The Early Church

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  This scholarly work examines the beginning of the Christian movement during the first centuries AD, and the explosive force of its expansion throughout the Roman world. Table of Contents - 1. From Jerusalem to Rome The Jewish background; the earliest Church; the Gentile Church; encounter with the Roman Empire 2. Faith and Order The bonds of unity; gnosticism; the Ministry and the Bible; forms of the Ministry 3. Expansion and Growth Causes of success; the geographical extension of the Church; the defence of the Faith 4. Justin and Irenaeus Justin Martyr; Irenaeus 5. Easter, the Monarchian Controversy, and Tertullian Easter; the Monarchian Controversy; Tertullian 6. Clement of Alexandria and Origen Clement of Alexandria; Origen 7. Church, State and Society in the Third Century The pagan revival and the persecution of Decius; Cyprian; the Great Persecution and its consequences 8. Constantine and the Council of Nicaea 9. The Arian Controversy after the Council of Nicaea From Nicaea to the death of Constantine; the Church under the sons of Constantine; from Julian to Theodosius I 10. The Conflict of Paganism and Christianity in the Fourth Century 11. Church, State and Society from Julian to Theodosius 12. The Ascetic Movement 13. The Controversy about Origen and the Tragedy of John Chrysostom 14. The Problem of the Person of Christ Diodore, Theodore and Apollinaris; Cyril and Nestorius; the "Monophysite" Council of Ephesus and the reaction at Chalcedon; the search for reconciliation; the doctrine of one will 15. The Development of Latin Christian Thought Jerome and the beginnings of maturity; the conversion of Augustine; the Donatist schism and the problem of coercion; "The City of God" and the Pelagian controversy; the Holy Trinity 16. The Papacy 17. The Church and the Barbarians 18. Worship and Art Liturby; daily offices; early Church music; Christian art Conclusion