The earliest history of the Christian gathering : : origin, development and content of the Christian gathering in the first to third centuries / / by Valeriy A. Alikin.

• Superior document: Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae, v. 102
• Author: Alikin, Valeriy A.
• Year of Publication: 2010
• Edition: 1st ed.
• Language: English
• Series: Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae ; v. 102.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (360 p.)
• Notes: Revision of the author's thesis (Ph. D.)--Leiden University, 2009.

Recent research has made a strong case for the view that Early Christian communities, sociologically considered, functioned as voluntary religious associations. This is similar to the practice of many other cultic associations in the Greco-Roman world of the first century CE. Building upon this new approach, along with a critical interpretation of all available sources, this book discusses the social and religio-historical background of the weekly gatherings of Christians and presents a fresh reconstruction of how the weekly gathering originated and developed in both form and content. The topics studied here include the origins of the observance of Sunday as the weekly Christian feast-day, the shape and meaning of the weekly gatherings of the Christian communities, and the rise of customs such as preaching, praying, singing, and the reading of texts in these meetings.

Table of Contents

Preliminary Material / V.A. Alikin -- Introduction / V.A. Alikin -- Chapter One. The Origin Of The Weekly Gathering In The Early Church / V.A. Alikin -- Chapter Two. The Gatherings Of Christians In The Morning / V.A. Alikin -- Chapter Three. The Lord’s Supper In The Early Church / V.A. Alikin -- Chapter Four. The Reading Of Scripture In The Gathering Of The Early Church / V.A. Alikin -- Chapter Five. Preaching In The Gathering Of The Early Church / V.A. Alikin -- Chapter Six. Singing And Prayer In The Gathering Of The Early Church / V.A. Alikin -- Chapter Seven. Other Ritual Actions In The Gatherings Of The Early Church / V.A. Alikin -- General Conclusions / V.A. Alikin -- Appendices / V.A. Alikin -- Bibliography / V.A. Alikin -- Index Of Ancient Sources / V.A. Alikin -- Subject Index / V.A. Alikin.