At the Origins of Christian Worship: The Context and Character of Earliest Christian Devotion

An informative look at the beginnings of Christian worship. Christian worship has a long and complex history. This volume deepens our understanding of early Christian worship by setting it within the context of the Roman world in which it developed. Exploring this formative period in church history, Larry Hurtado highlights the two central characteristics of earliest Christian worship: its exclusive rejection of the gods of the ancient world and its inclusion of Christ with God as the focus of devotion. His excellent study also offers reflections on Christian worship today, suggesting ways contemporary worship can be enriched and corrected by drawing on the early Christian worship traditions. Both historical and practical, this volume will be valuable to readers ranging from church pastors and worship leaders to individuals interested in the origins of Christian faith and practice.