Early Roman Empire (I – III CE) - Early Christianity and Patristics - Yale University Library Research Guides at Yale University

Christianity in Its First Three Centuries

Between the Worlds by Christoph Markschies describes the area and the period within which the new religion developed, the everyday lives of Christians, the structures of the Christian community, community life and church order

The Rise of Christianity by W. H. Frend Online available.
The Rise of Christianity: a sociologist reconsiders history by Rodney Stark plots the most plausible curve of Christian growth from the year 40 to 300. Online available.
The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon Spanning thirteen centuries from the age of Trajan to the taking of Constantinople by the Turks, DECLINE & FALL is one of the greatest narratives in European Literature. selection and bridging commentary enables the reader to acquire a general sense of the progress and argument of the whole work and displays the full variety of Gibbon's achievement. Online available. While the rise of Christianity does not begin as the focus, it develops into Gibbon's central thesis.
Mission and Expansion of Christianity in the First Three Centuries by Adolph Harnack
The History of the Church: A New Translation by Eusebius history of the first three centuries of Christianity. includes detailed essays and notes. Online available.
The Spread of Christianity in the First Four Centuries by W. V. Harris shows how contemporary historical scholarship views the perennial question why a new religion succeeded in subverting the other religions of the Roman Empire in the first three centuries and in the generations immediately following the 'conversion' of the usurper Constantine in 312. Online available.

From Paul to Valentinus : Christians at Rome in the first two centuries by Peter Lampe study of the rise and shape of the earliest churches in Rome. integrates history, archaeology, theology, and social analysis.
Christ's Associations by John S. Kloppenborg Drawing on data about associative practices throughout the ancient world, this study offers new insight into the structure and mission of the early Christ groups. situates Christ associations within the broader historical context of the ancient Mediterranean.
The First Urban Christians : the social world of the Apostle Paul by Wayne A. Meeks Classic investigation of social makeup of Pauline Christ assemblies. Online available.
Social Reality and the Early Christians by Gerd Theissen assesses the social dimension of Christian faith: Jesus tradition, Pauline theology.
Social Aspects of Early Christianity by Abraham J. Malherbe Online available.