Craig A. Evans - From Jesus to the Church : the first Christian generation

From Jesus to the Church

From Jesus to the Church

The First Christian Generation

Craig A. Evans

2014 Craig A. Evans

First edition
Published by Westminster John Knox Press
Louisville, Kentucky

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Except as otherwise identified, Scripture quotations are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 (2nd ed., 1971) by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America and used by permission, all rights reserved. Quotations marked NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, are copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission, all rights reserved. Other versions briefly compared appear in the list of abbreviations.

Book design by Sharon Adams
Cover design by LeVan Fisher Design
Cover illustration: Ruins of the great synagogue of Capernaum, Israel,
by Zvonimir Atleticshutterstock.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Evans, Craig A.

From Jesus to the church: the first Christian generation / Craig A. Evans.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

ISBN 978-0-664-23905-3 (alk. paper)

1. Church historyPrimitive and early church, ca. 30600. I. Title.

BR165.E93 2014

270.1dc23

2013041175

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992.

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For the Students and Faculty of Ben-Gurion University,
in appreciation and gratitude

Contents

Courtesy of IsraelphotoarchivAlexander Schick bibelausstellung.de

Photograph courtesy of IsraelphotoarchivAlexander Schick bibelausstellung.de

Photograph courtesy of IsraelphotoarchivAlexander Schick bibelausstellung.de

Photograph courtesy of IsraelphotoarchivAlexander Schick bibelausstellung.de

Photograph courtesy of IsraelphotoarchivAlexander Schick bibelausstellung.de

Photograph courtesy of IsraelphotoarchivAlexander Schick bibelausstellung.de

Photograph courtesy of IsraelphotoarchivAlexander Schick bibelausstellung.de

Photograph courtesy of Anders Runesson

Photograph courtesy of Ginny Evans

Photograph courtesy of Ginny Evans

Photograph courtesy of IsraelphotoarchivAlexander Schick bibelausstellung.de

Photograph courtesy of IsraelphotoarchivAlexander Schick bibelausstellung.de

Photograph courtesy of IsraelphotoarchivAlexander Schick bibelausstellung.de

Photograph courtesy of Ginny Evans

Photograph courtesy of IsraelphotoarchivAlexander Schick bibelausstellung.de

Photograph courtesy of IsraelphotoarchivAlexander Schick bibelausstellung.de

Photograph courtesy of Ginny Evans

Photograph courtesy of IsraelphotoarchivAlexander Schick bibelausstellung.de

Photograph courtesy of IsraelphotoarchivAlexander Schick bibelausstellung.de

Photograph courtesy of Ginny Evans

Photograph courtesy of Ginny Evans

T his small book grew out of the Deichmann Lectures given at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beersheba, Israel, in May of 2010. I thank Dr. Roland Deines of Nottingham University and the Deichmann Committee for the invitation. I also thank Herr Dr. Heinz-Horst Deichmann, whose generous financial support makes the lecture series possible. I also thank Dr. Cana Werman, who translated the lectures into Hebrew for the Hebrew-speaking students. The purpose of the Deichmann Lectures is to support scholarship that is concerned with the intersection of Judaism and Christianity. It was an honor to take part in this worthy enterprise.

It is hard to imagine how a visit of this nature could have been more enjoyable and how hosts could have been more hospitable. My wifeGinnyand I were treated to wonderful dinners, musical events, receptions, desert walks, and visits to important archaeological sites, with Dr. Deichmann and his musically gifted daughter; with Roland Deines, Pau Figueras, and Anders Runesson; and with Professor Zipora (Zipi) Talshir and her husband (readers should know that Zipi is a chef of no mean accomplishmentthough I doubt she will ever admit it!).

I am grateful to Greg Monette, who assisted with the preparation of the indexes; and to Anders Runesson, Alexander Schick, and Ginny, who generously gave me permission to use several of their beautiful photographs. Many thanks, colleagues!

Craig A. Evans
Acadia Divinity College