Voices of Early Christianity

Wedded priests, the ritual of circumcision, women as religious leaders. These topics elicit strong feelings and opinions within the modern Christian world. Ironically, early followers of the faith struggled with these very same issues. Examining and understanding the perspectives of early Christianity can provide new insights into the challenges that believers continue to face today. Early Christianity drew its doctrine from a variety of sources -- personal interpretation, Hebrew scriptures, and church council -- yet the core ideology endured, even as the religion transitioned from being the object of persecution to becoming a legal institution in the Roman Empire. This book celebrates the voices that helped create and develop Christianity during that period. Voices of Early Christianity: Documents from the Origins of Christianity is a collection of excerpts from significant documents from early Christian history, organized topically, then listed chronologically within each section. The author compares textual variations among the works of the apostles, as well as key themes over time, and frames the discussion for further critical thinking. Topics include sexuality, marriage, and divorce; food issues; women in early Christianity; and politics and Christianity. - Publisher.