By applying perspectives from sociology and anthropology to a wide range of biblical data, The First Christians in Their Social Worlds examines how the New Testament documents were influenced by the social realities of the early Christian communities for whom they were written, with the result that the texts reveal an intimate connection between society and Gospel. Overlaying this theoretical foundation, Philip Esler's book studies specific socio-political ideas in various texts of the New Testament, for example, charismatic phenomena, the admission of Gentiles into early Christian communities, sectarianism and millennarianism and its relationship to political oppression.
Reviews

`E writes with admirable clarity and enthusiasm.' - Publciation Unknown

`For those whose sudy of the New Testament has been of an exclusively literary-critical type, the book offers a glimpse of how alternative perspectives can be opened up.' - Church Times

Book Information
ISBN 9780415111225
Author Philip F. Esler
Format Paperback
Page Count 174
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 320g