A Short History Of Christianity In The Apostolic Age Classic Reprint

Excerpt from A Short History of Christianity, in the Apostolic Age The aim of this book is to furnish Bible students a guide and companion in their investigation of the apostolic age. The author, cherishing that same ideal of thorough, constructive study of the Bible which dominates the former volumes of this series, has endeavored to do for the earliest period of church history what Professors Burton and Mathews have done for the life of Christ. As in that volume, so in this, the needs of students in academies and colleges, and in the advanced classes of Sunday schools, have been constantly regarded. This work has been done with a conviction that the simple facts about the gospel in the first Christian generation are as interesting as a great imaginative poem, as essential to a liberal education as a knowledge of Greek history in the time of Pericles or of English history in the reign of Henry VIII, and more inspiring, more illuminating as regards the very spirit of Jesus, than the facts of any subsequent period in the long history of the Christian church. In order that one may get the best results from the use of this book, it is urged that the passages of Scripture referred to in the synopsis at the head of each chapter be read carefully before reading the chapter, and then, after the chapter has been read, be studied again with even more care. The book wishes to be a guide to a certain region of early Christian history, but to the fulfilment of this end the student must enter that region for himself and must dwell in it with open eyes and open mind. Teachers who may use this book will, it is earnestly hoped, make plain to their pupils the necessity of securing first-hand acquaintance with the New Testament documents on which it is based. The book is divided into Parts, Chapters, and Sections, the limits of which are determined by the nature and relations of the events and literature to be studied. Teachers are advised to assign lessons according to their judgment of the ability of the pupils to do the work, always including with the sections assigned for study the questions that pertain to them. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from History of Christianity in the Apostolic Age The scope of the present volume is sufficiently indi cated by its title. It has been my endeavor in writing a history of Christianity in the Apostolic Age to treat the theme as a unit, and to trace the development so far as possible in its totality. The volume necessarily contains much that falls properly within the province of special works upon New Testament literature, exegesis, or the ology; for the Apostolic Age is the age of the New Tes tament, and in the pages of the latter are found the thoughts and deeds of the leading actors in the history. But it has been my constant aim to subordinate all such special subjects to the common end, and to deal with them only in so far as they'constitute a vital part of the larger whole. This aim, I hope, will serve to explain the arrangement and to some extent the selection of material. At the same time, there are some matters, not vitally connected with the development as a whole, a discussion of which is looked for in a work on the Apostolic Age, and which I have not felt at liberty, in view of the gen eral purpose of the series of which this book forms a part, to neglect altogether; and so in the selection of material I have departed occasionally from my own ideal. But even in such cases the attempt has been made to keep the main subject well to the fore, and to let it control the entire treatment. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

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 was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. 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. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. 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.

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 was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. 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. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. 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.

Excerpt from The Early Years of Christianity: A Comprehensive History, of the First Three Centuries of the Christian Church This Volume, like the preceding, has been specially prepared for the English Edition. Divided into three sections, it yet forms one whole, for its one theme is the great conflict of Primitive Christianity with Paganism. The first section gives the narrative of the missions and persecutions of the Church; the second treats of its most illustrious representatives, and brings out their distinctive characteristics; it is entitled The Fathers of the Church of the Second and Third Centuries. The third section describes the great controversial conflict of Christianity, and contains a complete outline of the Apology of the Early Church. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from The Apostolic Age: A Study of the Early Church, and Its Achievements In undertaking to present the history of the Apostolic Age in a volume of moderate size, I have had to limit myself strictly as regards description and discussion. The restriction upon descriptive writing I do not regret To picture the view from the Areopagus or to describe the monuments of ancient Athens, sheds little light upon Paul's labours in that city. But I wish it had been possible to discuss more fully the mooted points in apostolic history, which are many. The temptation to do so, in footnotes if not in the text, was strong; but I have kept to the rule of simply stating my conclusions without going into all that might be said against them. Lest this should make me seem at times dogmatic, I wish to say that I have ever recognized the authority of the great scholars, and shaped my statements after careful consideration of what they set forth. While I have been indebted constantly to those who have written before me, I have rarely made acknowledgment of that debt. Often it would be impossible to do so; for after a quarter of a century spent in studying and teaching the Apostolic Age, one is puzzled to trace the source of many of his most helpful ideas. Indeed, every writer upon a Biblical subject "is like unto a man that is a householder, who bringeth out of his treasure things new and old" (Matt. 13:52). The Apostolic Age was the great missionary ago of the church, and should be studied as such. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.