Explores the growth of Christianity in inland Roman Asia, as cities and rural communities moved away from polytheistic Greco-Roman religion.

The ancient city of Ephesus was the largest city in Asia Minor and it was frequently mentioned in the New Testament. The gospel was first shared with the people of Ephesus in the middle of the first century and the Scriptures continued to describe the fortunes of the church up through the end of the century. Gathering all of this data, Christian Origins in Ephesus and Asia Minor describes the progress and frustrations of a newly developing Christian community as it struggled to find its way in a hostile secular environment. This volume supplements the biblical account with additional historical information gathered from ancient literary sources, archaeological discoveries, and early Christian sources. Additionally, this book describes the growth and development of several nearby churches in Asia Minor. Ministry from the mother church at Ephesus produced Christian congregations throughout Asia Minor. -- Mark R. Fairchild (Ph.D. Drew University) is the Luke J. Peters Professor of Biblical Studies at Huntington University. He has visited and researched over 300 ancient sites throughout Turkey that date back to the Greek, Hellenistic and Roman periods.

This book explores how the early Christians constructed, developed, and asserted their identity and authority in Asia Minor and Greece in the first five centuries CE.

This volume is concerned with the emergence of Christianity in Asia Minor and Cyprus. Five papers relate to Cappadocia and east Anatolia, the others to the bishops of Constantinople, the city of Sagalassus in Pisidia, Caria and Cyprus.

Simon Price attempts to discover why the Roman Emperor was treated like a god.

This work gives a survey of the rise and expansion of Christianity in ancient Lycaonia and adjacent areas, from Paul the Apostle until Amphilochius. It gives special attention to forms of charity, the reception of biblical tradition, the authority and leadership of the clergy, popular theology and forms of ascetic Christianity.