Early Christianity 101

The term Christian has a long history rooted in the life Jesus Christ. However, several cultures and languages have contributed to the development of this term, as well as its diffusion throughout the world.   The Etymology...

The Nazarenes, an early Judeo-Christian sect, thrived during the years 30-80 C.E, the same period as the Ebionites, and are believed to have been amongst the earliest followers of Jesus. In fact, many scholars assert...

The generic term "gentile" is sometimes used to refer to anyone who does not follow the Jewish faith. For Christians, the term specifically applies to those following Christianity. In the Old Testament the term "the nations"...

Judeo-Christians are, in the broadest sense, people whose religious beliefs share common elements of both Judaism and Christianity. Although the etymology of the term only dates back to the 19th century, the histories of...

None of the four Gospels of the New Testament make any reference to the Essenes � a point of strong contention for many religious scholars. Though the scriptures do explicitly mention the Pharisees, the Sadducees...

Gnosticism is among the many religious groups believed to have arisen during the early days of Christianity. Although the term is used monolithically, it is in fact broad in nature, encompassing an assortment of...

The Ebionites were an early Jewish sect, and its followers were amongst the earliest supporters of Jesus Christ. The term itself is Hebrew for "the Poor Ones," which is what Jesus named them in...

How did Christianity evolve to become the world�s most widely practiced religion, with some 2.1 billion followers world-wide? Originally a sect of Judaism, the true origins of Christianity has long been debated by a...