Voices of Early Christianity: Documents from the Origins of Christianity: Documents from the Origins of Christianity

by Kevin W. Kaatz (Editor)

Overview

Early Christianity drew its doctrine from a variety of sources—personal interpretation, Hebrew scriptures, and church council—yet the core ideology endured, even as the religion transitioned from being the object of persecution to becoming a legal institution in the Roman Empire. This book celebrates the voices that helped create and develop Christianity during that period.

Voices of Early Christianity: Documents from the Origins of Christianity is a collection of excerpts from significant documents from early Christian history, organized topically, then listed chronologically within each section. The author compares textual variations among the works of the apostles, as well as key themes over time, and frames the discussion for further critical thinking. Topics include sexuality, marriage, and divorce; food issues; women in early Christianity; and politics and Christianity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781598849530
Publisher:	ABC-CLIO, Incorporated
Publication date:	02/27/2013
Series:	Voices of an Era
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	277
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Kevin W. Kaatz, PhD, is lecturer at California State University, East Bay Campus, Hayward, CA.

Editorial Reviews

"This is a wonderful introduction into the writings of early Christianity edited by Kevin W. Katz. . . . This book is highly recommended to those studying the writings of early Christianity and is recommended to public, academic, and theological libraries."

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ARBA

"The issues that Kaatz discusses resonate strongly today just as they did when they were first created. Kaatz cuts to the heart of what could be an unwieldy subject and provides excellent context and explanations on all the issues he discusses. Readers interested in bettering their understanding of the functions of the Christian religion and the Catholic Church will learn much from the questions and discussions within this volume."

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Library Journal

"A thoughtful guide to the beginnings of a complex religion, this volume is recommended for high school and academic libraries with an interest in Christian history. Appropriate for circulating collections."

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Booklist

From the Publisher

The editor's intention with this book is to teach about early Christianity using primary-source documents, with the title also offering a treatise on how to evaluate and think critically about primary sources. Why were they created? What else was happening at the time? Who are the people and places mentioned? Why were they important? All of these questions and more are answered in detail through the study of documents under the headings of "Early Christian Life," "The Church," "Early Christian Women," "Conflicts of the Early Church," "Persecution," and "Church and Politics." Each subtopic offers an introduction explaining what the relevant issue is; things to "Keep In Mind While You Read"; selected pieces from original documents that were in some cases retranslated from the original Latin or Greek by the editor; boxes that define unfamiliar terms and explain what their meaning is within the text; and an "Aftermath" section that talks about the ramifications of the document on the history of Christianity. Closing each entry are discussion questions, a selection of topics to consider, and a further-reading list that includes books, journal articles, and websites. Verdict The issues that Kaatz discusses resonate strongly today just as they did when they were first created. Kaatz cuts to the heart of what could be an unwieldy subject and provides excellent context and explanations on all the issues he discusses. Readers interested in bettering their understanding of the functions of the Christian religion and the Catholic Church will learn much from the questions and discussions within this volume.—Christine Sharbrough, Chelmsford P.L., MA

Library Journal