians have used, the boundaries they have created, the proprietary claims they have made--all of these evaporate, now that Levison has looked afresh at Scripture. In a study that is both poignant and provocative, Levison takes readers back five hundred years before Jesus, where he discovers history's first grasp of the Holy Spirit as a personal agent. The prophet Haggai and the author of Isaiah 56-66, in their search for ways to grapple with the tragic events of exile and to articulate hope for the future, took up old exodus traditions of divine agents--pillars of fire, an angel, God's own presence--and fused them with belief in God's Spirit. Since it was the Spirit of God who led Israel up from Egypt and formed them into a holy nation, now, the prophets assured their hearers, the Spirit of God would lead and renew those returning from exile. Taking this point of origin as our guide, Christian pneumatology--belief in the Holy Spirit--is less about an exclusively Christian experience or doctrine and more about the presence of God in the grand scheme of Israel's history, in which Christianity is ancient Israel's heir. This explosive observation traces the essence of Christian pneumatology deep into the heart of the Hebrew Scriptures. The implications are fierce: the priority of Israelite tradition at the headwaters of pneumatology means that Christians can no longer hold stubbornly to the Holy Spirit as an exclusively Christian belief. But the implications are hopeful as well, offering Christians a richer history, a renewed vocabulary, a shared path with Judaism, and the promise of a more expansive and authentic experience of the Holy Spirit. |
| christianity before christ: Let the Nations Be Glad! John Piper, 2010-03-15 This new edition of a bestselling textbook (over 185,000 copies sold) draws on key biblical texts to demonstrate that worship is the ultimate goal of the church and that proper worship fuels missionary outreach. John Piper offers a biblical defense of God's supremacy in all things, providing readers with a sound theological foundation for missions. He examines whether Jesus is the only way to salvation and issues a passionate plea for God-centeredness in the missionary enterprise, seeking to define the scope of the task and the means for reaching all nations. The third edition has been revised and expanded throughout and includes new material on the prosperity gospel. The book is essential reading for those involved in or preparing for missions work. It also offers enlightenment for college and seminary students, pastors, youth workers, campus ministers, and all who want to connect their labors to God's global purposes. |
| christianity before christ: The World's Sixteen Crucified Saviors Kersey Graves, 2001-09 The World's Sixteen Crucified Saviors has been out of print but sought after for many years. A small part of it was reprinted in The Book Your Church Doesn't Want You to Read in 1994. Many people are unaware that before Christianity there were 15 other religions that also had a savior who died for their sins, then arose from the dead. |
| christianity before christ: Judaism Before Jesus Anthony J. Tomasino, 2003-10-17 Highlighting the ideas, subplots and characters that shaped the world of Jesus and the first Christians, Anthony J. Tomasino skillfully retells the story of Judaism before Jesus, from the time of Ezra and Nehemiah to the Herods, and even up to Masada. |
| christianity before christ: From Jesus to Christ Paula Fredriksen, 2008-10-01 Magisterial. . . . A learned, brilliant and enjoyable study.—Géza Vermès, Times Literary Supplement In this exciting book, Paula Fredriksen explains the variety of New Testament images of Jesus by exploring the ways that the new Christian communities interpreted his mission and message in light of the delay of the Kingdom he had preached. This edition includes an introduction reviews the most recent scholarship on Jesus and its implications for both history and theology. Brilliant and lucidly written, full of original and fascinating insights.—Reginald H. Fuller, Journal of the American Academy of Religion This is a first-rate work of a first-rate historian.—James D. Tabor, Journal of Religion Fredriksen confronts her documents—principally the writings of the New Testament—as an archaeologist would an especially rich complex site. With great care she distinguishes the literary images from historical fact. As she does so, she explains the images of Jesus in terms of the strategies and purposes of the writers Paul, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.—Thomas D’Evelyn, Christian Science Monitor |
| christianity before christ: The Acts of the Apostles , 2010-12-01 Acts is the sequel to Luke's gospel and tells the story of Jesus's followers during the 30 years after his death. It describes how the 12 apostles, formerly Jesus's disciples, spread the message of Christianity throughout the Mediterranean against a background of persecution. With an introduction by P.D. James. |
| christianity before christ: Medicine and Health Care in Early Christianity Gary B. Ferngren, 2016-08 Drawing on New Testament studies and recent scholarship on the expansion of the Christian church, Gary B. Ferngren presents a comprehensive historical account of medicine and medical philanthropy in the first five centuries of the Christian era. Ferngren first describes how early Christians understood disease. He examines the relationship of early Christian medicine to the natural and supernatural modes of healing found in the Bible. Despite biblical accounts of demonic possession and miraculous healing, Ferngren argues that early Christians generally accepted naturalistic assumptions about disease and cared for the sick with medical knowledge gleaned from the Greeks and Romans. Ferngren also explores the origins of medical philanthropy in the early Christian church. Rather than viewing illness as punishment for sins, early Christians believed that the sick deserved both medical assistance and compassion. Even as they were being persecuted, Christians cared for the sick within and outside of their community. Their long experience in medical charity led to the creation of the first hospitals, a singular Christian contribution to health care. A succinct, thoughtful, well-written, and carefully argued assessment of Christian involvement with medical matters in the first five centuries of the common era . . . It is to Ferngren's credit that he has opened questions and explored them so astutely. This fine work looks forward as well as backward; it invites fuller reflection of the many senses in which medicine and religion intersect and merits wide readership.—Journal of the American Medical Association In this superb work of historical and conceptual scholarship, Ferngren unfolds for the reader a cultural milieu of healing practices during the early centuries of Christianity.—Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith Readable and widely researched . . . an important book for mission studies and American Catholic movements, the book posits the question of what can take its place in today's challenging religious culture.—Missiology: An International Review Gary B. Ferngren is a professor of history at Oregon State University and a professor of the history of medicine at First Moscow State Medical University. He is the author of Medicine and Religion: A Historical Introduction and the editor of Science and Religion: A Historical Introduction. |
| christianity before christ: Early Christian Attitudes Toward Images Steven Bigham, Stéphane Bigham, 2004 For all iconophiles, that is, those who accept the dogma of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, but especially the Orthodox who claim that the icon has a sacramental and mystical character, it is naturally disquieting to hear the claim that the early Christians were aniconic and iconophobic. If this claim is true, the theology and the veneration of the icon are seriously undermined. It is, therefore, natural for iconophiles to attempt to disprove the thesis according to which the early Christians had no images whatsoever (aniconic) because they believed them to be idols (iconophobic). It is equally natural for iconophiles to want to substantiate, as much as this is possible, their deep intuition that the roots of Christian iconography go back to the apostolic age. This study weakens the notion and credibility of the alleged hostility of the early Christians to non-idolatrous images, providing a more balanced evaluation of this question. |
| christianity before christ: Jesus and the Dead Sea Scrolls John Bergsma, 2019-09-10 A major new work on the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest sacred documents of Judaism, which reveals their surprising connections to early Christianity. “A luminous treatment of a fascinating subject! Highly recommended!”—Scott Hahn, author of The Fourth Cup From award-winning scholar John Bergsma comes an intriguing book that reveals new insights on the Essenes, a radical Jewish community predating Christianity, whose existence, beliefs, and practices are often overlooked in the annuls of history. Bergsma reveals how this Jewish sect directly influenced the beliefs, sacraments, and practices of early Christianity and offers new information on how Christians lived their lives, worshipped, and eventually went on to influence the Roman Empire and Western civilization. Looking to Hebrew scripture and Jewish tradition, Bergsma helps to further explain how a simple Jewish peasant could go on to inspire a religion and a philosophy that still resonates 2,000 years later. In this enriching and exciting exploration, Bergsma demonstrates how the Dead Sea Scrolls—the world's greatest modern archaeological discovery—can shed light on the Church as a sacred society that offered hope, redemption, and salvation to its member. Ultimately, these mysterious writings are a time machine that can transport us back to the ancient world, deepen our appreciation of Scripture, and strengthen our understanding of the Christian faith. “An accessible introduction . . . This is a handy entry point for readers unfamiliar with Essenes or those interested in the Dead Sea Scrolls.”—Publishers Weekly |
| christianity before christ: How Jesus Became Christian Barrie Wilson, 2010-07-16 In How Jesus Became Christian, Barrie Wilson asks How did a young rabbi become the god of a religion he wouldn’t recognize, one which was established through the use of calculated anti-Semitism? Colourfully recreating the world of Jesus Christ, Wilson brings the answer to life by looking at the rivalry between the Jesus movement, informed by the teachings of Matthew and adhering to Torah worship, and the Christ movement, headed by Paul, which shunned Torah. Wilson suggests that Paul’s movement was not rooted in the teachings and sayings of the historical Jesus, but solely in Paul’s mystical vision of Christ, a man Paul actually never met. He then shows how Paul established the new religion through anti-Semitic propaganda, which ultimately crushed the Jesus Movement. Sure to be controversial, this is an exciting, well-written popular religious history that cuts to the heart of the differences between Christianity and Judaism, to the origins of one of the world’s great religions and, ultimately, to the question of who Jesus Christ really was – a Jew or a Christian. |
