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The Greatest Controversies of Early Christian History

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The Greatest Controversies of Early Christian History

Written by: Bart D. Ehrman, The Great Courses
Narrated by: Bart D. Ehrman
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About this listen

Without the presence of Christianity, our world would be considerably different. Whether we view it in religious, social, or political terms, Christianity has deeply and integrally influenced the Western worldview and way of life. Yet, throughout Christian history, compelling controversies have existed surrounding the faith's first three centuries, when it grew from a persecuted sect into a powerful religion. These controversies bring into question many commonly accepted beliefs about Christianity.

In this course, an award-winning professor and New York Times best-selling author offers a penetrating investigation of the 24 most pivotal controversies, shedding light on fallacies that obscure an accurate view of the religion and how it evolved into what it is today. In each lecture, you'll delve into a key issue in Christianity's early development:

  • Did the Jews Kill Jesus?
  • Was Jesus Raised from the Dead?
  • Did the Disciples Write the Gospels?
  • Did Early Christians Accept the Trinity?
  • Is the Book of Revelation about Our Future?
  • Who Chose the Books of the New Testament?
You'll delve into the conception of the meshiach (messiah) in Jewish tradition, and the basis for the core Christian claim that a suffering messiah was predicted in the Jewish scriptures. In grasping Paul's role in the early faith, you contemplate the key differences between the teachings of Jesus himself and the Christian view of his death and resurrection. And you trace the ambiguous role in early Christianity of the Jewish scriptures, and how these books came to be accepted as the Christian Old Testament. Explore these and other intriguing questions in this unique inquiry into the core of Christian tradition.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2013 The Great Courses (P)2013 The Teaching Company, LLC Christianity Ministry & Evangelism
All stars
Most Relevant
This critical review explains a lot.
If you want to learn what actual historical facts exist about Christianity, this book is for you.

Critical Insight to Christianity

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Oh what could have been if one of the other Christian options had won the debate.

I was very mesmerized by this book as it scratches an intellectual itch that has always fascinated me. How did this once insignificant religion, which seems so monolithic today, evolve? What were the controversies in the first 400 years and how did they change the nature of the religion?

Having grown up in a religion where everything is literal and no word is to be seen as anything other than the true and literal word of god, this eye opening lecture series gave me new insight. I like the tangents that Prof Ehrman sometimes goes on but it is all interesting. At times I wish this course would never end.
I hope he writes more on this subject or that the other books are made into audiobooks.

Fascinating to say the least

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When you read the title you might expect this to cover the great controversies that were addressed by the councils of the church in the early centuries of her life.

Instead you get a series of lectures discussing qualms and questions that have only become relevant in the modern period.

Still interesting, but hardly the “greatest controversies” of that period. They are curiousities and historical inconsistencies at best.

Not what you’d expect

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