The Greatest Controversies of Early Christian History

Begin by considering why the controversies of early Christianity matter, and explore the critical difference between the perspective of the historian and the perspective of faith.

Belief in the virgin birth has been enormously important throughout the history of Christianity. Here, assess the theological underpinnings of this belief and the role of Mary.

The question of whether Jesus had siblings divided early Christians, a controversy that survives to this day; learn about the non-canonical works that discuss Jesus's sibling relationships.

Discover the Dead Sea Scrolls as they shed important light on the historical Jesus and on Jewish life in his time; learn how the scrolls express the worldview of Jewish apocalypticism.

Grasp how scholars and historians have approached the historical accuracy of the Gospels, and track the developing critical view of Jesus as an apocalyptic prophet.

First, assess the inaccurate portrayal of Mary Magdalene in media, and trace the church's view of her as a prostitute; then, review the known facts concerning Jesus's female followers.