| christianity before christ: Cold-case Christianity J. Warner Wallace, 2013 Do you believe about the claims of Christianity but aren't sure you believe in them? J. Warner Wallace knows what that's like. For the first thirty-five years of his life, he was a devout atheist. But when he decided to apply his skills as a detective to the claims of the New Testament he came to a startling realization: the case for Christianity was as convincing as any case he'd ever worked as a detective. A unique apologetic, Cold-Case Christianity will give you new confidence in Christ and a renewed passion for articulating the case for Christianity. |
| christianity before christ: The Christians, Their First Two Thousand Years Ted Byfield, 2010 The Christians is the history of Christianity, told chronologically, epoch by epoch, century by century, beginning at Pentecost and concluding with Christians as we find ourselves in the twenty-first century. It will consist of approximately twelve volumes, produced over a 10-year period at the beginning of the third Christian millennium. It is written and edited by Christians for Christians of all denominations. Its purpose is to tell the story of the Christian family, so that we may be knowledgeable of our origins, may well know and wisely profit from the experiences of our past both good and bad, and may find strength and inspiration to face the challenges of our era from the magnificent examples set for us by those who went before. - Back cover. |
| christianity before christ: The Formation of Christianity in Antioch Magnus Zetterholm, 2003-12-08 And conclusion3 THE CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS DIFFERENTIATION; Introduction; Constructing analytical tools; A theory of religious differentiation; Religion and value-changing processes; Muslims and religious change in modern Europe; Pluralism and religious differentiation; A theory of social integration; Variables of assimilation; The process of assimilation; The assimilation profile-a test case; The use of acculturation; Analysis-Antiochean Judaism revealed; Groups and factions; Crossing the boundaries-Antiochus the apostate; Observing torah-religious traditionalists. |
| christianity before christ: Holy Bible (NIV) Various Authors,, 2008-09-02 The NIV is the world's best-selling modern translation, with over 150 million copies in print since its first full publication in 1978. This highly accurate and smooth-reading version of the Bible in modern English has the largest library of printed and electronic support material of any modern translation. |
| christianity before christ: Mission and Conversion Martin Goodman, 1994 This book tackles a central problem of comparative religious history: proselytizing by Jews and pagans in the ancient world, and the origins of missions in the early Church. Why did some individuals in the first four centuries of the Christian era believe it desirable to persuade outsiders to join their religious group, while others did not? In this book, the author offers a new hypothesis about the origins of Christian proselytizing, arguing that mission is not an inherent religious instinct, that in antiquity it was found only sporadically among Jews and pagans, and that even Christians rarely stressed its importance in the early centuries. Much of the book focusses on the history of Judaism in late antiquity. Dr Goodman makes a detailed and radical re-evaluation of the evidence for Jewish missionary attitudes in the late Second Temple and Talmudic periods, questioning many commonly held assumptions, in particular the view that Jews proselytized energetically in the first century CE. This leads him on to take issue with the common notion that the early Christian mission to the gentiles imitated or competed with contemporary Jews. Finally, the author puts forward some novel suggestions as to how the Jewish background to Christianity may nonetheless have contributed to the enthusiastic adoption of universal proselytizing by some followers of Jesus in the apostolic age. |
| christianity before christ: The Messiah Before Jesus Israel Knohl, 2000-10-12 Publisher Fact Sheet Argues that there was a messianic forerunner to Jesus named Menachem who lived a generation earlier & served as a sort of role model for Jesus & his messianic movement. |
