Early Christianity in Alexandria

From Its Beginnings to the Late Second Century

By: M. David Litwa

Narrated by: George Ellington

Alexandria was the epicenter of Hellenic learning in the ancient Mediterranean world, yet little is known about how Christianity arrived and developed in the city during the late first and early second century CE. In this volume, M. David Litwa employs underused data from the Nag Hammadi codices and early Christian writings to open up new vistas on the creative theologians who invented Christianities in Alexandria prior to Origen and the catechetical school of the third century.

With clarity and precision, he traces the surprising theological continuities that connect Philo and later figures, including Basilides, Carpocrates, Prodicus, and Julius Cassianus, among others. Litwa demonstrates how the earliest followers of Jesus navigated Jewish theology and tradition, while simultaneously rejecting many Jewish customs and identity markers before and after the Diaspora Revolt. His book shows how Christianity in Alexandria developed distinctive traits and seeded the world with ideas that still resonate today.

©2024 M. David Litwa (P)2024 M. David Litwa

Amazing

For history not knowing a lot of early Christian history in Alexandria the author sure does a good job at putting the pieces together to give us an idea.

Fantastic book

Thank you Dr. Litwa for bringing us this fascinating look into forms of Christianity that existed before they were snuffed out. There are plenty of bookmarks that I will revisit later.