Backgrounds of Early Christianity (Paperback)

~ (Author) "The time span for the study of the Hellenistic-Roman backgrounds of early Christianity is broadly from 330 B.C. to A.D. 330, from Alexander to Constantine..." (more)
Key Phrases: astral religion, ruler cult, civic cult, New York, New Testament, Old Testament (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Having long served as a standard introduction to the world of the early church, Everett Ferguson's "Backgrounds of Early Christianity" has been expanded and updated in this third edition. The book explores and unpacks 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 revisions of Ferguson's original material, updated bibliographies, and fresh discussions of first-century social life, of Gnosticism, and of the Dead Sea Scrolls and other Jewish literature.

Product Details

• Paperback: 648 pages
• Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; 3 edition (September 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802822215
• ISBN-13: 978-0802822215
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #149,920 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Accurate, honest, easy to read, February 3, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Backgrounds of Early Christianity (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!!

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive and Understandable, May 26, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Backgrounds of Early Christianity (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.

40 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great survey of what the world was like when Christ came, November 16, 1999

By	Marc Axelrod (Potter, Wi USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Backgrounds of Early Christianity (Paperback)

This isn't the easiest reading book in the world. But it is a wonderful bird's eye view of the cultural, political, religious, and social world in which Christianity came into being. You learn about the Romans, the Greeks, the Jewish people, and a myriad of other peoples who populated the Roman empire. This book is essential toward an understanding of the backgrounds of early Christianity.