{"product_id":"the-first-christian-centuries-evangelical-women-feminism-and-the-theological-academy-9780830826773","title":"The First Christian Centuries: Evangelical Women, Feminism and the Theological Academy","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe first three centuries of the early church were a period of struggle, transition and growth. Recent attempts by historians and social scientists to understand this era have produced various and conflicting accounts. Indeed, some have sought to overturn the former consensus regarding which texts provide reliable evidence and how they should be interpreted. In \u003ci\u003eThe First Christian Centuries, \u003c\/i\u003e Paul McKechnie, a classical scholar, examines some key issues in the current debate.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhich ancient sources are reliable?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhat was the social makeup of the early Christian movement?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhat can we determine about the growth rate and persecution of first-century Christians?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhat do we know about the second generation of Christians? \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow should we assess the reliability of our various sources from the second and third centuries? \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhat were the nature and extent of persecutions in the second and third centuries? \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhat were the long-term consequences of Paul's making converts within the household of Caesar? \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCan we gain historical perspective on the diversity that traveled under the name Christian in the early centuries? \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow were women regarded and what roles did they play? \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnd how was it that a Roman emperor, Constantine, was converted--and what were the implications for the Christian movement? \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe value of McKechnie's study lies not in providing a comprehensive narrative of the origins and growth of the early church. Rather, it lies in critically examining key historical issues in sustained conversation with contemporary scholarship and the ancient sources. McKechnie will be valued by both students and scholars of early Christianity as an intelligent and informed companion who offers repeated and valuable insights into this critical era of Christian beginnings.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePaul McKechnie teaches in the department of classics and ancient history at the University of Auckland in New Zealand.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"IVP Academic","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50329986662674,"sku":"9780830826773","price":26.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_edcf080a-b9de-48e4-af75-2bce02fdcef7.jpg?v=1727788221","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-first-christian-centuries-evangelical-women-feminism-and-the-theological-academy-9780830826773","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}