Prelude Frances M. Young; Part I. The Political, Social and Religious Setting: 1. Galilee and Judea in the first century Sean Freyne; 2. The Jewish Diaspora Tessa Rajak; 3. The Roman Empire Hans-Josef Klauck; Part II. The Jesus Movements: 4. Jewish Christianity Joel Marcus; 5. Gentile Christianity Margaret M. Mitchell; 6. Johannine Christianity Harold W. Attridge; 7. Social and ecclesial life of the earliest Christians Wayne A. Meeks; Part III. Community Traditions and Self-definition: 8. The emergence of the written record Margaret M. Mitchell; 9. Marcion and the 'Canon' Harry Y. Gamble; 10. Self-definition vis à vis the Jewish matrix Judith Lieu; 11. Self-definition vis à vis the Graeco-Roman world Arthur J. Droge; 12. Self-differentiation among Christian groups: the Gnostics and their opponents David Brakke; 13. Truth and tradition: Irenaeus Denis Minns; 14. The self-defining praxis of the developing ecclesia Carolyn Osiek; Part IV. Regional Varieties of Christianity in the First Three Centuries: 15. From Jerusalem to the ends of the earth Margaret M. Mitchell; 16. Overview: the geographical spread of Christianity Frank Trombley; 17. Asia Minor and Achaea pre 325 CE Christine Trevett; 18. Egypt Birger A. Pearson; 19. Syria and Mesopotamia Susan Ashbrook Harvey; 20. Gaul John Behr; 21. North Africa Maureen A. Tilley; 22. Rome Markus Vinzent; Part V. The Shaping of Christian Theology: 23. Institutions in pre-Constantinian ecclesia Stuart George Hall; 24. Monotheism and creation Gerhard May; 25. Monotheism and Christology Frances M. Young; 26. Ecclesiology forged in the wake of persecution Stuart George Hall; 27. Towards a Christian paideia Frances M. Young; Part VI. 'Aliens' Become Citizens: Towards Imperial Patronage: 28. Persecutions: genesis and legacy W. H. C. Frend; 29. Church and state up to c.300 CE Adolf Martin Ritter; 30. Constantine and the 'Peace of the Church' Averil M. Cameron; 31. The first council of Nicaea Mark Edwards; 32. Towards a Christian material culture Robin M. Jensen; Conclusion: retrospect and prospect Margaret M. Mitchell.