Backgrounds of Early Christianity

by Everett Ferguson

Publisher:

Eerdmans

, 2003

Overview

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

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Key Features

• Unpacks Roman, Greek, and Jewish political, social, religious, and philosophical backgrounds
• Includes revisions of Ferguson’s original material
• Provides a good historical understanding of the New Testament

Contents

• Political History
• Society and Culture
• Hellenistic–Roman Religions
• Hellenistic–Roman Philosophies
• Judaism
• Christianity in the Ancient World

Praise for the Print Edition

The text is excellent—rich and amazingly detailed. A standard textbook, it would also be a good addition to a parish library.

—Current in Theology and Mission

Product Details

• Title: Backgrounds of Early Christianity
• Author: Everett Ferguson
• Edition: 3rd
• Publisher: Eerdmans
• Publication Date: 2003
• Pages: 672
• Christian Group: Evangelicals
• Resource Type: Topical
• Topic: Early Church

About Everett Ferguson

Everett Ferguson (1933–) received his Ph.D. from Harvard University and served on the faculty of Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas, beginning in 1962, where he taught church history and Greek. He is now professor emeritus in its College of Biblical Studies and distinguished scholar-in-residence. Although he retired from full-time teaching in 1990 to devote himself to research, he occasionally teaches a few classes at ACU. He is the author of many books, including Backgrounds of Early Christianity.