After Jesus Before Christianity

A Historical Exploration of the First Two Centuries of Jesus Movements

De: Erin Vearncombe, Brandon Scott, Hal Taussig, Westar Institute The

Narrado por: Cindy Kay

From the creative minds of the scholarly group behind the groundbreaking Jesus Seminar comes this provocative and eye-opening look at the roots of Christianity that offers a thoughtful reconsideration of the first two centuries of the Jesus movement, transforming our understanding of the religion and its early dissemination.

Christianity has endured for more than two millennia and is practiced by billions worldwide today. Yet that longevity has created difficulties for scholars tracing the religion’s roots, distorting much of the historical investigation into the first two centuries of the Jesus movement. But what if Christianity died in the fourth or fifth centuries after it began? How would that change how historians see and understand its first two hundred years?

Considering these questions, three Bible scholars from the Westar Institute summarize the work of the Christianity Seminar and its efforts to offer a new way of thinking about Christianity and its roots. Synthesizing the institute’s most recent scholarship—bringing together the many archaeological and textual discoveries over the last twenty years—they have found:

• There were multiple Jesus movements, not a singular one, before the fourth century
• There was nothing called Christianity until the third century
• There was much more flexibility and diversity within Jesus’s movement before it became centralized in Rome, not only regarding the Bible and religious doctrine, but also understandings of gender, sexuality and morality.

Exciting and revolutionary, After Jesus, Before Christianity provides fresh insights into the real history behind how the Jesus movement became Christianity.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

Wow!!!

After Jesus, Before Christianity” by Erin Vearncombe, Brandon Scott, Hal Taussig, and The Westar Institute is an extraordinary work that delves into the complex and fascinating period following Jesus’ life and before the solidification of what we know today as Christianity. This book has profoundly deepened my understanding of the early Jesus movement, and it has illuminated aspects of history and theology that are often overlooked or misunderstood.

The authors do an incredible job of bringing this pivotal era to life, combining rigorous scholarship with accessible language. Their collective insights help to unravel the social, cultural, and political dynamics of the time, shedding light on the diverse and vibrant communities that shaped the early faith. I particularly appreciated how the book challenges conventional narratives, encouraging readers to reconsider what they think they know about the origins of Christianity.

What I found most compelling was the way the authors weave together historical context with theological reflection, providing a nuanced picture of a world in transition. The Westar Institute’s involvement ensures that the research is top-notch, and the collaboration between Vearncombe, Scott, and Taussig brings a richness to the discussion that is truly enlightening.

Thank you to the authors and The Westar Institute for your hard work and dedication in bringing this important scholarship to the public. Your work has helped me—and I’m sure many others—to explore these critical years with fresh eyes and deeper appreciation. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the roots of Christian history and theology.

A new essential resource

An excellent resource for anyone studying the history of early Christianities. I highly recommend it.

Fascinating

This book made me think, soothed my soul, and reignited my excitement for Christianity. I'd recommend it to anyone, highly.

Ancient texts speak for themselves

Encyclopedic in scope, rigorous referencing, careful scholarship. Listened three times; now I'm reading the book.

Few new findings with new research resources

More hypothetical than proof driven, but interesting in some ways. The entire historical and researched stories of the first through the sixth centuries of the Jesus people, the evolution of the texts, the creeds and the Empire of the Church is a hot mess. After all the years of research and writing it appears that there is less and less to discuss. The "proof models" required in science are not available to this form of historical research and writings, which produce lots of opinions. However, opinions are often useful.