Christianity and the Roman Empire: Background Texts [Paperback]

Ralph Martin Novak (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2001

The rise of Christianity during the first four centuries of the common era was the pivotal development in Western history and profoundly influenced the later direction of all world history. Yet, for all that has been written on early Christian history, the primary sources for this history are widely scattered, difficult to find, and generally unknown to lay persons and to historians not specially trained in the field. In Christianity and the Roman Empire Ralph Novak interweaves these primary sources with a narrative text and constructs a single continuous account of these crucial centuries. The primary sources are selected to emphasize the manner in which the government and the people of the Roman Empire perceived Christians socially and politically; the ways in which these perceptions influenced the treatment of Christians within the Roman Empire; and the manner in which Christians established their political and religious dominance of the Roman Empire after Constantine the Great came to power in the early fourth century CE. Ralph Martin Novak holds a Masters Degree in Roman History from the University of Chicago. For: Undergraduates; seminarians; general audiences>

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This work would be a fine choice for an introductory course on the history of early Christianity especially when used in tandem with a collection of texts that focus on theological and liturgical developments (e.g., M. Wiles and M. Santer, Documents in Early Christian Thought, 1975)." -- C. Thomas McCollough, Centre College, Religious Studies Review Volume 28 Number 2 / April 2002 (C. Thomas McCollough )

"An excellent collection of sources for use in courses on the history of early Christianity down to the mid-fifth century. In addition to the balanced and judicious choice of texts, Novak has written an informative historical narrative that will enable students to better understand each original text."--David Dungan, Distinguished Professor-Humanities, University of Tennessee (David Dungan )

"Ralph Martin Novak’s sourcebook of background texts on Christianity and the Roman Empire offers the reader a wealth of primary source readings in the first four centuries of Christianity. The straightforward ongoing narrative of events ties together the various readings. This is an excellent exercise in historical reading that will inform and inspire any one interested in early Christianity set amid its sociopolitical environment."--Thomas C. Oden, Henry Anson Buttz Professor, Drew University, Madison, NJ (Thomas C. Oden )

"Primary sources for the history of the first four centuries of Christianity within the context of the Roman world are difficult to find, widely scattered, and general unknown outside of a specialized cadre of scholarship. Now Ralph Novak interweaves these primary sources with a narrative text in Christianity and The Roman Empire: Background Texts that provides the reader with a single, continuous account of these crucial first centuries of Christianity’s development. Through the use of primary sources, Novak shows how the government and people of Rome perceived the treatment of Christians within the empire, as well as the manner in which Christians established their political and religious dominance after Constantine the Great came to power. Christianity and The Roman Empire is a superbly researched, written and presented contribution to the study of early Christian history during the first four centuries of the Common Era." -- Thomas G. Whelan, reviewing for Internet Book Watch, May 2001 (Thomas G. Whelan Midwest Book Review, The )

"Novak's excellent book grew out of his own teaching of many adult classes and forums in Christian communities. This excellent, well-organized work brings the reader into the presence of many of the texts that help us discern the relationship of the earliest believers to the Roman world in which man of them lived."--Sarah Henrich, Luther Seminary,St. Paul Minnesota, Fall 2001, Word and World. (Sarah Henrich Word and World )

"The book has a marvelous cast, even leaving aside the religious figures….Novak's profusely documented work helps place their military and diplomatic attainments within th ebroader political and cultural framework of the Roman world….[A] worthwhile read for anyone with an interest in the history of the Roman Empire." StrategyPage.com A.A. Nofi, SSG

"As a result, this text is a remarkable combination: it is both an excellent sourcebook and a good introductory survey of early Christianity in its Roman political and socioeconomic context. Christianity and the Roman Empire: Background Texts is an excellent resource for undergraduates, seminarians, and others who want both an introductory survey and a sourcebook for the study of early Christianity."--John B. Faulkenberry Miller, Princeton Theological Seminary, Review of Biblical Literature, 4/23/2002 (John B. Faulkenberry Miller, Princeton Theol. Sem. Review Of Biblical Literature )

"This work would be a fine choice for an introductory course on the history of early Christianity especially when used in tandem with a collection of texts that focus on theological and liturgical developments (e.g., M. Wiles and M. Santer, Documents in Early Christian Thought, 1975)." -- C. Thomas McCollough, Centre College, Religious Studies Review Volume 28 Number 2 / April 2002 (, )

"An excellent collection of sources for use in courses on the history of early Christianity down to the mid-fifth century. In addition to the balanced and judicious choice of texts, Novak has written an informative historical narrative that will enable students to better understand each original text."--David Dungan, Distinguished Professor-Humanities, University of Tennessee (, )

"Ralph Martin Novak’s sourcebook of background texts on Christianity and the Roman Empire offers the reader a wealth of primary source readings in the first four centuries of Christianity. The straightforward ongoing narrative of events ties together the various readings. This is an excellent exercise in historical reading that will inform and inspire any one interested in early Christianity set amid its sociopolitical environment."--Thomas C. Oden, Henry Anson Buttz Professor, Drew University, Madison, NJ (, )

