primitive and early church, ca. 30-600

Explores the life of Jesus and the movement he started, challenging familiar assumptions and conventional notions about the origins of Christianity. Drawing upon new and sometimes controversial historical evidence and interviews with the nation's leading New Testament scholars, the series transports the viewer back two thousand years to the time and place where Jesus once lived and preached. Traces Jesus' life, focusing on the events that occurred after he died and on his first followers.

"Offers a history of the rise of Christianity in the classical world that focuses on its . . . cost, in terms of violence and . . . intolerance, that helped bring upon the dark ages"--OCLC.

Examines the public and private lives of early Christians in the context of ancient Rome from the death of Jesus to Emperor Constantine's legalization of Christianity in 354 C.E.

"Explores the mysterious and often paradoxical lives and legacies of the Twelve Apostles."--Dust jacket.

Tensions rise between the female and male followers of Jesus, including Ester, Mary Magdalene, John, and Simon Peter, from his crucifixion through his resurrection as Ester accuses the men of cowardliness in the face of their master's persecution and the men regard the women's favor in the eyes of the Lord with jealousy.

Atretes, a revered gladiator, has won his freedom and vows to find the son he believed had died, but retrieving the baby from Rizpah, the young widow who has raised the child from birth, proves more difficult than he thought it would be, and Atretes is moved to take Rizpah into his household and into his heart.

Explores the social history of ancient Palestine and the emergence of major faiths during the time of Christ.