Tried by Fire: The Story of Christianity's First Thousand Years
496
Tried by Fire: The Story of Christianity's First Thousand Years
496Paperback
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Overview
Full of larger-than-life characters, stunning acts of bravery, and heart-rending sacrifice, Tried by Fire narrates the rise and expansion of Christianity from an obscure regional sect to the established faith of the world’s greatest empire with influence extending from India to Ireland, Scandinavia to Ethiopia, and all points in between. William J. Bennett explores the riveting lives of saints and sinners, paupers and kings, merchants and monks who together—and against all odds—changed the world forever. To tell their story, Bennett follows them through the controversies and trials of their time. Challenged by official persecution, heresy, and schism, they held steadfast to the truth of Christ. Strengthened by poets, preachers, and theologians, they advanced in devotion and love. In this moving and accessible narrative, Tried by Fire speaks across centuries to offer insight into the people and events that shaped the faith that continues to shape our lives today.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781400207466 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Nelson, Thomas, Inc. |
| Publication date: | 03/27/2018 |
| Pages: | 496 |
| Sales rank: | 509,825 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.30(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.30(d) |
About the Author
Table of Contents
Introduction xiii
1 Scattered Sheep 1
Paul in Rome 3
The Appeal of Christianity to the Classical World 7
Missionary Activity and Persecution of the Disciples 9
2 The First Saints 17
Clement Helps Guide the Church 20
Ignatius of Antioch 23
Resurfacing of Persecution in the Late-First and Early-Second Centuries 26
The Martyrdom of Polycarp 28
3 Defining Doctrine 31
Marcion of Sinope 33
Irenaeus and Justin Confront the Pagans 34
Settling Scripture 35
Irenaeus's Theology 37
Justin Martyr 38
Christian Communities in the Second Century 43
Martyrdom in the Age of Marcus Aurelius 45
4 Brutal Opposition 51
Perpetua and Felicity 52
Tertullian 54
Early Christian Women 56
Three Controversies 58
The Persecutions of the Third Century 62
Cyprian and the Lapsed 66
5 Egypt and the Great Persecution 69
Clement of Alexandria 70
Origen 73
The Codex 78
Diocletian and the Great Persecution 81
The Edict Against the Christians 84
The Consequences of Diocletian's Persecution 91
6 Church, State, and Emperor 93
Constantine Consolidates His Power 95
Constantine the Emperor 99
The Rise of the Basilica 104
The Donatist Controversy 107
Was Constantine Really a Christian? 111
7 Tares Among Wheat 115
Constantine Calls the Council of Nicaea 118
Other Matters Resolved by the Council of Nicaea 127
Athanasius Contra Mundum 129
The Death of Constantine 132
8 Saving Wastelands 135
Anthony of the Desert 136
Pachomius and Cenobite Monasticism 139
The Monastic Lifestyle 140
Macarius and Moses the Black 142
Evagrius Ponticus 143
Desert Women 146
Ephrem and Simeon 147
The Syriac and Coptic Languages 150
The Life of Martin of Tours 152
John Cassian 154
9 Fathers Know Best 157
Arianism Fights Back 158
The Council of Sardica 161
Julian the Apostate 162
Valens 165
The Cappadocian Fathers 168
Gregory of Nazianzus 172
Gregory of Nyssa 174
The Death of Valens 175
10 Doctors' Orders 177
The Edict of Thessalonica 178
The Council of Constantinople 180
Theodosius Campaigns Against Arianism 182
Ambrose 183
Ambrose and the Arians 186
Ambrose and Theodosius 188
Jerome 191
Jerome and Damasus I 193
The Vulgate Bible 194
11 Two Giants 199
John Chrysostom 200
John's Episcopate 201
Augustine 206
Post-Conversion 210
Augustine's Theology 212
The Legacy of Augustinian Thought 214
12 From Ancient to Medieval 217
Theodosius II and the Theodosian Code 219
The Council of Ephesus 221
Cyril and Orestes 224
Pope Leo I Turns Back Attila 227
The Papacy of Leo I 230
The Second Council of Ephesus and the Council of Chalcedon 232
13 Christianity in the Early Barbarian Kingdoms: The Barbarians Become Arians 235
The Goths Convert 236
The Visigoths 238
Isidore of Seville 240
Italy: Theodoric, Boethius, and Cassiodorus 242
Cassiodorus 245
The Franks 247
Columbanus's Mission to the Franks 250
Gregory the Great 251
Gregory Evangelizes Europe 252
The Church Comes to Britain 254
The Isle of the Dead 257
Gregory Sends Augustine to the Britons 258
The Venerable Bede 260
Early Celtic Christianity 261
14 The Byzantine Empire 265
Justinian 266
The First Great Plague 268
Domestic Affairs 269
The Nika Riot 270
The Hagia Sophia 272
The Corpus Iuris Civilis 274
Justinian's Religious Policy 275
The Three Chapters Controversy 276
Persecution in the Byzantine Empire 278
After Justinian 280
Heraclius 280
Heraclius and the Church 282
15 Crescent and Cross 285
The Dawn of Islam 286
Early Islamic Theology and the Bible 288
The Muslims Fight the Byzantines 291
The Pact of Umar 295
The Dialogue of Timothy I and al-Mahdi 298
The Moors Invade Spain 300
Charles Martel Saves Europe 301
16 Europe Is Born 305
Saint Boniface 306
Pepin the Short 310
Charlemagne 312
Charlemagne Crowned Holy Roman Emperor 316
Conflict with the Byzantine Church 317
The Carolingian Renaissance 319
Alcuin of York 321
After Charlemagne 324
17 Decline and Reform 327
The Papacy of the Early Medieval Ages (867-1049) 329
The Reform of the Papacy 333
The Monastery 335
Theological Developments of the Early Middle Ages 339
The Medieval Pilgrimage and Relics 340
England 343
18 Northern Lights 347
Alfred the Great Fights Back 349
Anglo-Saxon Culture 353
The Christianization of the Danes and Swedes 356
Norway 358
Cyril and Methodius 360
The Christianization of the Kievan Rus 363
19 The Face of God and Schism 369
Justinian II and the Quinisext Council 370
The First Iconoclast Era (717-775) 375
John of Damascus and Constantine V 377
The Second Council of Nicaea 380
The Second Iconoclast Era (814-842) 382
The Great Schism (ca. 800-1054) 384
The Churches Split 386
Conclusion 389
Glossary of Biographical, Geographical, and Theological References 393
Acknowledgments 409
Notes 411
Image Credits 451
Index 459