Backgrounds of early Christianity / Everett Ferguson.

Formerly CIP.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Introduction: Perspectives on Parallels -- Political History -- Near East before Alexander -- Alexander the Great -- The Hellenistic Kingdoms -- Rome -- Administration of the Empire -- Political Connections of the New Testament -- Society and Culture -- The Roman Military -- Social Classes -- Slavery -- Roman Citizenship -- Roman Law -- Social Relationships -- Social Morality -- Economic Life -- Clothing and Appearance -- Entertainment -- Education -- Literature and Language -- Art and Architecture -- Clubs and Associations -- Hellenistic-Roman Religions -- Ancient Greek Religion -- Ancient Roman Religion -- Religion in Hellenistic-Roman Times: General Characteristics -- Domestic and Rural Religion -- Civic Cults -- Ruler Cult -- Personal Religion -- Greek Mysteries and Eastern Religions -- Gnosticism, Hermetic Literature, Chaldaean Oracles -- Later Developments: Monotheism and Sun Worship -- Hellenistic-Roman Philosophies -- Sophists and Socrates -- Plato and the Academy to the First Century -- Aristotle and the Peripatetics -- Skepticism -- Cynicism -- Stoicism -- Epicureanism -- Eclecticism -- Neopythagoreanism -- Middle Platonism -- Plotinus and Neoplatonism -- Judaism -- Jewish History, 538 B.C. to A.D 200 -- Jews in the Early Roman Empire -- Jewish Literature and Other Sources in the Hellenistic and Roman Periods -- Parties and Sects -- Beliefs and Practices -- Organization and Institutions -- Christianity in the Ancient World -- Literary References to Christianity in Non-Christian Sources -- Archaeological Remains Bearing on Early Christian History -- Some Claimed Archaeological Remains of Early Christianity -- Attitudes of Pagans toward Christians -- The Legal Status of Christianity -- Hindrances to the Acceptance of Christianity -- Religious Rivals -- Factors Favorable to Christianity -- What Was Unique in Christianity? -- Map of the Ancient World.n Tea.