Description

Book Synopsis
According to the official view, held for almost two thousand years, early Christianity was marked by great harmony, and heresy only emerged at a later stage. This book, written in nontechnical language for interested non-theologians, argues that such a picture is wishful thinking.Using all available sources, including newly-discovered Gnostic texts, Professor Luedemann argues that in many areas, ''heresy'' in fact preceded ''orthodoxy'' and was later forcibly replaced by it. The controversies shed an interesting light on the human character and concerns of the first Christians, who were occupied not only with right belief but also with power. The first chapter investigates the positions of Christians in Jerusalem in the first two centuries, since they were the ones who in fact introduced the concept of heresy into the church, and pays particular attention to the revision of the portrait of Paul and his theology. Then it goes on to the dramatic events around Marcion and his approach to

Heretics The Other Side of Early Christianity

    Product form

    A Paperback by Gerd Luedemann

    £18.99

    Includes FREE delivery

    RRP £19.99 – you save £1.00 (5%)

    Order before 4pm tomorrow for delivery by Wed 26 Aug 2026.

    1 in stock

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of Heretics The Other Side of Early Christianity by Gerd Luedemann

      Book details

      Publisher SCM Press
      Published 7 January 1996
      ISBN-13 9780334026167
      978-0334026167
      ISBN-10 0334026164
      Also in:
      Blasphemy, heresy, apostasy History of religion

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      According to the official view, held for almost two thousand years, early Christianity was marked by great harmony, and heresy only emerged at a later stage. This book, written in nontechnical language for interested non-theologians, argues that such a picture is wishful thinking.Using all available sources, including newly-discovered Gnostic texts, Professor Luedemann argues that in many areas, ''heresy'' in fact preceded ''orthodoxy'' and was later forcibly replaced by it. The controversies shed an interesting light on the human character and concerns of the first Christians, who were occupied not only with right belief but also with power. The first chapter investigates the positions of Christians in Jerusalem in the first two centuries, since they were the ones who in fact introduced the concept of heresy into the church, and pays particular attention to the revision of the portrait of Paul and his theology. Then it goes on to the dramatic events around Marcion and his approach to

      Recently viewed products

      © 2026 Book Curl

        • American Express
        • Apple Pay
        • Diners Club
        • Discover
        • Google Pay
        • Maestro
        • Mastercard
        • PayPal
        • Shop Pay
        • Union Pay
        • Visa

        Login

        Forgot your password?

        Don't have an account yet?
        Create account