{"product_id":"strange-religion-how-the-first-christians-were-weird-dangerous-and-compelling-9781587435171","title":"Strange Religion: How the First Christians Were Weird, Dangerous, and Compelling","description":"\u003cb\u003e\"A fresh and rigorously researched take on Christianity's founding.\"--\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe first Christians were weird. Just how weird is often lost on today's believers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWithin Roman society, the earliest Christians stood out for the oddness of their beliefs and practices. They believed unusual things, worshiped God in strange ways, and lived a unique lifestyle. They practiced a whole new way of thinking about and doing religion that would have been seen as bizarre and dangerous when compared to Roman religion and most other religions of the ancient world.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAward-winning author, blogger, speaker, and New Testament teacher Nijay Gupta traces the emerging Christian faith in its Roman context in this accessible and engaging book. Christianity would have been seen as radical in the Roman world, but some found this new religion attractive and compelling. The first Christians dared to be different, pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable, transformed how people thought about religion, and started a movement that grew like wildfire.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBrought to life with numerous images, this book shows how the example of the earliest Christians can offer today's believers encouragement and hope.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eNijay K. Gupta \u003c\/b\u003e(PhD, Durham University) is professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary. He is cohost of the \u003ci\u003eSlow Theology\u003c\/i\u003e podcast, founder of the \u003ci\u003eCrux Sola\u003c\/i\u003e blog, and has written numerous books, including \u003ci\u003eTell Her Story\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eA Beginner's Guide to New Testament Studies\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003e15 New Testament Words of Life\u003c\/i\u003e, and commentaries on Galatians, Philippians, Colossians, and 1 and 2 Thessalonians. He is also the coeditor, with Scot McKnight, of \u003ci\u003eThe State of New Testament Studies\u003c\/i\u003e, and a senior translator for the New Living Translation. Gupta lives in Portland, Oregon.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Brazos Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50590758174994,"sku":"9781587435171","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_0e7ef34f-3155-44d4-81ae-c64275a3e33c.jpg?v=1732081625","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/strange-religion-how-the-first-christians-were-weird-dangerous-and-compelling-9781587435171","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}