Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture

Christianity as a Strange Religion? (with Nijay Gupta)

May 14, 2024

Professor Nijay Gupta discusses the peculiarities of early Christians in Roman society, including their worship practices, sense of community, and countercultural beliefs. They explore the challenges faced by Christians, the persecution they endured for their faith, and the compelling message of Christianity in contrast to Roman beliefs.

29:55

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Episode guests

Nijay Gupta

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Early Christians emphasized personal relationship with God, challenging Roman religious norms.

Christianity's growth stemmed from message of God's love and inclusivity, attracting marginalized groups.

Deep dives

Distinctiveness of Early Christians

The early Christians stood out from the Roman culture in their worship practices and societal values. While Romans adhered to a structured and fearful approach to their gods, Christians emphasized a personal and intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ, challenging the Roman religious norms. The concept of family within the early church was significant, promoting mutual love and equality among believers, contrasting sharply with the hierarchical societal structure of the Roman world.

Introduction

2min

Exploring the Countercultural Nature of Early Christianity

4min

Roman Religion and Persecution of Christians

7min

Challenges to Roman Religious Norms

12min

Exploring the Compelling Message of Christianity in Contrast to Roman Beliefs

5min

What made the first Christians so different from their surrounding culture? How did their worship differ from the way the average Roman citizen viewed the gods? Why did the early church view themselves as a family and why is that so significant? We’ll discuss these questions and more with our guest Dr. Nijay Gupta around his new book, Strange Religion: How the First Christians were Weird, Dangerous and Compelling.

Nijay K. Gupta (PhD, Durham University) is professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary. He is cohost of the Slow Theology podcast, founder of the Crux Sola blog, and has written numerous books, including Tell Her Story, A Beginner's Guide to New Testament Studies, 15 New Testament Words of Life, and commentaries on Galatians, Philippians, Colossians, and 1 and 2 Thessalonians.

Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2024/christianity-as-a-strange-religion.

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Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.

Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically.
Watch video episodes at: https://bit.ly/think-biblically-video.

To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.

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