Long serving as a standard introduction to the world of the early church, Backgrounds of Early Christianity is now available in an expanded, up-to-date third edition. Featuring 95 photographs of the ancient world, this book explores--now in even greater depth -- the Roman, Greek, and Jewish political, social, religious, and philosophical backgrounds necessary for a good historical understanding of the New Testament and the early church. New to this edition are substantial revisions of Everett Ferguson's original material, an updated bibliography, and fresh discussions of social life in the first-century, of Gnosticism, and of the Dead Sea Scrolls and other Jewish literature.
Backgrounds of Early Christianity
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"The vast scope of the book and the labor involved reflect the author's commendable erudition.... Imaginatively and painstakingly executed."
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
100 of 103 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I bought this one on a whim, thought it might have an interesting section or two. I ended up reading the thing cover to cover.
In a field where lots of books are hard to read because they're poorly written, this one is exceptionally well organized, clearly written and easy to read.
It also covers all the subject, from Greco-Roman political history, through Hellenistic-Roman religions and philosophies, on to an excellent section on Judaism and another on early Christianity. Even if you're not an early Church buff, the book is a good introduction to ancient culture.
It's honest. It's written by a proff at a Christian university, but it doesn't slant the scholarship. For eg it gives a good accounting of both sides of the modern scholarship on the contributions of pagan Mystery Religions to the Church, and the _testimonium Falvianum_ is treated fairly -- and dismissed as a later interpolation.
Each section lists a number of books for further reading -- very useful.
A great book!!
30 of 34 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This book is an excellent introduction to the historical, cultural, social, economic, and political backgrounds of the times before, during, and after the beginnings of Christianity, i.e., from 330 B.C. to A.D. 330, from Alexander the Great to Constantine. It superbly complements the study of the New Testament. It has helped me attempt to make concepts in the Gospels concrete which, at first, seemed to be abstact.
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is THE book on NT backgrounds. Ferguson gives you a broad sweep of nearely everything you need to know when studying hte NT and an extensive bibliography of additional resources for picking up the rest. I read this book early on in my carreer and still refer to it almost weekly. In the more specialized material I now study, his work is the basis that allows me to understand it. In short, if you read nothing else on NT backgrounds, read this. If your going to enter into advanced study of NT backgrounds, read this first. I even reccomend this book to 'lay' churchmembers without any theological training. It is simply the best.
The next best thing to Fergusson is C. K. Barrett, "NT Background: Selected Documents." This is a collection of excerpts from 1st Century primary sources. Still, READ FERGUSON FIRST!
The next best thing to Fergusson is C. K. Barrett, "NT Background: Selected Documents." This is a collection of excerpts from 1st Century primary sources. Still, READ FERGUSON FIRST!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Informative
I had to purchase this book for class but it is a keeper. The book looks at the world of the early Christians from different perspectives.
Published 2 months ago by Angela Corkern
5.0 out of 5 stars
Added flavor to the New Testament.
This volume adds enormous flavor to actually reading the New Testament. Additionally, if you endeavor to interpret the New Testament it would be irresponsible and impossible to do... Read more
Published 2 months ago by C. Larsen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another winner from Ferguson
Everett Ferguson is a scholar known for researching early Christian documents to gain insight into early Christian thought and practices. Read more
Published 22 months ago by haskell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent transaction, good response
The book came in great shape, as advertised, and relatively quickly for an Amazon purchase (frankly, Amazon can sometimes take a little while to ship book orders, longer than some... Read more
Published on April 30, 2011 by Fred Kilgallin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great!!!
I thought the book I bought was in great condition! It wasn't delivered too late and the item was in terrific condition.
Published on January 3, 2011 by 808
4.0 out of 5 stars
Informative
This book contains a lot of information you wouldn't learn in church. Unless of course your church is a really cool one with a great love for history and Bible in Context. Read more
Published on November 30, 2010 by Van
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Reference Source
This book is good for extensive raw info about the cultural setting from which Christianity emerged--actually, the scope of his topic is so broad I wondered if the title shouldn't... Read more
Published on September 19, 2010 by Chuck
5.0 out of 5 stars
Historical Backgrounds of Christianity
In reading and studying God's Word (the Bible), it is important to have an understanding of the time and culture in which it was written. Read more
Published on March 25, 2010 by Theresa A. Konkel
4.0 out of 5 stars
"Backgrounds" Delivers
Today I finished reading Ferguson's well rounded and extensive collection of perspectives into the culture leading up to the writing of the New Testament (620 pages). Read more
Published on February 23, 2009 by T. Havlik
5.0 out of 5 stars
Background To New Testament Times
This work, now in its third edition, remains the best and most comprehensive textbook available about the world in which the New Testament was born. Read more
Published on September 14, 2008 by Steve Jackson
Citations (learn more)
84
books
cite this book:
See all 84 books citing this book
- The Letters to the Thessalonians (Pillar New Testament Commentary) by Gene L. Green on 11 pages
- The Germanization of Early Medieval Christianity: A Sociohistorical Approach to Religious Transformation by James C. Russell on page 69, page 70, and Back Matter
- The Story of Israel: A Biblical Theology by C. Marvin Pate on page 112, and Back Matter
- The New Testament: Its Background and Message by Thomas Lea on page 66, and page 608
- An Introduction to the New Testament and the Origins of Christianity (Introduction to Religion) by Delbert Burkett on page 30, and page 89
See all 84 books citing this book
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