Translation of: Backgrounds of early Christianity / Everett Ferguson ; Grand Rapids, Mich. : William B. Eerdmans Pub., 1987, 1993, 2003.

English contents : Introduction : perspectives on parallels -- Political history. Near East before Alexander ; Alexander the Great ; The Hellenistic kingdoms ; Rome ; Administration of the empire ; Political connections of the New Testament -- Society and culture. The Roman military ; Social classes ; Slavery ; Roman citizenship ; Roman law ; Social relationships ; Social morality ; Economic life ; Clothing and appearance ; Entertainment ; Education ; Literature and language ; Art and architecture ; Clubs and associations -- Hellenistic-Roman religions. Ancient Greek religion ; Ancient Roman religion ; Religion in Hellenistic-Roman times : general characteristics ; Domestic and rural religion ; Civic cults ; Ruler cult ; Personal religion ; Greek mysteries and Eastern religions ; Gnosticism, hermetic literature, Chaldaean oracles ; Later developments : monotheism and sun worship -- Hellenistic-Roman philosophies. Sophists and Socrates ; Plato and the academy to the first century ; Aristotle and the Peripatetics ; Skepticism ; Cynicism ; Stoicism ; Epicureanism ; Eclecticism ; Neophythagoreanism ; Middle Platonism ; Plotinus and Neoplatonism -- Judaism. Jewish history, 538 B.C. to A.D. 200 ; Jews in the early Roman empire ; Jewish literature and other sources in the Hellenistic and Roman periods ; Parties and sects ; Beliefs and practices ; Organization and institutions -- Christianity in the ancient world. Literary references to Christianity in non-Christian sources ; Archaeological remains bearing on early Christian history ; Some claimed archaeological remains of early Christianity ; Attitudes of pagans toward Christians ; The legal status of Christianity ; Hindrances to the acceptance of Christianity ; Religious rivals ; Factors favorable to Christianity ; What was unique in Christianity?