03624nam a22003137a 4500 AUA.1 20160417103148.0 150501t xxu||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d 2003278233 0802822215 JTL BR129 .F47 2003 Ferguson, Everett, 1933- 49622 Backgrounds of early Christianity / Everett Ferguson. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids, Mich. : William B. Eerdmans Pub., c2003. xxii, 648 p. : ill., 1 map ; 25 cm. Includes bibliographical references and indexes. Contents: Introduction : perspectives on parallels -- Political history. Near East before Alexander ; Alexander the Great ; The Hellenistic kingdoms ; Rome ; Administration of the empire ; Political connections of the New Testament -- Society and culture. The Roman military ; Social classes ; Slavery ; Roman citizenship ; Roman law ; Social relationships ; Social morality ; Economic life ; Clothing and appearance ; 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 : general characteristics ; 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 ; Neophythagoreanism ; 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? Summary: "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. Christianity Origin. 49623 Philosophy, Ancient. 49624 Judaism History Post-exilic period, 586 B.C.-210 A.D. 49625 Rome History Republic, 510-30 B.C. 49626 lcc BOOK BR 129 .F47 2003 14001 14001 0 0 lcc 0 0 Books AUA.1 AUA.1 GS 2015-05-01 Bought by JTL 28.02 AUA017003 22 3 BR 129 .F47 2003 AUA017003 2026-08-24 09:17:37 2026-08-21 28.02 2015-05-01 BOOK