Early Christianity

Early Christianity: A Textbook for African Students, a significant contribution, is very timely in addressing a broader readership of Christians and Muslims interested in understanding an important common heritage of contemporary Africans. A substantive resource for students.

Tite Tienou, PhD
Research Professor, Theology of Mission,
The Tite Tienou Chair of Global Theology and World Christianity,
Dean Emeritus, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School,
Deerfield, Illinois, USA

Wendy Helleman and Musa Gaiya provide an indispensable resource for the study of early church history. Building on the work of Bediako, Kalu and other African scholars, they take seriously Africa’s contribution to world Christianity – the text itself is anything but Afrocentric however. It plumbs the depths of the great minds of early African Christianity, placing them in the context of the larger church and the theological, political, social and cultural issues early Christianity in general faced. This is the kind of Christian history text African Christians have been waiting for.

Joel C. Elowsky, PhD
Professor of Historical Theology,
Director of the Study of Early Christian Texts,
Concordia Seminary, St Louis, Missouri, USA
Research Fellow, Centre for Early African Christianity

This significant history of the early church by two scholars who have lived in Africa is long awaited. It is in-depth, up-to-date and comprehensive. Highly recommended.

Timothy Palmer, PhD
Former Professor of Biblical Studies,
Theological College of Northern Nigeria,
Bukuru, Plateau State, Nigeria

This textbook gives a comprehensive account of the history and thought of early Christianity, particularly in Africa, making it easy to understand the trends and dynamics of present-day African Christianity. Written in simple English, it is useful for students, lecturers, Christians and Muslims.

Rev Thomas A. Oduro, PhD
President, Good News Theological Seminary, Accra, Ghana

This book provides a concise summary of the history of the church from the Jewish backgrounds of early Christianity until the fall of the Roman Empire. It proceeds to provide the reader with an explanation of a selection of the most influential events within this time period. With its introductory level content, the book’s goal is to be an overview of early church history and not an exhaustive text. It serves as an informative source for an undergraduate theology student or any student in need of accessible, introductory material regarding early church history.

Retief Muller, PhD
Associate Professor of Church History,
Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa

1. List of Figures
2. List of Maps
3. Preface and Acknowledgements
4. Abbreviations
5. Section I: Issues in the History of Early Christianity
6. 1. 1 Background to Early Christianity
   2. 2 The Rise and Spread of Christianity to AD 325
   3. 3 Monasticism and Missions
   4. 4 Persecution and Martyrdom: From Nero to Valerian (AD 64–260)
   5. 5 Church and State in the Roman Empire (AD 260–380)
   6. 6 The Early Church in North Africa
7. Section II: Christian Belief and Teaching
8. 1. 7 Jesus Christ as Son of Man and Son of God: The Challenge of Judaism and Docetism
   2. 8 Second-Century Gnosticism and Its Impact
   3. 9 The Biblical Canon and Alternative Gospels
   4. 10 Arianism and the Trinity: The Ecumenical Councils of Nicea and Constantinople (AD 325–381)
   5. 11 The Person of Jesus: Five Ecumenical Councils (AD 431–787)
   6. 12 The Golden Age of Early Christian Thought: Outstanding Fourth-Century Leaders
9. Section III: Epilogue
10. 1. 13 The Disintegration of the Roman Empire
11. Glossary of Important Terms
12. Bibliography
13. Annotated Guide to Sources for Studies in Early Christianity
14. Index of Subjects
15. Index of Names