| christianity before christ: Heaven and Hell Bart D. Ehrman, 2020-03-31 A New York Times bestselling historian of early Christianity takes on two of the most gripping questions of human existence: where did the ideas of heaven and hell come from and why do they endure? What happens when we die? A recent Pew Research poll showed that 72% of Americans believe in a literal heaven and 58% believe in a literal hell. Most people who hold these beliefs are Christian and assume they are the age-old teachings of the Bible. But eternal rewards and punishments are found nowhere in the Old Testament and are not what Jesus or his disciples taught. So where did these ideas come from? In this “eloquent understanding of how death is viewed through many spiritual traditions” (Publishers Weekly, starred review), Bart Ehrman recounts the long history of the afterlife, ranging from The Epic of Gilgamesh up to the writings of Augustine, focusing especially on the teachings of Jesus and his early followers. He discusses ancient guided tours of heaven and hell, in which a living person observes the sublime blessings of heaven for those who are saved and the horrifying torments of hell for those who are damned. Some of these accounts take the form of near death experiences, the oldest on record, with intriguing similarities to those reported today. One of Ehrman’s startling conclusions is that there never was a single Greek, Jewish, or Christian understanding of the afterlife, but numerous competing views. Moreover, these views did not come from nowhere; they were intimately connected with the social, cultural, and historical worlds out of which they emerged. Only later, in the early Christian centuries, did they develop into notions of eternal bliss or damnation widely accepted today. In this “elegant history” (The New Yorker), Ehrman helps us reflect on where our ideas of the afterlife come from. With his “richly layered-narrative” (The Boston Globe) he assures us that even if there may be something to hope for when we die, there certainly is nothing to fear. |
| christianity before christ: Pagan Origins of the Christ Myth John G. Jackson, 2018-12-17 A classic resource that connects the cardinal doctrines of Christianity to their origins in the ancient civilizations that preceded the religion. In Pagan Origins of the Christ Myth, John G. Jackson sources the pagan origins of Christian doctrine with particular focus on the creation and atonement myths. Rooted in historical facts, Jackson’s claims are steeped in research and demonstrate how Christianity synthesizes the rituals, beliefs, and characteristics of savior gods from ancient Egyptian, Greek, Aztec, and Hindu origins. Initially published in 1941, this concise introduction remains an insightful contribution to comparative religion studies. |
| christianity before christ: Jesus Before the Gospels Bart D. Ehrman, 2017-02-28 The bestselling author of Misquoting Jesus, one of the most renowned and controversial Bible scholars in the world today examines oral tradition and its role in shaping the stories about Jesus we encounter in the New Testament—and ultimately in our understanding of Christianity. Throughout much of human history, our most important stories were passed down orally—including the stories about Jesus before they became written down in the Gospels. In this fascinating and deeply researched work, leading Bible scholar Bart D. Erhman investigates the role oral history has played in the New Testament—how the telling of these stories not only spread Jesus’ message but helped shape it. A master explainer of Christian history, texts, and traditions, Ehrman draws on a range of disciplines, including psychology and anthropology, to examine the role of memory in the creation of the Gospels. Explaining how oral tradition evolves based on the latest scientific research, he demonstrates how the act of telling and retelling impacts the story, the storyteller, and the listener—crucial insights that challenge our typical historical understanding of the silent period between when Jesus lived and died and when his stories began to be written down. As he did in his previous books on religious scholarship, debates on New Testament authorship, and the existence of Jesus of Nazareth, Ehrman combines his deep knowledge and meticulous scholarship in a compelling and eye-opening narrative that will change the way we read and think about these sacred texts. |
| christianity before christ: When Jesus Became God Richard E. Rubenstein, 2000 A fascinating volume details the two priests--Arius and Athanasius--mortal enemies who became the major players in the fateful conflict in Christendom to decide whether Jesus was God or the holiest of men until the Reformation and Alexander, the powerful bishop of Alexandria, who was determined to find a speedy resolution. Reprint. |
| christianity before christ: When Christians Were Jews Paula Fredriksen, 2018-10-23 A compelling account of Christianity’s Jewish beginnings, from one of the world’s leading scholars of ancient religion How did a group of charismatic, apocalyptic Jewish missionaries, working to prepare their world for the impending realization of God's promises to Israel, end up inaugurating a movement that would grow into the gentile church? Committed to Jesus’s prophecy—“The Kingdom of God is at hand!”—they were, in their own eyes, history's last generation. But in history's eyes, they became the first Christians. In this electrifying social and intellectual history, Paula Fredriksen answers this question by reconstructing the life of the earliest Jerusalem community. As her account arcs from this group’s hopeful celebration of Passover with Jesus, through their bitter controversies that fragmented the movement’s midcentury missions, to the city’s fiery end in the Roman destruction of Jerusalem, she brings this vibrant apostolic community to life. Fredriksen offers a vivid portrait both of this temple-centered messianic movement and of the bedrock convictions that animated and sustained it. |
