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RELS 313: Humanities 313 / History 313 / Religious Studies 313: Early Christians Report a Broken Link

Textbooks

Burrus, Virginia, ed. (2010). Late Ancient Christianity. A People's History of Christianity, 2. Minneapolis: Fortress Press. (Part I)[PDF]
Burrus, Virginia, ed. (2010). Late Ancient Christianity. A People's History of Christianity, 2. Minneapolis: Fortress Press. (Part II)[PDF]
Horsley, Richard A., ed. (2010). Christian Origins. A People's History of Christianity, 1. Minneapolis: Fortress Press [PDF]
Wilken, Robert L. (2011). The Christians as the Romans Saw Them. 2nd ed. New Haven: Yale University Press.

To access this eBook, click on the Contents tab. Each chapter can be downloaded individually.

Required Readings

Unit 2

The Historical Context: Jewish Origins
Josephus. War of the Jews. In The Works of Flavius Josephus. Translated by William Whiston. Read “Book III: From Vespasian’s Coming to Subdue the Jews to the Taking of Gamala” and “Book IV: From the Siege of Gamala to the Coming of Titus to Besiege Jerusalem.”

You will have to scroll towards the bottom of the list of Josephus’ works to locate these readings.
Kamm, Antony. "The Origins of the Israelites." In The Israelites: An Introduction, 1-24. London: Routledge, 1999.
Kamm, Antony. "The Jews and the Roman World 63 BCE-135 CE." In The Israelites: An Introduction, 165-201. London: Routledge, 1999.

Unit 3

The Historical Context: The Romans
Kamm, Antony. "The Republic." In The Romans: An Introduction, edited by Antony Kamm, 13–39. London: Routledge, 1995.
Kamm, Antony. "The Caesars." In The Romans: An Introduction, edited by Antony Kamm, 40–75. London: Routledge, 1995.
Kamm, Antony. "Gods, Goddesses and Mysteries." In The Romans: An Introduction, edited by Antony Kamm, 76–101. London: Routledge, 1995.

Unit 4

The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth
The Gospel of Mark (American Standard Version)
Young, Francis M. "Prelude: Jesus Christ, Foundation of Christianity." In The Cambridge History of Christianity, Vol. I: Origins to Constantine, edited by Margaret M. Mitchell, Frances M. Young, and K. Scott Bowie, 24–34. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Cambridge Histories Online.

Unit 5

The Jewish/Christian Split, Early Christian Texts, and Communities
Selections in English translation from the Pauline Letters (1 Corinthians 10:4-21)
Selections in English translation from 1 Corinthians 15:35-49
Selections in English translation from The Dead Sea Scrolls, (The Book of Secrets). The Gnostic Society Library.
Gregory of Nazianzus, The Third Theological Oration: On the Son (29) (c. 370s late).
Brake, David. “Self-differentiation among Christian groups: The Gnostics and Their Opponents." In The Cambridge History of Christianity Vol. I: Origins to Constantine, edited by Margaret M. Mitchell, Frances M. Young, and K. Scott Bowie, 245–260. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Cambridge Histories Online.
Fonrobert, Charlotte Elisheva. “Jewish Christians, Judaizers, and Christian Anti-Judaism.” Late Ancient Christianity. A People’s History of Christianity, 2, edited by Virginia Burrus. 234-254. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2010. (see 'Textbook': part II, (top of this page))
Marcus, Joel. "Jewish Christianity." In The Cambridge History of Christianity Vol. I: Origins to Constantine, edited by Margaret M. Mitchell, Frances M. Young, and K. Scott Bowie, 87-102. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Cambridge Histories Online.

Unit 6

Attitudes Towards Early Christians on the Part of the Romans: From Indifference to Hostility to Acceptance
Selections in English translation from the Letters of Pliny the Younger (X.96 and X. 97).
Suetonius. The Lives of the Twelve Caesars: “V. The Life of Claudius,” chapter 25, and  “VI. The Life of Nero,” chapter 16. LacusCurtius. Transl. J.C. Rolfe. Loeb Classical Library 1913–1914.
Cornelius Tacitus (Annals 15.44). Early Christian Writings. Scroll down the page to the heading "Information on Cornelius Tacitus."
Tertullian. "Apology Chapter 1." Christian Classics Ethereal Library. Translated by the Rev. S. Thelwall, Late Scholar of Christ’s College, Cantab.
"St. Justin Martyr: Dialogue with Trypho." Early Christian Writings.
Kirby, Peter ed. Annon. "The Martyrdom of Polycarp." Early Christian Writings. Translated by J.B. Lightfoot.
Frend, W.H.C. "Persecutions: Genesis and Legacy." In The Cambridge History of Christianity Vol. I: Origins to Constantine, edited by Margaret M. Mitchell, Frances M. Young, and K. Scott Bowie, 503-523. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Cambridge Histories Online.

