Geschichte des Frühen Christentums

By Martin Hengel

Book Description

This comprehensive scholarly work invites readers to explore the pivotal early decades of Christian history, tracing the remarkable transformation of a small Jewish movement into a faith that would reach across cultural boundaries. Martin Hengel and Anna Maria Schwemer guide readers through the crucial period leading up to the Jerusalem Council of 48-49 AD, examining how the first Christian communities navigated profound questions of identity, inclusion, and spiritual practice.

The authors illuminate the gradual shift toward welcoming Gentile believers without requiring circumcision, particularly within Syrian communities, while exploring the tensions this created with the original Jerusalem church. Readers will discover how persecution under Agrippa I shaped the early Christian experience and influenced Paul's missionary journeys to Cyprus and Galatia alongside Barnabas.

Central to this historical narrative is the Jerusalem Council's groundbreaking decisions regarding circumcision and dietary laws, which fundamentally altered Christianity's trajectory. The work also examines the influential role of James, the brother of Jesus, and traces the complex relationship between Jewish Christians and the broader Jewish community in Palestine.

At 790 pages, this detailed examination offers those interested in spiritual history and religious development a thorough understanding of how early Christian communities wrestled with questions of tradition, inclusion, and faith that continue to resonate today. The scholarly approach provides valuable insights into the foundations of Christian thought and practice.