| christianity before christ: The Historical Reliability of the New Testament Craig L. Blomberg, 2016-11-01 Questions about the reliability of the New Testament are commonly raised today both by biblical scholars and popular media. Drawing on decades of research, Craig Blomberg addresses all of the major objections to the historicity of the New Testament in one comprehensive volume. Topics addressed include the formation of the Gospels, the transmission of the text, the formation of the canon, alleged contradictions, the relationship between Jesus and Paul, supposed Pauline forgeries, other gospels, miracles, and many more. Historical corroborations of details from all parts of the New Testament are also presented throughout. The Historical Reliability of the New Testament marshals the latest scholarship in responding to New Testament objections, while remaining accessible to non-specialists. |
| christianity before christ: The Most Reluctant Convert David C. Downing, 2021-05-07 In his teens, a young man wrote, “I believe in no religion. There is absolutely no proof for any of them.” After serving in the trenches of WW1, the same young man said, “I never sank so low as to pray.” To a religious friend, he wrote impatiently, “You can’t start with God. I don’t accept God!” This young man was C. S. Lewis, the “foul-mouthed atheist” who would become one of the most eloquent Christian writers of the twentieth century. David C. Downing offers a unique look at Lewis’s personal journey to faith and the profound influence it had on his life as a writer and eventual follower of Christ. This is the first book to focus on the period from Lewis’s childhood to his early thirties, a tumultuous journey of spiritual and intellectual exploration. It was not despite this journey but precisely because of it that Lewis understood the search for life’s meaning so well. |
| christianity before christ: Letter from Birmingham Jail MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., Martin Luther King, 2018 This landmark missive from one of the greatest activists in history calls for direct, non-violent resistance in the fight against racism, and reflects on the healing power of love. |
| christianity before christ: The World's Sixteen Crucified Saviors; Or, Christianity Before Christ Kersey Graves, 2019-11-19 In The World's Sixteen Crucified Saviors; Or, Christianity Before Christ, Kersey Graves presents a rigorous examination of the crucified savior archetype across various cultures and religions. This pioneering work investigates a multitude of figures, from Osiris and Krishna to Buddha, who are portrayed as dying and resurrecting deities. Graves employs a comparative literary style, drawing upon historical, theological, and mythological sources, to highlight striking similarities that challenge the originality of Christian narratives. Set within the context of 19th-century debates on the validity of religious traditions, the book propels a critical dialogue on the nature of faith and mythology. Kersey Graves, a notable American author and freethinker, was deeply influenced by the burgeoning enlightenment ideas of his time, questioning orthodox beliefs and exploring alternative narratives of religious history. His background in rationalism and skepticism serves as a foundation for this text, as he sought to expose the connections between Christianity and its predecessors. Through meticulous research and analysis, Graves aimed to engage readers in a thoughtful reconsideration of their spiritual understandings. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in theological studies, comparative mythology, or the history of religious thought. Graves'Äô bold assertion challenges traditional doctrines, inviting readers to explore the interconnectedness of human beliefs. With its compelling arguments and thorough scholarship, The World's Sixteen Crucified Saviors remains a significant contribution to the discourse on spirituality and historical inquiry. |
| christianity before christ: Our Sun God - The History of Christianity Before Christ John Denham Parsons, 2020-12-17 Our Sun God - The History of Christianity Before Christ traces down the origins of the Judeo-Christian monotheism and the idea of one God. The author presents numerous similarities between the sole Judeo-Christian God and various forms of sun gods. From a Broad Church Point of View Pauline Christianity From a Gnostic Point of View Christianity in Existence Before Christ The Beginning The Hebrew Scriptures The Sun-god Iaou (Jehovah) Non-Jewish Evidence Concerning Iaou The Origin and Date of Genesis The Sun-god of the New Testament Sun-god Worship in the Days of the Fathers The Sun-god of Philosophy |
| christianity before christ: The World's Sixteen Crucified Saviors; Or Christianity Before Christ. Containing ... Revelations ... which Disclose the Oriental Origin ... of the Christian New Testament. ... Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged Kersey GRAVES, 1875 |
