When Christians Were Jews

A compelling account of Christianitys Jewish beginnings, from one of the worlds leading scholars of ancient religion How did a group of charismatic, apocalyptic Jewish missionaries, working to prepare their world for the impending realization of Gods promises to Israel, end up inaugurating a movement that would grow into the gentile church? Committed to Jesuss prophecyThe Kingdom of God is at hand!they were, in their own eyes, historys last generation. But in historys eyes, they became the first Christians. In this electrifying social and intellectual history, Paula Fredriksen answers this question by reconstructing the life of the earliest Jerusalem community. As her account arcs from this groups hopeful celebration of Passover with Jesus, through their bitter controversies that fragmented the movements midcentury missions, to the citys fiery end in the Roman destruction of Jerusalem, she brings this vibrant apostolic community to life. Fredriksen offers a vivid portrait both of this templecentered messianic movement and of the bedrock convictions that animated and sustained it.