The First Christian Centuries
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...
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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.
Preface9Introduction: Christians from a distant perspective111First-century Christianity: the source debate212First-generation Christianity393Initial growth, incipient persecution554The second Christian generation675Second- and third-century Christianity: another source debate936Persecution and anti-Christian polemic1097An enclave: Caesar's palace1378Gnosticism and Christian diversity1519Women and Christianity19110The Great Persecution and Constantine217Primary-source finding list241Bibliography249Index263