| christianity before christ: Christianity Alister E. McGrath, 2006-02-13 The new edition of this popular textbook by leading theologian, Alister E. McGrath, will be essential reading for anyone wanting to understand the dynamics of the world’s largest religion. Fully revised to include greater coverage of the Catholic perspective, contemporary issues, non-Western Christianity, globalization and women, this is a truly comprehensive, lively, and jargon-free introduction to Christianity. Written for beginners to this subject, and assumes no knowledge of Christian beliefs or practices. Includes an introduction to biblical sources and discussion of the central figure of Jesus. Features comprehensive discussions of Christian theology, the history of Christianity from its origins to the present day, and Christianity in the modern world. Increases coverage of contemporary issues, the Catholic perspective, non-Western Christianity, globalization and women Contains accessible and student-friendly features, including numerous illustrations, suggestions for further reading, a glossary of Christian terms, and brief readings from illustrative Christian sources. |
| christianity before christ: How Jesus Became God Bart D. Ehrman, 2014-03-25 New York Times bestselling author and Bible expert Bart Ehrman reveals how Jesus’s divinity became dogma in the first few centuries of the early church. The claim at the heart of the Christian faith is that Jesus of Nazareth was, and is, God. But this is not what the original disciples believed during Jesus’s lifetime—and it is not what Jesus claimed about himself. How Jesus Became God tells the story of an idea that shaped Christianity, and of the evolution of a belief that looked very different in the fourth century than it did in the first. A master explainer of Christian history, texts, and traditions, Ehrman reveals how an apocalyptic prophet from the backwaters of rural Galilee crucified for crimes against the state came to be thought of as equal with the one God Almighty, Creator of all things. But how did he move from being a Jewish prophet to being God? In a book that took eight years to research and write, Ehrman sketches Jesus’s transformation from a human prophet to the Son of God exalted to divine status at his resurrection. Only when some of Jesus’s followers had visions of him after his death—alive again—did anyone come to think that he, the prophet from Galilee, had become God. And what they meant by that was not at all what people mean today. Written for secular historians of religion and believers alike, How Jesus Became God will engage anyone interested in the historical developments that led to the affirmation at the heart of Christianity: Jesus was, and is, God. |
| christianity before christ: CHRISTIANITY BEFORE CHRIST CHARLES JOHN. STONE, 2018 |
| christianity before christ: Origen Against Celsus Origen, Bellamy James Tr, 2023-07-18 Travel back to the early days of Christianity with this fascinating work by Origen, one of the most important theologians of the early Church. Against Celsus is a scathing critique of a work written by a pagan philosopher who attacked the Christian faith. This book provides valuable insight into the debates and controversies that shaped Christianity in its early years. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant. |
| christianity before christ: A History of the Bible John Barton, 2020-08-04 A literary history of our most influential book of all time, by an Oxford scholar and Anglican priest In our culture, the Bible is monolithic: It is a collection of books that has been unchanged and unchallenged since the earliest days of the Christian church. The idea of the Bible as Holy Scripture, a non-negotiable authority straight from God, has prevailed in Western society for some time. And while it provides a firm foundation for centuries of Christian teaching, it denies the depth, variety, and richness of this fascinating text. In A History of the Bible, John Barton argues that the Bible is not a prescription to a complete, fixed religious system, but rather a product of a long and intriguing process, which has inspired Judaism and Christianity, but still does not describe the whole of either religion. Barton shows how the Bible is indeed an important source of religious insight for Jews and Christians alike, yet argues that it must be read in its historical context--from its beginnings in myth and folklore to its many interpretations throughout the centuries. It is a book full of narratives, laws, proverbs, prophecies, poems, and letters, each with their own character and origin stories. Barton explains how and by whom these disparate pieces were written, how they were canonized (and which ones weren't), and how they were assembled, disseminated, and interpreted around the world--and, importantly, to what effect. Ultimately, A History of the Bible argues that a thorough understanding of the history and context of its writing encourages religious communities to move away from the Bible's literal wording--which is impossible to determine--and focus instead on the broader meanings of scripture. |
| christianity before christ: Encyclopaedia Britannica Hugh Chisholm, 1910 This eleventh edition was developed during the encyclopaedia's transition from a British to an American publication. Some of its articles were written by the best-known scholars of the time and it is considered to be a landmark encyclopaedia for scholarship and literary style. |
The Origin of Christianity - Biblical Archaeology Society
Sep 12, 2024 · The ex Roman rev Vermes attended seminary in Hungary and Italy .but has mis-stated the case. “Christianity”, defined as a faith in Christ being the person of Jesus of …
Christianity Forum - - City-Data Forum
May 11, 2025 · Christianity Display Options: Showing threads 1 to 45 of 22586: Sorted By Sort Order. From The ...
