The progress of the Christian religion, and the sentiments, manners, numbers, and condition of the primitive Christians — Importance of the Inquiry, Its Difficulties |
Five Causes of the Growth of Christianity |
1 Zeal of the Jews — Its gradual Increase; Their Religion better suited to Defence than to Conquest; More liberal Zeal of Christianity;
Obstinacy and Reasons of the believing Jews; TheNazarene Church of Jerusalem; The Ebionites; The Gnostics; Their Sects, Progress, and Influence;
The Daemons considered as the Gods of Antiquity; Abhorrence of the Christians for
— Idolatry;Ceremonies; Arts; Festivals; Zeal for Christianity |
2 The Doctrine of the Immortality
of the Soul — AMONG the Philosophers—Pagans of Greece and Rome—Barbarians—Jews —Christians; Approaching End of the World; Doctrine of the Millennium; Conflagration of Rome and of the World; The Pagans devoted to Eternal Punishment |
3 Miraculous Powers of the Primitive Church — Their Truth contested; OurPerplexity in defining the Miraculous Period;
Use of the primitive Miracles |
4 Virtues of the first Christians — Effects of their Repentance; Care of their Reputation; Morality of the Fathers;
Principles of Human Nature;
The primitive Christians condemn Pleasure and Luxury; Their Sentiments concerning Marriage and Chastity ; Their Aversion to the Business of War and Government |
5 The Christians active in the Government of the Church — Its primitive Freedom and Equality; Institution of Bishops as Presidents of the College of Presbyters; Provincial Councils; Union of the Church; Progress of Episcopal Authority; Pre-eminence of the Metropolitan Churches; Ambition of the Roman Pontiff; Laity and Clergy; Oblations and Revenue of the Church; Distribution of the Revenue; Excommunication; Public Penance; The Dignity of Episcopal Government |
Recapitulation of the Five Causes; Weakness of Polytheism; The Scepticism of the Pagan World
proved favourable to the new Religion; As well as the Peace and Union of the Roman Empire;
Historical View of the Progress of Christianity— In the East—The Church of Antioch— In Egypt— In Rome—In Africa and the Western Provinces—Beyond the Limits of the Roman Empire; General Proportion of Christians and Pagans; Whether the first Christians were mean and ignorant; Some Exceptions with regard to Learning— Rank and Fortune; Christianity most favourably received by the Poor and Simple; Rejected by some eminent Men of the first and second
Centuries; Their Neglect of Prophecy; of
Miracles; General Silence concerning the Darkness of the Passion |