Young, Robin Darling. “Martyrdom as Exaltation.” A People’s History of Christianity, Vol. 2: Late Ancient Christianity, edited by Virginia Burrus. 70-94. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2010. (see 'Textbook': part I (top of this page))

Unit 7

Did the Story of Jesus Spawn a New Mystery Cult in the Roman World?
Seaford, Richard. "Chapter 9: Christianity" in Dionysos. London: Routledge, 2006, 120-130.

Unit 8

Textual Developments
Gamble, Harry Y. "Marcion and the 'canon.'" In the Cambridge History of Christianity Vol. I: Origins to Constantine. edited by Margaret M. Mitchell, Frances M. Young, and K. Scott Bowie, 195–213. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Cambridge Histories Online.
Mitchell, Margaret M. "The Emergence of the Written Record." In The Cambridge History of Christianity Vol. I: Origins to Constantine, edited by Margaret M. Mitchell, Frances M. Young, and K. Scott Bowie, 177–194. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Cambridge Histories Online.
Minns, Denis. "Truth and Tradition: Irenaeus." In The Cambridge History of Christianity Vol. I: Origins to Constantine, edited by Margaret M. Mitchell, Frances M. Young, and K. Scott Bowie, 261–273. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Cambridge Histories Online.

Unit 9

Christian Tolerance and Intolerance
Kevin Knight. Augustine of Hippo, The Confessions, trans. J.G. Pilkington in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, vol. 1, ed. Philip Schaff (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1887), book 6, chapters 12-15
 
Thelwall, S. Rev. trans. “On the Apparel of Women" Book 1 and II. Tertullian, Part Fourth. Christian Classics Ethereal Library. Accessed September 16, 2012.
The Desert Fathers, Vitae Patrum. Book 1d, "The Holy Women of the Vitae," nos. 16 (St. Eugenia, Virgin), 19 (St. Mary the Harlot), and 26 (St. Marcella, Widow).
Boswell, John. "The Scriptures." Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality: Gay People in Western Europe from the Beginning of the Christian Era to the Fourteenth Century, 91–168. University of Chicago Press: Chicago, Ill. 2005.

Unit 10

Asceticism/Monasticism
Vitae Partum. “Sayings of the Fathers.” Book Five, Section 1: “Rules of the Fathers.”
Brown, Peter. "Asceticism: Pagan and Christian." In The Cambridge Ancient History Vol. I3: The Late Empire AD. 337–425, edited by Averil Cameron and Peter Garnsey, 601–631. Cambridge Histories Online. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998.

Clark, Elizabeth A. “Asceticism, Class and Gender.” Late Ancient Christianity. A People’s History of Christianity, 2, edited by Virginia Burrus. 27-46.  Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2010. (see 'Textbook': part I, (top of this page))

Unit 11

Eschatology
Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Romans. (c. 110). Chapters IV–IX.
Scroll down page.
“The Revelation of John, part of The Holy Bible,” translated by David Robert Palmer, 2011. Chapters 7–9, 15-18.
Rowland, Christopher C. “Apocalyptic: The Disclosure of Heavenly Knowledge." In The Cambridge History of Judaism Vol. 3: The Early Roman Period, edited by William Horbury, W. D. Davies and John Sturdy. Cambridge University Press, 1999. 776–797. Cambridge Histories Online.
Baun, Jane. "Last Things." In The Cambridge History of Christianity Vol. 3: Early Medieval Christianities c. 600–c. 1100, edited by Thomas F.X. Noble and Julia M. H. Smith, 606–624. Cambridge University Press, 2008. Cambridge Histories Online.

Unit 12

A New Way of Viewing the World
Elsner, Ja. "Art and Architecture." In The Cambridge Ancient History, Vol. 13: The Late Empire, AD. 337–425, edited by Averil Cameron and Peter Garnsey, 737–761. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998. Cambridge Histories Online.
Jensen, Robin M. “Baptismal Rites and Architecture.” In Late Ancient Christianity. A People’s History of Christianity, 2, edited by Virginia Burrus. 117-144. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2010. (see 'Textbook': part I, (top of this page))

Unit 13

The End of Early Christianity and the Spread of the Religion
Boethius, Consolatio Philosophiae. (c.524) Books 1 & 2.
Schäferdiek, Knut. "Germanic and Celtic Christianities." In The Cambridge History of Christianity Vol. 2: Constantine to c. 600, edited by Augustine Casiday and Frederick W. Norris, 52–69. Cambridge University Press, 2008. Cambridge Histories Online.
Trombley, Frank. "Overview: The Geographical Spread of Christianity." In The Cambridge History of Christianity Vol. I: Origins to Constantine, edited by Margaret M. Mitchell, Frances M. Young, and K. Scott Bowie, 302–313. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Cambridge Histories Online.
Mitchell, Margaret M. "From Jerusalem to the Ends of the Earth.” In The Cambridge History of Christianity Vol. I: Origins to Constantine, edited by Margaret M. Mitchell, Frances M. Young, and K. Scott Bowie, 295–301. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Cambridge Histories Online.