One Jesus, Many Churches

by Riley, Gregory J.

• ISBN13: 9780800632427
• ISBN10: 0800632427
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-01-01
• Publisher: Fortress Pr

Summary

In this exciting volume, Riley reveals that from the beginning there was not just one true Christianity, but many different Christianities. United by passionate allegiance to Jesus as Hero, these early, doctrinally diverse Christianities have led to the development of many different kinds of Christian churches among us today. Riley shows that early Christianity harbored major doctrinal differences about all aspects of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and divinity. This book provides not only a whole new understanding of the nature of earliest Christianity, but it also conveys a vital message for today about what Christian faith is really about. Riley reveals the authentic character of Christianity as inherently pluralistic and tolerant of diverse ideas while passionately centered in Jesus.

Table of Contents

Jesus and the Varieties of Early Christianity	1	(15)
The World of Jesus the Hero	15	(16)
The Story of the Hero and the Ideals of Antiquity	31	(30)
The Story of Jesus	61	(36)
Many Christs	97	(42)
Christians as Heroes and the Pattern of Early Christian Life	139	(40)
Martyrs as Heroes	179	(26)
Imitators of Christ	205	(6)
Index	211	(16)
Biblical Citations	227