This single-volume encyclopedia contains 977 articles by 135 qualified scholars of various academic and ecumenical backgrounds, with coverage extending from New Testament times to approximately 600 A.D. Entries cover persons, places, doctrines, and practices and include some articles on modern scholars important to the study of early Christianity. The entries vary in length, but each begins with a brief definition, or identification, followed by chronological or topical development. Excellent short bibliographies following each article give patristic citations, editions, translations, and studies. The articles avoid technical language and provide good basic summaries of the material. This work will be useful for teachers, scholars, and students as well as for reference work. Recommended for public and academic libraries.


Filling two volumes in its original print version, the critically praised Second Edition of this standard resource includes

- 250 new entries-25% more than in the first edition
- 25 new expert contributors
- Greatly expanded and updated bibliographies
- Extended focus on biblical books and philosophical schools, their influence on early Christianity and their use by patristic writers
- Further information about the Jewish and pagan environment of early Christianity
- Greatly enlarged coverage of the eastern expansion of the faith throughout Asia, including persons and literature
- More extensive treatment of saints, monasticism, worship practices, and modern scholars
- Increased emphasis on social history and more thematic articles
- Additional articles on geographical regions
- Expanded chronological table


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Editor: Everett Ferguson
Associate Editors: Michael P. McHugh, Frederick W. Norris
Series: Garland Reference Library of the Humanities (Book 1839)
Paperback: 1252 pages
Publisher: Routledge; 2 edition (January 3, 1990)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0815333196
ISBN-13: 978-0815333197