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2nd ed. (1993)

3rd ed. (2003)

Backgrounds of Early Christianity (1987) is a book by Everett Ferguson.

Abstract

"Having long served as a standard introduction to the world of the early church, Everett Fergusons 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 Fergusons original material, updated bibliographies, and fresh discussions of first-century social life, of Gnosticism, and of the Dead Sea Scrolls and other Jewish literature."--Publisher's description

Editions

Published in Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1987 / 2nd ed. 1993 / 3rd ed. 2003.

• Backgrounds of Early Christianity, 2nd ed. (1993 Ferguson), book

• Backgrounds of Early Christianity, 3rd ed. (2003 Ferguson), book

Translations

• Ch`odae Gyohoe baegyongsa (1993 Ferguson / Park), book (Korean ed.)

Contents

Political History -- Near East Before Alexander -- Alexander the Great -- The Hellenistic Kingdoms -- Rome -- Administration of the Empire -- Society and Culture -- The Roman Military -- Social Classes -- Slavery -- Roman Citizenship -- Roman Law -- Social Morality -- Economic Life -- Entertainment -- Education -- Literature and Language -- Art and Architecture -- Clubs and Associations -- Hellenistic-Roman Religions -- Ancient Greek Religion -- Ancient Roman Religion -- Religion in Hellenistic-Roman TImes -- Domestic and Rural Religion -- Civic Cults -- Ruler Cult -- Personal Religion -- Greek Mysteries and Eastern Religions -- Gnosticism, Hermetic Literature, Chaldaean Oracles -- Later Developments: Monotheism and Sun Worship -- Hellenistic-Roman Philosophies -- Sophists and Socrates -- Plato and the Academy to the First Century -- Aristotle and the Peripatetics -- Skepticism -- Cynicism -- Stoicism -- Epicureanism -- Eclecticism -- Neopythagoreanism -- Middle Platonism -- Plotinus and Neoplatonism -- Judaism -- Jewish History, 538 B.C. to A.D. 200 -- Jews in the Early Roman Empire -- Jewish Literature and Other Sources in the Hellenistic and Roman Periods -- Parties and Sects -- Beliefs and Practices -- Organization and Institutions -- Christianity in the Ancient World -- Literary References to Christianity in Non-Christian Sources -- Archaeological Remains Bearing on Early Christian History -- Some Claimed Archaeological Remains of Early Christianity -- Attitudes of Pagans Toward Christians -- The Legal Status of Christianity -- Hindrances to the Acceptance of Christianity -- Religious Rivals -- Factors Favorable to Christianity -- What was Unique in Christianity?

External links