Early History Of The Christian Church

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.

"Tracing the astonishing transformation that the early Christian church underwent - from sporadic niches of Christian communities surviving in the wake of a horrific crucifixion to sanctioned alliance with the state - Charles Freeman shows how freedom of thought was curtailed by the development of the concept of faith. The imposition of 'correct belief' and an institutional framework that enforced orthodoxy were both consolidating and stifling. Uncovering the church's relationships with Judaism, Gnosticism, Greek philosophy and Greco-Roman society, Freeman offers dramatic new accounts of Paul, the resurrection, and the church fathers and emperors."--BOOK JACKET.

Recent research has made a strong case for the view that Early Christian communities, sociologically considered, functioned as voluntary religious associations. This is similar to the practice of many other cultic associations in the Greco-Roman world of the first century CE. Building upon this new approach, along with a critical interpretation of all available sources, this book discusses the social and religio-historical background of the weekly gatherings of Christians and presents a fresh reconstruction of how the weekly gatherings originated and developed in both form and content. The topics studied here include the origins of the observance of Sunday as the weekly Christian feast-day, the shape and meaning of the weekly gatherings of the Christian communities, and the rise of customs such as preaching, praying, singing, and the reading of texts in these meetings.

This classic includes the following chapters: Period I. From the Beginnings to the Gnostic Crisis Section I. The General Situation Section II. The Jewish Background Section III. Jesus and the Disciples Section IV. The Palestinian Christian Communities Section V. Paul and Gentile Christianity Section VII. The Interpretation of Jesus Section VIII. Gentile Christianity of the Second Century Section IX. Christian Organization Section X. Relations of Christianity to the Roman Government Section XI. The Apologists Period II. From the Gnostic Crisis to Constantine Section II. Marcion Section III. Montanism Section IV. The Catholic Church Section V. The Growing Importance of Rome Section VI. IRENiEus Section VII. Tertullian and Cyprian Section VIII. The Triumph of the Logos Christology in the West Section IX. The Alexandrian School Section X. Church and State From 180 To 260 Section XI. The Constitutional Development of the Church Section XII. Public Worship and Sacred Seasons Section XIII. Baptism Section XIV. The Lord’S Supper Section XV. Forgiveness of Sins Section XVI. The Composition of the Church and the Higher and Lower Morality Section XVII. Rest and Growth, 260-303 Section XVIII. Rival Religious Forces Section XIX. The Final Struggle Period III. The Imperial State Church Section I. The Changed Situation Section II. The Arian Controversy to the Death of Constantine Section III. Controversy Under Constantine’S Sons Section IV. The Later Nicene Struggle Section V. Akian Missions and the Germanic Invasions Section VI. The Growth of the Papacy Section VII. Monasticism Section VIII. Ambrose and Chrysostom Section IX. The Christological Controversies Section X. The East Divided Section XI. Catastrophes and Further Controversies in the East Section XII. The Constitutional Development of the Church Section XIII. Public Worship and Sacred Seasons Section XIV. Lower Christianity Section XV. Some Western Characteristics Section XVI. Jerome Section XVII. Augustine Section XVIII. The Pelagian Controversy Section XIX. Semi-Pelagianism Section XX. Gregory the Great Period IV. The Middle Ages to the Close of the Investiture Controversy Section I. Missions in the British Islands Section II. Continental Missions and Papal Growth Section III. The Franks and the Papacy Section IV. Charlemagne Section V. Ecclesiastical Institutions Section VI. Collapsing Empire and Rising Papacy Section VII. Papal Decline and Renewal by the Revived Empire Section VIII. Reform Movements Section IX. The Reform Party Secures the Papacy Section X. The Papacy Breaks With the Empire Section XI. Hildebrand and Henry Iv Section XII. The Struggle Ends in Compromise Section XIII. The Greek Church After the Picture Controversy Section XIV. The Spread of the Church Period V. The Later Middle Ages Section I. The Crusades Section II. New Religious Movements Section III. Antichurchly Sects. Cathari and Wal-Denses. The Inquisition Section IV. The Dominicans and Franciscans Section V. Early Scholasticism Section VI. The Universities Section VII. High Scholasticism and Its Theology Section VIII. The Mystics Section IX. Missions and Defeats Section X. The Papacy at Its Height and Its Decline Section XI. The Papacy in Avignon, Criticism. The Schism Section XII. Wyclif and Hus Section XIII. The Reforming Councils Section XIV. The Italian Renaissance and Its Popes Section XV. The New National Powers Section XVI. Renaissance and Other Influences North of the Alps Period VI. The Reformation Section I. The Lutheran Revolution Section II. Separations and Divisions Section III. The Swiss Revolt Section IV. The Anabaptists Section V. German Protestantism Established Section VI. The Scandinavian Lands Section VII. Revolt in French Switzerland and Geneva Before Calvin Section IX. The English Revolt

This history of the early Christian church provides a detailed look at the religion's development during its formative years. Duchesne's research is thorough and provides a valuable resource for scholars of early Christianity. 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.

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.