How did a small movement of Jewish fanatics, devastated by the ignominious demise of their leader, rise to become the official state religion of the Roman empire, Armenia, Georgia, and Ethiopia? We trace the dramatic rise of the new faith through three centuries of preaching, prophesy, and persecution.
Become a patron at any level in order to hear pt. 2, "Houses Divided," on the contending factions and beliefs, from Ebionites to Gnostics, that competed for control of the early church, and which ones ultimately won out: https://www.patreon.com/posts/45126005
Alternatively, purchase access to our full playlist on the roots of religion: https://www.patreon.com/collection/2010589?view=condensed
image: fresco of a woman at the 3rd-century house-church of Dura-Europos
suggested reading: E. Glenn Hinson, "The Early Church"
for context:
--on composition of the New Testament texts: https://soundcloud.com/historiansplaining/who-wrote-the-bible-new-testament
--on the historical Jesus: https://soundcloud.com/historiansplaining/the-historical-jesus