"Primary sources for the history of the first four centuries of Christianity within the context of the Roman world are difficult to find, widely scattered, and general unknown outside of a specialized cadre of scholarship. Now Ralph Novak interweaves these primary sources with a narrative text in Christianity and The Roman Empire: Background Texts that provides the reader with a single, continuous account of these crucial first centuries of Christianity’s development. Through the use of primary sources, Novak shows how the government and people of Rome perceived the treatment of Christians within the empire, as well as the manner in which Christians established their political and religious dominance after Constantine the Great came to power. Christianity and The Roman Empire is a superbly researched, written and presented contribution to the study of early Christian history during the first four centuries of the Common Era." -- Thomas G. Whelan, reviewing for Internet Book Watch, May 2001 (, Midwest Book Review, The )

"Novak's excellent book grew out of his own teaching of many adult classes and forums in Christian communities. This excellent, well-organized work brings the reader into the presence of many of the texts that help us discern the relationship of the earliest believers to the Roman world in which man of them lived."--Sarah Henrich, Luther Seminary,St. Paul Minnesota, Fall 2001, Word and World. (, Word and World )

"As a result, this text is a remarkable combination: it is both an excellent sourcebook and a good introductory survey of early Christianity in its Roman political and socioeconomic context. Christianity and the Roman Empire: Background Texts is an excellent resource for undergraduates, seminarians, and others who want both an introductory survey and a sourcebook for the study of early Christianity."--John B. Faulkenberry Miller, Princeton Theological Seminary, Review of Biblical Literature, 4/23/2002 (, Review Of Biblical Literature )

From the Publisher

In Christianity and the Roman Empire Ralph Novak interweaves primary sources from the first four centuries of the common era with a narrative text that constructs a single continous accounts of these crucial centuries.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Trinity Press Int'l (February 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563383470
• ISBN-13: 978-1563383472
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,296,618 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ..., April 20, 2001

By 

Ralph M. Novak, Jr. (Austin, Texas USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Christianity and the Roman Empire: Background Texts (Paperback)

Christianity and the Roman Empire:Background Texts is designed for undergraduates,seminarians, and the general reader in early Christian history. The book contains approximately 250 selections from literary texts and archeological materials dating to the period of 27 B.C. to 416 A.D. These materials were selected to explore (i) the ways in which the early Christians were erceived and treated by the imperial government and the many peoples of the Roman Empire, (ii) the social and political interactions between Christians and the surrounding pagan culture, and (iii) the means the Christian emperors of the 4th century used to consolidate Christian dominance in the social and political life of the Roman Empire. Unlike most source books, however, which merely reproduce the sources or discuss only aspects of the individual sources, in Christianity and the Roman Empire: Background Texts the ancient texts are inserted at the appropriate places in a historical narrative of the history of the rise of Christianity in the Roman World during the first four centuries A.D. The narrative provides both an overall historical context for the sources and specific discussions of the relevance of the sources to the larger narrative history, while the primary sources allow the reader to examine the evidence used to reconstruct this history. The ancient materials presented in Christianity and the Roman Empire: Background Texts are generally reproduced at greater length than commonly found in most source books. A primary goal of the narrative text is to direct the reader along the path of the majority historical consensus without being so intrusive as to obscure the majesty and power of the ancient materials themselves. I have attempted to present the materials in such a way that this book could serve as both a useful adjunct to the work of other scholars in the field and as a stand-alone history for the non-specialist reader. Christianity and the Roman Empire: Background Texts consists of approximately 320pages of text, organized into six chapters and 5 appendices. Chapter One is a brief introduction to basic historical methodology for dealing with literary texts. Chapters Two through Five contain a chronologically organized historical narrative, with ancient sources,describing the rise of Christianity during first four centuries A.D. Chapter Six is a case study of the way in which Christians came to dominate the political life of Alexandria, Egypt during the period of approximately 350-416 A.D. The five appendices examine topics more appropriately examined on a topical rather than a chronological basis, and cover the subjects of Rome's relationship with Judaism during this same period, pagan accusations of Christian immorality, the worship of the Roman emperor, the formulation of the Nicene Creed, and the evidence concerning the dates for the birth and death of Jesus. The book has both primary source and subject indexes.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One resource book not many!, May 25, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Christianity and the Roman Empire: Background Texts (Paperback)

This is a great resource book for students of the first centuries of Christianity. The selections come from sources with differing points of view (Christian, Jewish, Pagan and secular) and the author gives enough background that you understand the possibility of biases in the ancient authors. Most useful for lay persons who do not have ready access to a good library of religous sources.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Includes the use of primary sources, May 23, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Christianity and the Roman Empire: Background Texts (Paperback)

Primary sources for the history of the first four centuries of Christianity within the context of the Roman world are difficult to find, widely scattered, and general unknown outside of a specialized cadre of scholarship. Now Ralph Novak interweaves these primary sources with a narrative text in Christianity And The Roman Empire: Background Texts that provides the reader with a single, continuous account of these crucial first centuries of Christianity's development. Through the use of primary sources, Novak shows how the government and people of Rome perceived the treatment of Christians within the empire, as well as the manner in which Christians established their political and religious dominae after Constantine the great came to power. Christianity And The Roman Empire is a superbly researched, written and presented contribution to the study of early Christian history during the first four centuries of the Common Era.