Ancient Christianities

The First Five Hundred Years

De: Paula Fredriksen

Narrado por: Rachel Perry

How, over the course of five centuries, one particular god and one particular Christianity came to dominate late Roman imperial politics and piety

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—or rather, of early Christianities—through five centuries of Empire, mapping its pathways from the hills of Judea to the halls of Rome and Constantinople.

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.

©2024 Paula Fredriksen (P)2025 Highbridge Audio

insights will abound.

A new insight into the real power of the written word. So much more than what many of us have heard. It will require a re-reading of scripture, which come alive as opposed to just the printed page.

Themes and Not History

As the author states upfront, she does not attempt to explain the history of the various competing Christian sects, pagans, and news. instead shedding discusses 5 themes, and metions the sect briefly as they relate to the theme. I had hoped for a clearer discussion of each sect in a historical context, but this book does not do that. it does go on about how S. Augustin explains whether the flesh is important in resurrection or just the spirit.

A lot to cover, but falls prey to summarization

There is a lot to cover in this topic to be sure, but on many occasions, I stopped to check the references and the paraphrasing that I had just listened to. As is typical in discussions about faith and history, I found that this author was grabbing what fit and leaving the entire idea of the reference out. I can’t say there is nothing to be learned here, but I can warn that if you are trying to add to an outlook of a religion or group of people, some of the framing of the references and their authors can be misleading with out further research. Whether this is intentional or not, I will leave out.

Also, the performer pronounces god GAHWD and for a book on religion, its repeated constantly.

Ancient Christianity

Very thoughtful narrative and excellent historical view of the Mediterranean Christian growth. Very well told by the narrator

Excellent history on Christianity

I read it twice it explains so much about the formation of the Christian churches