When Did Christianity Begin to Spread? - Biblical Archaeology …
Nov 17, 2024 · Christianity began in the 1st century in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, ca. 30-33 C.E. (A.D.), and has existed continually ever since. Perhaps not always visibly in the eyes …
Evidence of Early Christianity in Northern Europe
Jan 3, 2025 · Excavations of a cemetery in the ancient Roman town of Nida, located in a suburb of modern Frankfurt, Germany, have revealed the earliest evidence for early Christianity north …
The Antonine Plague and the Spread of Christianity
Jan 13, 2024 · Christianity is one of the most fear-based religions known to man. As we all know, this is around the time the “gospels” were written. I see this time as the “foot in the door” …
The Catholic's Response to Martin Luther? - Christianity - - Page 3 ...
The Pentecostal brands of Evangelical Christianity seem to be particularly popular in such places. As the world watches the Vatican for the arrival of white smoke from the conclave to signify a …
The Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament
Jun 18, 2024 · Since Christianity began as a sect of Judaism, the scrolls are very important for understanding the earliest Christians and their writings—the New Testament. The Dead Sea …
The Split of Early Christianity and Judaism
Jan 16, 2024 · Christianity and Judaism, two of the world’s major religions, shared the same foundation—ancient Judaism. The two religions, however, eventually split in a series of …
Was Jesus a Jew? - Biblical Archaeology Society
May 20, 2025 · Christianity didn’t really take hold until some 200 years after his death, when Roman Emperor Constantine (Jewish mother) declared Christianity the official religion of the …
How did god come into existence? - Religion and Spirituality ...
May 23, 2025 · To those, who do not know, a thousand words is not enough. To those, who do, even one word is too much. Now, setting proverbs aside.
The Origin of Christianity - Biblical Archaeology Society
Sep 12, 2024 · The ex Roman rev Vermes attended seminary in Hungary and Italy .but has mis-stated the case. “Christianity”, defined as a faith in Christ being the person of Jesus of …
Christianity Forum - - City-Data Forum
May 11, 2025 · Christianity Display Options: Showing threads 1 to 45 of 22586: Sorted By Sort Order. From The ...
When Did Christianity Begin to Spread? - Biblical Archaeology …
Nov 17, 2024 · Christianity began in the 1st century in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, ca. 30-33 C.E. (A.D.), and has existed continually ever since. Perhaps not always visibly in the eyes …
Evidence of Early Christianity in Northern Europe
Jan 3, 2025 · Excavations of a cemetery in the ancient Roman town of Nida, located in a suburb of modern Frankfurt, Germany, have revealed the earliest evidence for early Christianity north …
The Antonine Plague and the Spread of Christianity
Jan 13, 2024 · Christianity is one of the most fear-based religions known to man. As we all know, this is around the time the “gospels” were written. I see this time as the “foot in the door” …
The Catholic's Response to Martin Luther? - Christianity - - Page 3 ...
The Pentecostal brands of Evangelical Christianity seem to be particularly popular in such places. As the world watches the Vatican for the arrival of white smoke from the conclave to signify a …
The Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament
Jun 18, 2024 · Since Christianity began as a sect of Judaism, the scrolls are very important for understanding the earliest Christians and their writings—the New Testament. The Dead Sea …
The Split of Early Christianity and Judaism
Jan 16, 2024 · Christianity and Judaism, two of the world’s major religions, shared the same foundation—ancient Judaism. The two religions, however, eventually split in a series of …
Was Jesus a Jew? - Biblical Archaeology Society
May 20, 2025 · Christianity didn’t really take hold until some 200 years after his death, when Roman Emperor Constantine (Jewish mother) declared Christianity the official religion of the …
How did god come into existence? - Religion and Spirituality ...
May 23, 2025 · To those, who do not know, a thousand words is not enough. To those, who do, even one word is too much. Now, setting proverbs aside.
