"Freeman has a gift for crafting a compelling story out of the messy details of history, painting nuanced portraits of key figures through compelling quotations and precise historical observation."—Steve Young, Library Journal
"[Freeman] surveys a surprisingly diverse range of early Christian communities, differing from one another in doctrine, devotional observances, and attitudes toward pagan philosophy. But in the narrative that he presses most insistently, Freeman recounts how small and politically marginal bands of Christians—subject to savage persecution—transformed into an imperially powerful church serving Roman emperors (notably, Constantine and Theodosius) and persecuting heretics unwilling to embrace the creeds those emperors helped to hammer out."—Bryce Christensen, Booklist
"[Freeman] surveys a surprisingly diverse range of early Christian communities, . . . [and] recounts how small and politically marginal bands of Christians. . . transformed into an imperially powerful church serving Roman emperors (notably, Constantine and Theodosius) and persecuting heretics unwilling to embrace the creeds those emperors helped to hammer out."—Bryce Christensen, Booklist "It's a mighty undertaking in such a modestly sized volume, but if you want to understand the reasons for present day schisms, you'll find the answers in this well-reasoned book."—Dave Wood, the Red Wing Republican Eagle ". . . a masterful work that adds to the knowledge of Christian history."—Kevin Winter, sacramentobookreview.com "A fresh and provocative book: insightful, adventurous and controversial."—Laurie Guy, Colloquium "Freeman rigorously maintains a nonjudgmental approach to the breadth of Christian diversity . . . A nuanced and sophisticated presentation of the dialogues (both within and outside of the tradition) that shaped the Christian experience through the fifth century. . . . This book will likely become the standard text for introductory courses."—David M. Reis, Religious Studies Review
"This book combines clear descriptions with a large amount of detail, presenting them in manageable bits, so that even the interested lay reader will find this book accessible with a little study. . . . Much to Freeman's credit and to the benefit of readers, he leads them through the years in which Christianity was shaped by these imperial forces, considering to what extent these were internal and external changes. This book is a great edition to the bookshelf of both educators and pastors who are interested in the origins of Christianity."—Andrea Janelle Dickens, Interpretations "This book combines clear descriptions with a large amount of detail, presenting them in manageable bits, so that even the interested lay reader will find this book accessible with a little study. . . . Much to Freeman's credit and to the benefit of readers, he leads them through the years in which Christianity was shaped by these imperial forces, considering to what extent these were internal and external changes. This book is a great addition to the bookshelf of both educators and pastors who are interested in the origins of Christianity."—Andrea Janelle Dickens, Interpretations "As usual, Freeman writes clearly and avoids the tediousness that can afflict scholarly texts."—Randal Hunhoff, Arkansas Democrat Gazette "A History of Early Christianity is a masterful book, and a pleasure to read. Freeman narrates the development, diversity, and spread of Christianity with originality and verve. It is a story that brims over with fascinating accounts, intriguing quotations from figures in the ancient Mediterranean, and illuminating historical analysis. It is also a crucial resource for our understanding of ongoing cultural negotiations of religious and political spheres, all those theologico-political paradoxes that face us now more than ever. I do not think there exists a more engaging and illuminating history of early Christianity than this one."—Ward Blanton, University of Glasgow"Even those who are adherents to Christianity may be puzzled by the tensions which exist in its primary sources, and this meticulous attempt to probe its origins and development is to be welcomed. Charles Freeman embraces the different kinds of approaches and positions which are found in the ancient texts, Christian and otherwise, painting a vivid picture of the nature of Christianity in all its diversity in the earliest centuries of its existence."—Christopher Rowland, author of Christian Origins "This is a bold and imaginative historical synthesis which fills an important need. For the first time, Freeman makes the complex story of Christianity's birth and early development available in concise, lively, eminently readable form. A tragic story in many ways, but a great pleasure to read."—Richard Rubenstein, author of When Jesus Became God
Faith-based narratives of ancient Christianity often tell of a dynamic faith predestined by divine plan to triumph over paganism and heresy (Catholic) only to fall prey to the twin evils of power and superstition (Protestant). Freeman (The Closing of the Western Mind: The Rise of Faith and the Fall of Reason) rejects the notion of a single original Christian message and the possibility of a coherent theological understanding of Jesus. He describes, instead, the ancient Christian movement's great diversity and how what would come to count as heretical or orthodox was fluid, contested at every step, and profoundly linked to imperial politics. Freeman spins a "decline and fall" narrative—he writes that "imperial Christianity created an ethos in which free discussion was next to impossible" and a dogmatic creedal Christianity was imposed on Western and Byzantine Europe. VERDICT Freeman has a gift for crafting a compelling story out of the messy details of history, painting nuanced portraits of key figures through compelling quotations and precise historical observation. Highly recommended for general readers and students, as well as those who enjoy the "A People's History of Christianity" series from Fortress Press.—Steve Young, McHenry Cty. Coll., Crystal Lake, IL
Arkansas Democrat Gazette
Arkansas Democrat Gazette - Randal Hunhoff
Interpretations
Interpretations - Andrea Janelle Dickens
Colloquium
"[Freeman] surveys a surprisingly diverse range of early Christian communities, . . . [and] recounts how small and politically marginal bands of Christians. . . transformed into an imperially powerful church serving Roman emperors (notably, Constantine and Theodosius) and persecuting heretics unwilling to embrace the creeds those emperors helped to hammer out."—Bryce Christensen, Booklist
Booklist - Bryce Christensen
When Jesus Became God
"Even those who are adherents to Christianity may be puzzled by the tensions which exist in its primary sources, and this meticulous attempt to probe its origins and development is to be welcomed. Charles Freeman embraces the different kinds of approaches and positions which are found in the ancient texts, Christian and otherwise, painting a vivid picture of the nature of Christianity in all its diversity in the earliest centuries of its existence."—Christopher Rowland, author of Christian Origins
"A History of Early Christianity is a masterful book, and a pleasure to read. Freeman narrates the development, diversity, and spread of Christianity with originality and verve. It is a story that brims over with fascinating accounts, intriguing quotations from figures in the ancient Mediterranean, and illuminating historical analysis. It is also a crucial resource for our understanding of ongoing cultural negotiations of religious and political spheres, all those theologico-political paradoxes that face us now more than ever. I do not think there exists a more engaging and illuminating history of early Christianity than this one."—Ward Blanton, University of Glasgow
"As usual, Freeman writes clearly and avoids the tediousness that can afflict scholarly texts."—Randal Hunhoff, Arkansas Democrat Gazette
— Randal Hunhoff
Arkansas Democrat Gazette
"This book combines clear descriptions with a large amount of detail, presenting them in manageable bits, so that even the interested lay reader will find this book accessible with a little study. . . . Much to Freeman''s credit and to the benefit of readers, he leads them through the years in which Christianity was shaped by these imperial forces, considering to what extent these were internal and external changes. This book is a great edition to the bookshelf of both educators and pastors who are interested in the origins of Christianity."—Andrea Janelle Dickens, Interpretations
— Andrea Janelle Dickens
"A fresh and provocative book: insightful, adventurous and controversial."—Laurie Guy, Colloquium
— Laurie Guy
"[Freeman] surveys a surprisingly diverse range of early Christian communities, . . . [and] recounts how small and politically marginal bands of Christians. . . transformed into an imperially powerful church serving Roman emperors (notably, Constantine and Theodosius) and persecuting heretics unwilling to embrace the creeds those emperors helped to hammer out."—Bryce Christensen, Booklist
— Bryce Christensen
