Encyclopedia of Early Christianity: Second Edition

First published in 1997. What's new in the Second Edition: Some 250 new entries, twenty-five percent more than in the first edition, plus twenty-five new expert contributors. Bibliographies are greatly expanded and updated throughout; More focus on biblical books and philosophical schools, their influence on early Christianity and their use by patristic writers; More information about the Jewish and pagan environment of early Christianity; Greatly enlarged coverage of the eastern expansion of the faith throughout Asia, including persons and literature; More extensive treatment of saints, monasticism, worship practices, and modern scholars; Greater emphasis on social history and more theme articles; More illustrations, maps, and plans; Additional articles on geographical regions; Expanded chronological table; Also includes maps.

Everett Ferguson received S.T.B. and Ph.D. degrees from Harvard University, where he was Honorary John Harvard Fellow. He has taught most of his career at Abilene Christian University, where he has twice been honored in his college as Teacher of the Year. Everett Ferguson has been president of the North American Patristic Society, served on the Council of the American Society of Church History, and is now on the Council of the Association Internationale d'ftudes Patristiques. His books include Backgrounds of Early Christianity, 2nd ed. (1993), EarlyChristians Speak, rev. ed. (1987), and (with A.J. Malherbe) Gregory of Nyssa: Life of Moses(1378). He was founding editor of The Second Century, co-editor of Journal of Early Christian Studies, and general editor of Garland's 18-volume Studies in Early Christianity(1993).

"...concise and reliable information. Highly recommended as a core title in all personal and professional Christian historical studies collections." -- The Midwest Book Review
"It is a testimony to the vitality and breadth of early Christian studies in North America. It is also testimony to the perceptive editing and revising skills of Everett Ferguson and his associate editors, Michael McHugh and Frederick Norris." -- The Catholic Historical Review
"[I]ndispensable for the scholar for its concise and accurate information as well as the basic and updated bibliography for every entry. We commend the editor, contributors and publisher for this major achievement and valuable reference on the early Church." -- Coptic Church Review
"...provides a useful orientation to the major topics, the scholarly issues, and the literature through which to begin exploring an important but complex set of places, times, and people." -- Church History
"Remarkably successful in its aim to be comprehensive...This substantive reference work will continue to appeal to general readers and students as well as specialists. Highly recommended." -- Library Journal
"Information is presented thoroughly but in a way that enables it to be understood by nonexperts...Recommended especially for libraries serving graduate and undergraduate students of early Christianity and for other libraries needing a good, up-to-date reference work on this subject." -- Choice
"The second edition of Encyclopedia of Early Christianity, like the first, will be useful for general readers, students and scholars-the clientele of large public, academic, and theological libraries." -- Reference Books Bulletin
"This extensively augmented new edition will ensure its rapid inclusion in libraries supporting serious study of antiquity...lavishly produced." -- Religious Studies Review
"The strength of the work is in the clear and concise writing of the articles...a valuable resource that will certainly be a standard reference source for years to come. I highly recommend this work." -- The Master's Seminary Journal
"One of the top reference works on the subject, demand that your local library purchase a copy." -- Christian History
"I highly recommend this excellent tool. It is a must have, indispensable for libraries, large and small. Truly a starting point for the study of the Early Church Fathers. It will be the centerpiece for any study of early Christianity. It is my top choice for most scholarly and valuable resource so far this year. Again, my highest recommendation!" -- Critical Review
"This is nothing short of a remarkable achievement. An excellent set which should be a 'must' reference in any religious school's library." -- The Bookwatch
"Information is presented thoroughly but in a way that enables it to be understood by nonexperts. Recommended especially for libraries serving graduate and undergraduate students of early Christianity and for other libraries needing a good, up-to-date reference work on this subject." -- Choice
"[H]ighly recommended." -- ARBA 98