Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction
1. The World Jesus Inherited
Empires and Ideologies: From Cyrus to Caesar
Roman Imperium and Religion
The Way of Jesus versus the Ways of Rome
Varieties of "Judaism" in the First Century CE
Historical Sources and Their Uses
Why Bother with History?
Summary
2. The World of Jesus (21-30 CE)
Herod the Great
Pontius Pilate
Between Herod and Pilate: Supporting Roles on the Roman Stage
Seeds of Unrest before "Messiah" Jesus
Unlikely "Historical" Traditions
Summary
3. Life after Jesus (31-40 CE)
The Jerusalem Community in the Book of Acts
Developments among the Early Disciples
The "Followers of the Way"
The "Hellenists" and the "Gentile Question"
Developing Evangelism of Non-Jews
James "the Just" and the Jerusalem Community
The Growing Mission to Non-Jews
Summary
4. Early Missionary Expansion (41-50 CE)
Rulers in Jerusalem and Rome
Missionary Expansion among Gentiles
The House-Church
The Jesus-Movement in Rome
Early Missionary Strategies
Missionary Journeys of Barnabas, Paul, and Companions
Summary
5. Pressing on Toward the Goal: The Developing Gospel Mission (51-60 CE)
Paul of Tarsus
The Jerusalem Council
Barnabas and the Cypriote Mission
Paul, Silas, and the Mission to Asia and Macedonia
Lydia of Thyatira
On to Greece
Addressing the "Circumcision Question"--Again
Christ-Believers in Ephesus
Paul's Corinthian Correspondence
The Letter to Philemon
Paul's Final Letter--To the Romans
Paul's Journey to Jerusalem
Origins and Challenges of the Believing Communities in Rome
Summary
6. Ferment and Fire: Christ-believers in (and against) the Roman Empire (61-70 CE)
Paul and the Believers in Jerusalem
Traditions about Peter in Rome
Emperor Nero's Persecution of the Christ-Believers
The First Jewish War of Liberation from Rome
Developments in the Wider Empire
Summary
7. Life from the Ashes (71-80 CE)
Renewal of the Pax Romana
Second-Generation Christ-Believers
Meeting the Need for New Holy Books
The Gospel according to Mark
Writings in the Pauline Tradition: Colossians and Ephesians
Alternative Views Engaging the Pauline Traditions: James
Summary
8. Coming to Terms with Life in the Roman Empire (81-90 CE)
The Roman Regime: Protests and Punishments
Important Documents for Understanding This Period
Developing Ecclesial Structures: The Gospel according to Matthew
Challenges on the Roman Frontier
Christ-Believers in the Milieu of the Roman Empire: Luke-Acts
Summary
9. Christ-Believers' Responses to Roman Pressures to Conform (91-100 CE)
Domitian Degenerates
Did Domitian Persecute Christ-Believers?
Nerva's Succession and the Domitianic Damnatio Memoriae
Christian Writings from the 90s
The Community of the Beloved Disciple: The Gospel according to John
The Johannine Community Viewed from the Epistles: 1-3 John
John the Seer and the Communities of Asia Minor: Revelation
Clement and the Communities of Rome and Corinth: 1 Clement
Summary
10. Peace and Prosperity (101-110 CE)
Second Thessalonians and the Cursus Honorum
Trajanus Optimus: The Most Excellent Trajan
The Plight of the Poor
Other Ecclesial Writings of the Period
Summary
11. Martyrdom and Monarchy (111-120 CE)
Trajan, Pliny the Younger, and the Christ-Believers
Imperial Expansion
The Diaspora Revolt(s) of 114-117 CE
Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr
The Pastoral Epistles
The Acts of Paul and Thecla
Summary
Conclusion
Bibliography
Appendix 1: Paul and His Theology
Who Was Paul?
The Letters of Paul
Key Themes in Paul's Theology
Conclusion
Appendix 2: The Logion-Quelle
Appendix 3: Glossary
Appendix 4: Important People in the Second Testament Era
Bibliography
Index
