After the New Testament: A Reader in Early Christianity

by Bart D. Ehrman (Editor)

The remarkable diversity of Christianity during the formative years before the Council of Nicea has become a plain, even natural, "fact" for most ancient historians. Until now, however, there has been no sourcebook of primary texts that reveals the many varieties of Christian beliefs,
practices, ethics, experiences, confrontations, and self-understandings. To help readers recognize and experience the rich diversity of the early Christian movement, After the New Testament provides a wide range of texts from the second and third centuries, both "orthodox" and "heterodox," including
such works as the Apostolic Fathers, the writings of Nag Hammadi, early pseudepigrapha, martyrologies, anti-Jewish tractates, heresiologies, canon lists, church orders, liturgical texts, and theological treatises. Rather than providing only fragments of texts, this collection prints large
excerpts--entire documents wherever possible--organized under social and historical rubrics.
This unique reader's concise and informative introductions and clear and up-to-date English translations make it ideal for courses on the New Testament, Christian Origins, Early Church History, or Late Antiquity. It will also be of interest to anyone--student, scholar, and general reader
alike--interested in the entire range of early Christian literature from the period after the New Testament up to the writings of the so-called father of church history, Eusebius.

Genres: Religion, History, Nonfiction, Christianity, Theology, Church History, Faith

448 pages, Paperback

First published October 22, 1998

About the author

Bart Denton Ehrman is an American New Testament scholar focusing on textual criticism of the New Testament, the historical Jesus, and the origins and development of early Christianity. He has written and edited 30 books, including three college textbooks. He has also authored six New York Times bestsellers. He is the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Reviews

[Phil Chenevert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a biblical scholar or even that interested in the church fathers but somehow, the author managed to turn this into a thrilling listen for me. Really, I would eagerly start listening whenever there was a chance to hear what was coming next. Why was Clement writing? and to whom? what was the situation in the churches spread over asia minor and what did Justin say about them? Now it takes some talent to do that with this material but Bart did it. Wow. I know a lot about the early church fathers now and it was slipped to me in an entertaining and yet scholarly style. again, wow.

[Emma Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short, but excellent, read about the various competing scriptures that emerged in the first and second centuries C.E., before Christianity coalesced around the books making up the New Testament. It's a great starter book for anyone interested in this topic but doesn't have any background on the issue. The author's prose is easily accessible to the layman and written in an engaging way which makes you want to "see what comes next".

[Melinda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Insert sigh here. I was expecting something else from this book I think. I mean it was well researched and well delivered, but I just couldn't get enthused about it - which is weird for me since I normally quite enjoy a bit of religious history. Maybe this will be on my re-read pile for another time?

[Whitney Frasier · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ehrman is so clearly angry at his former religion. He does everything he can to place doubt in everyone’s minds. It’s ok. I was definitely interested in his writings as a university student. Having studied Christianity since graduation and becoming a follower of Christ it is easy to see how one sided his arguments and research are.

[Sixo Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great history on the early church.

[Daniel Kleven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading more widely in Early Christianity has been very eye-opening, enriching, confirming, settling, and interesting.

[Jessica Adams Duzan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was required reading in my Early Christianity course in college. This book changed the way I looked at Christianity. This book is a collection of texts that did not make it into the Bible that we have today. I had no idea, before reading this book, that there were so many different forms of Christianity.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ehrman has a knack for making Christian history accessible and interesting. Here he ties back many of our traditions and ideas to their non-canonical sources and does a good job explaining what those sources were and where they came from.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erhman remains the best secular historian of biblical materials enlightening scholar and student alike through his careful, accurate, erudite and compassionate study of Christianity's oft-ignored second generation of preachers and acolytes. Brilliant as always....

[Ann Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who wants to know about those years of Jesus's life that aren't in the bible...should read this.

[Cam Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting exploration of the diversity of the early Christian "church."