The ancient Mediterranean teemed with gods. For centuries, a practical religious pluralism prevailed. How, then, did one particular god come to dominate the politics and piety of the late Roman Empire? In Ancient Christianities, Paula Fredriksen traces the evolution of early Christianity鈥攐r rather, of early Christianities鈥攖hrough five centuries of Empire, mapping its pathways from the hills of Judea to the halls of Rome and Constantinople. It is a story with a sprawling cast of characters: not only theologians, bishops, and emperors, but also gods and demons, angels and magicians, astrologers and ascetics, saints and heretics, aristocratic patrons and millenarian enthusiasts. All played their part in the development of what became and remains an energetically diverse biblical religion.
The New Testament, as we know it, represents only a small selection of the many gospels, letters, acts of apostles, and revelations that circulated before the establishment of the imperial church. It tells how the gospel passed from Jesus, to the apostles, thence to Paul. But by using our peripheral vision, by looking to noncanonical and paracanonical texts, by availing ourselves of information derived from papyri, inscriptions, and archaeology, we can see a different, richer, much less linear story emerging. Fredriksen brings together these many sources to reconstruct the lively interactions of pagans, Jews, and Christians, tracing the conversions of Christianity from an energetic form of Jewish messianism to an arm of the late Roman state.
"[A] masterwork of scholarly research and thought. . . . Fredriksen makes a convincing case that, whether for good or ill, these multifarious, deeply felt and often admirable “Christianities” would never have become the global institution we now call “Christianity” were it not for the help — and the legalistic, organizational example — of the Roman Empire."鈥擬ichael Dirda, Washington Post
"Ancient Christianities has manifold virtues – not least its exemplary clarity of exposition and its impressive synthesis of a broad spectrum of recent specialist scholarship. . . .An admirable introduction to a range of essential aspects of the movements invoking Jesus."鈥擱owan Williams, Times Literary Supplement
"A well-researched, engrossing read that demonstrates why the Jewish and Christian communities went their separate ways and how Christianity not only became a spiritual practice but also a political force."鈥�Library Journal
"Precisely written. . . .Unique and rich in history."鈥擪imberly Anne, World History Encyclopedia
"Comprehensive. . . . From the question of religious diversity and perspectives on martyrdom, to religion as organised within Empire, Fredriksen skilfully condenses half a millennia of religious activity into an examination of the quickly changing human tapestry at the core of early life."鈥擬egan Hughes, Redbrick Culture
"A fresh view of Christian Church history through its first 500 years. . . . [Fredriksen's] thoroughness as a researcher and the breadth of her lifelong experience make this book a welcomed addition to this field of study."鈥�Choice Reviews
"A masterpiece of biblical, apocryphal, andRoman research and scholarship into the history and development of the Christian movement from many different competing factions. . . . Exceptionally and impressively comprehensive."鈥�Midwest Book Review
"Refreshing. . . . [Ancient Christianities] is inquiry-driven and reflective, concise but reasonably comprehensive; that neither presupposes a great deal of background knowledge nor sacrifices significant details, and, most importantly, frames the conversation to allow for an open dialogue about matters that may be sensitive."鈥擸uliya Minets, Catholic Historical Review
"Fredriksen鈥檚 book offers an updated, engaging, and essential summary account of the history of early Christianities for scholars, teachers, and students. "鈥擬ichelle Freeman, Religion
“An evocative account. Ancient Christianities is accessible, compelling, and characteristically brilliant, a boon to student, scholar, and general reader alike.”—Bart Ehrman, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
“Paula Fredriksen’s Ancient Christianities is a masterpiece. Written with a crispness that is the result of vast state-of-the-art knowledge deeply thought through, it is full of salutary surprises. It traces the unexpected emergence of a wide variety of Christianities, all in dialogue with a vigorous Judaism and with a far-from-moribund traditional religion which only later came to be known (and to Christians only) as ‘paganism.’ Ancient Christianities is an outstanding contribution not only to the history of Christianity in its many forms, but also to our understanding of the religious life of the Mediterranean and the Middle East as a whole—Christian, ‘pagan’ and Jewish alike—in the last centuries of the ancient world.”—Peter Brown, author of Journeys of the Mind and Through the Eye of a Needle
“Rarely have I been as enthralled by a book about early Christianity. It was a delight to read. Fredriksen possesses the rare ability to simplify complicated evidence and arguments into intelligible prose without devolving into crass generalizations and inaccuracies.”—Candida Moss, author of God’s Ghostwriters
“In this insightful, accessible, and sympathetic volume, Fredriksen introduces the varieties of belief and performance, propaganda and politics, sex and celibacy, intolerant zeal and practical malleability that lead to the creation of what comes to be known as Christianity. A great history—and a great read.”—Amy-Jill Levine, author of The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus
