From Jesus to Christianity

Discover the astonishing story of how Christianity grew from the personal vision of a humble Jewish peasant living in a remote province of the Roman Empire into the largest organized religion in the world. L. Michael White, one of the world's foremost scholars on the origins of Christianity, provides a historical approach to uncover what we can know of Jesus and his early followers through layers of archaeological excavations, buried fragments of largely unknown texts, and historical sources. From Jesus to Christianity explores how early debates spurred the evolution of Christianity as we know it, diving into arguments over how to understand Jesus as both human and divine, the role of women in the church, the diversity of beliefs among Christian communities, Gnostic influences, and political disputes over which books would be included in the New Testament. With illustrations, photos, charts, and maps, this book presents the fullest picture yet of the beginnings of the most popular religion on earth.