000			03624nam a22003137a 4500
003			AUA.1
005			20160417103148.0
008			150501t xxu||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d
010			_a2003278233
020			_a0802822215
040			_cJTL
050			_aBR129 _b.F47 2003
100			_aFerguson, Everett, _d1933- _949622
245			_aBackgrounds of early Christianity / _cEverett Ferguson.
250			_a3rd ed.
260			_aGrand Rapids, Mich. : _bWilliam B. Eerdmans Pub., _cc2003.
300			_axxii, 648 p. : _b ill., 1 map ; _c25 cm.
504			_aIncludes bibliographical references and indexes.
505			_aContents:
505			_a 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?
520			_aSummary:
520			_a "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.
650			_aChristianity _xOrigin. _949623
650			_aPhilosophy, Ancient. _949624
650			_aJudaism _vHistory _xPost-exilic period, 586 B.C.-210 A.D. _949625
650			_aRome _vHistory _xRepublic, 510-30 B.C. _949626
942			_2lcc _cBOOK _hBR 129 _i.F47 2003
999			_c14001 _d14001