Christianity in the Roman Empire: Key Figures, Beliefs, and Practices of the Early Church (AD 100–300)

by Robert E. Winn

Publisher:

Hendrickson

, 2018

Overview

Christianity in the Roman Empire is a topical and biographical introduction to Christianity before Constantine. While its focus is the historical development of the proto-orthodox community, Robert Winn aims to bridge the gap between contemporary Christians and those who lived in the Roman Empire. To do this, his chapters discuss particular topics such as prayer, biblical interpretation, worship, and persecution, as well as prominent and controversial individuals such as Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, Melito of Sardis, and Tertullian. Part One addresses the world of the apostolic fathers, Part Two addresses hostility to Christianity and the response of Christians to this antagonism, and Part Three addresses doctrinal and communal issues of the third century.

The book will pique readers’ interest and provide them with a deeper appreciation for the religious identity of early Christians in the Roman Empire: what they believed and how they lived.

Key Features

• Focuses on the spiritual lives of early Christians
• Provides discussion questions and suggestions for further study
• Written primarily for use in classrooms and small groups

Contents

Part One: Christianity in the Year 100

• Christians, Jews, and Romans in the First Century
• New Way of Life: Didache and the Epistle of Barnabas
• Clement of Rome and the Church of Corinth
• Ignatius of Antioch and True Christianity
• Worship and Church Order in the Year 100

Part Two: Christianity in a Hostile World (100–250)

• Celsus, a Critic of Christianity
• Justin Martyr, a Defender of Christianity
• The Persecution of Christians
• The Martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicity
• Cyprian of Carthage and the Unity of the Church

Part Three: Faith and Practice in the Third Century

• Reading the Bible with Early Christians
• Irenaeus of Lyons and True Christianity
• Tertullian of Carthage and True Christianity
• Prayer and the Spiritual Life of Early Christians
• Eusebius of Caesarea: After Two Hundred Years

Top Highlights

“Third, early Christians believed with good reason that they were up against a hostile world” (Page 8)

Product Details

• Title: Christianity in the Roman Empire: Key Figures, Beliefs, and Practices of the Early Church (AD 100–300)
• Author: Robert E. Winn
• Publisher: Hendrickson
• Publication Date: 2018
• Pages: 190
• Resource Type: Introduction
• Topic: Church History

About Robert E. Winn

Robert E. Winn is a Professor of History at Northwestern College (Orange City, Iowa) and the author of Eusebius of Emesa: Church and Theology in the Mid-Fourth Century.