Full Description
The book puts the current interest in historical Jesus research into a proper historical context, highlighting Gnosticism's lasting influence on early Christianity and making the provocative claim that nearly all Christian Churches are in some way descended from Roman Christianity. Breaking with the accepted wisdom of Christianity's origins, the revised history it puts forward challenges the assumptions of Church and secular historians, biblical critics and general readers alike, with profound repercussions for scholarship, belief and practice.
Contents
Introduction.- What Really is Religion?.- The Study of The Jewish Past.- The Study of The Christian Past.- The Roman Context of Early Christianity.- The Jesus Movement Communities in Palestine.- Christianity in Rome.- The Roman Connection of Peter.- The Isaac Tradition.- The Gospel of Mark.- The Nine Markan Roman Traditions.- The Christian Gnostics.- Roman Christianity Returns to the East.- The Sources for a Study Of Paul.- The Three Pauls.- Johannine Christianity: John of Patmos.- John's Gospel in Western Asia Minor.- The Roman Gospels of Matthew and Luke.- Later Roman Influence on Christianity.- Conclusion.- Appendix 1: Identifying the Beloved Disciple.- Bibliography.
