One Jesus, many Christs
Book Description
In this illuminating exploration of early Christianity, scholar Gregory J. Riley invites readers to discover a radically different understanding of the faith's origins than what many have been taught. Drawing on his expertise in ancient history, Riley reveals how the first Christians lived in a Greco-Roman world filled with heroic ideals, where Jesus emerged as a compelling new hero offering followers a transformative path toward caring community and transcendent hope.
Riley challenges conventional assumptions about early Christian unity, demonstrating that the familiar Apostles' Creed was actually a later creation that emerged only after Christianity became the empire's official religion. This myth of apostolic consensus, he argues, obscures a profound truth about the authentic nature of early Christian faith. Rather than focusing on rigid doctrinal orthodoxy, the earliest followers of Jesus embraced a remarkably diverse and pluralistic approach to their spiritual lives, united primarily by their commitment to following Jesus as a model for living.
Through careful historical analysis, Riley uncovers how Christianity's original character was inherently tolerant of varied ideas and approaches while remaining passionately centered on Jesus himself. This fresh perspective offers contemporary readers a vital message about what Christian faith can truly represent. For those seeking to understand spirituality beyond institutional boundaries, this work provides both historical insight and inspiration for embracing a more inclusive, Jesus-centered approach to faith and community.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~6 hours)
📄 Length: 228 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Church history
- ✓ Explore History
- ✓ Explore Jesus christ, history of doctrines
- ✓ Explore History of doctrines
- ✓ Explore Culte
- ✓ Explore Origin
- ✓ Explore Christentum
- ✓ Explore Christianisme
