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.

Each chapter ends with Further Reading (both Ancient Sources and Modern Works). Preface Abbreviations and Signs Chapter 1: Jesus Non-Christian Sources about Jesus Christian Sources about Jesus Word-of-Mouth Good News Written Good News The Synoptic Problem Mark and Matthew on Christology Mark and Matthew on the Disciples Jesus PART I: THE CONTEXTS OF EARLY CHRISTIANITY Timeline for First-Century Christianity Chapter 2: The Jewish Context of the Jesus Movement The Jews and Hellenization The Temple Synagogues Ordinary Judaism in Palestine Sects and Parties Diaspora ("Dispersion') Proselytes and God-Fearers Roman Rule and the Jews The Jewish War of 66-73 The Jewish War of 132-135 Chapter 3: The Greek and Roman Context of Early Christianity Official Cults Voluntary Cults Rebirth at Eleusis The Cult of Mithras The Cult of Isis The Cult of the Great Mother Astrology, Oracles, Magicians Philosophies Chapter 4: The Jesus Movement in the First Century Jewish Christianity Jewish Christians and Gentile Converts Jewish Christians and the Jewish Rebellions Later Jewish Christianities Gentile Christianities Paul and Gentile Christians Paul the Missionary Paul the Theologian PART II: CHRISTIANITY IN THE SECOND AND THIRD CENTURIES Timeline for the Second and Third Centuries A Note on Naming Christian Groups Chapter 5: Christian Diversity in the Second and Third Centuries Gnostic Christianities Marcionite Christianity Chapter 6: The Emergence of a Proto-Orthodox Christian Consensus: Bishop, Creed, and Canon of Scripture One Bishop, Elders, and Deacons/Deaconesses Creeds and Rules of Faith The Canon of Scripture A Case Study: The New Prophecy Chapter 7: Roman Society and the Christians Roman Law and the Christians The "Crowd" and the Christians The First Phase of Persecution (about 29-about 250) Nero and the Christians Pliny and the Christians Persecution at Lyons and Vienne The Second Phase of Persecution (250-260) The Emperor Decius (249-251) The Emperor Valerian (253-260) Chapter 8: Christian Intellectuals Justin Martyr (about 100-about 165) Origen (about 185-251) Origen and the Scriptures Origen the Theologian Chapter 9: Proto-Orthodox Christian Communities in the Third Century The Baptized Faithful The Catechumens ("Those under Instruction") Penitents, Apostates, Excommunicates Christian Buildings before Constantine Christian Art before Constantine Worship before Constantine Baptism Eucharist Ordination Christian Customs PART III: THE CREATION OF A CHRISTIAN EMPIRE Timeline of Later Christianity Chapter 10: Diocletian, the Great Persecution, and the Conversion of Constantine The Emperor Diocletian (Ruled 284-305) Constantine (Ruled 306-337) Chapter 11: The Christian Empire and the Imperial Church Julian 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 Empire Chapter 12: The Government of the Church The Local Bishop The Bishops in Council The Apostolic Bishoprics The Bishop of Rome The Emperor The Eastern Empire: Continuity The Western Empire: Discontinuity Chapter 13: The Trinitarian Controversy Schisms The Origins of the Trinitarian Controversy The Holy Spirit The Survival of Arianism Chapter 14: Jesus, the God/Man Nestorianism Monophysitism The Council of Chalcedon (451) PART IV: LIFE IN THE CHRISTIAN EMPIRE Timeline for Later Christianity Chapter 15: Worship and Piety in the Christian Empire Liturgy Church Buildings Christian Time: The Liturgical Calendar The Holy Dead Pilgrimage Chapter 16: The Ascetic Movement Anthony (about 251-356) Pachomius (290-345) Basil of Caesarea (about 339-379) Monasticism in the West Benedict of Nursia (about 480-about 545) Criticism of Ascetics The Impact of Asceticism Within Christianity A Case Study: Clergy, Laity and Sexual Activity Marriage of the Clergy before The Fourth Century Marriage of the Clergy after The Fourth Century Chapter 17: Fourth- and Fifth-Century Christian Thinkers Ambrose (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) Pagans Chapter 18: Conversion and Christianization Conversion before the Fourth Century Conversion after Constantine Christianization after Constantine Conversion in Hard Times The Eastern Empire The Western Empire The Conversion of the Franks Conversion outside the Empire's Borders Armenia Axum/Ethiopia Ireland Summary Chapter 19: The Eastern and Western Churches Go Their Separate Ways Bishop 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