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The First Christian Centuries: Evangelical Women, Feminism and the Theological Academy
Contributor(s): McKechnie, Paul (Author)
ISBN: 0830826777     ISBN-13: 9780830826773
Publisher: IVP Academic
OUR PRICE:   $31.50  
Product Type: Paperback
Published: February 2002
Qty:
Annotation: Here is a scholarly examination by Paul McKechnie of select topics in understanding how early Christianity grew to become the religion of the Roman Empire by the fourth century. Topics include growth of the church, Christians in Caesar's palace, Gnosticism and more.
Additional Information
BISAC Categories:
- Religion | Christianity - History
- Religion | Christian Church - History
Dewey: 270.1
LCCN: 2001051564
Physical Information: 0.78" H x 6.1" W x 9.04" (0.85 lbs) 270 pages
Themes:
- Theometrics - Evangelical
- Religious Orientation - Christian
 
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc.
Publisher Description:
The first three centuries of the early church were a period of struggle, transition and growth. Recent attempts by historians and social scientists to understand this era have produced various and conflicting accounts. Indeed, some have sought to overturn the former consensus regarding which texts provide reliable evidence and how they should be interpreted. In The First Christian Centuries, Paul McKechnie, a classical scholar, examines some key issues in the current debate.
  • Which ancient sources are reliable?
  • What was the social makeup of the early Christian movement?
  • What can we determine about the growth rate and persecution of first-century Christians?
  • What do we know about the second generation of Christians?
  • How should we assess the reliability of our various sources from the second and third centuries?
  • What were the nature and extent of persecutions in the second and third centuries?
  • What were the long-term consequences of Paul's making converts within the household of Caesar?
  • Can we gain historical perspective on the diversity that traveled under the name Christian in the early centuries?
  • How were women regarded and what roles did they play?
  • And how was it that a Roman emperor, Constantine, was converted--and what were the implications for the Christian movement?
The value of McKechnie's study lies not in providing a comprehensive narrative of the origins and growth of the early church. Rather, it lies in critically examining key historical issues in sustained conversation with contemporary scholarship and the ancient sources. McKechnie will be valued by both students and scholars of early Christianity as an intelligent and informed companion who offers repeated and valuable insights into this critical era of Christian beginnings.

Contributor Bio(s): McKechnie, Paul: - Paul McKechnie teaches in the department of classics and ancient history at the University of Auckland in New Zealand.