Christianity: How a Despised Sect from a Minority Religion Came to Dominate the Roman Empire

by Jonathan Hill (Editor)

The first 400 years after the death of Christ saw huge changes in the emerging faith. Christianity spread from Jerusalem to much of the known world. Despite enormous pressures from within and without, including persecution, Christianity became the official religion of the empire in the fourth century.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, History

256 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2011

About the author

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Reviews

[Lee Harmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This one belongs on my favorites list. I fell in love with this book before I began reading; it’s beautiful enough for the coffee table, and scholarly enough for the library.

Thankfully, the writing lives up to the presentation! Hill’s work is enjoyable, frank and immensely informative, making for a hard book to put down. I’m reminded of another book I enjoyed: J.R. Porter’s treatment of the historical Jesus ( http://www.dubiousdisciple.com/2011/0... ). Hill picks up where Porter left off, tracing the first four centuries of Christianity’s roots, and how it survived persecution, internal strife, and pagan and imperial competition. Along the way, you’ll meet the church fathers and the early monks, you’ll relive the struggle to define the Trinity, and you’ll get to know the emperors who left their mark upon Christianity, including, of course, the infamous Constantine. You’ll meet the Donatists, the Arians, and more. And peppered throughout the book are pictures of ruins, artifacts, maps, and Christian artwork.

I can vouch for Hill’s careful scholarship for the initial chapters, where he discusses first-century history, but I confess I’m no scholar of the next three hundred years, so I won’t guarantee the book’s historical accuracy; I can claim, however, that I learned far more about this period from this book than I have in past studies, and enjoyed the experience much more! Hill brings the characters and controversies alive. My favorite part of the book was digging inside the minds of the early apologists, such as Justin Martyr and Origen. It left me wanting more, and searching the internet for more books by Jonathan Hill.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had this on the shelf for many years but thinking about the conversion of the Greco-Roman world caused me to pick it up. Great overview of the first 400 years of the church. Very readable with scholarly information but not the prose. Gives you a sense of the history and geography plus the major theological developments and figures. Glad I pulled it off the shelf.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was full of interesting information, but it was a little more scholarly than I expected. That is not to say it was a very dry read; however, I found myself reading it more slowly as a result.

[Robert D. Cornwall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully illustrated coffee-table type of history of early Christianity. It's informative and accessible. It is full of color plates, maps, and side-bars. From a historical perspective it's accurate and for the most part non-partisan and non-judgmental.

It takes the reader from the very beginning of the Christian era, and takes one up through the fifth century, covering the developments in doctrine and organization. All of which is very helpful!!

For a longer review, click here -- http://pastorbobcornwall.blogspot.com...

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 because I struggled to finish it (not sure if my problem or Mr. Hill's problem).
Somewhat non-linear and profoundly academic, Hill's Christianity is an impressive volume, packed with detail! I'm not sure you'll ever read anything more detailed about the Arian controversy (I might not). Especially enjoyed the section about the origins of monasticism.