Out of the Ashes: The Rise of Christianity from the Ashes of the Temple
Discover the dramatic origins of Christianity and how it emerged from the ashes of ancient Judea’s greatest crisis. When the First Temple fell in 586 BCE, the Jewish people faced an existential reckoning, leading to the evolution of powerful new ideas about the Messiah and redemption. Centuries later, under Roman rule, these ideas would give rise to a revolutionary movement—one that would transform from a Jewish apocalyptic sect into the foundation of the Christian Church. In this fascinating course, we’ll unravel the history of this transformation, exploring archaeological discoveries, ancient texts like the Dead Sea Scrolls and Nag Hammadi papyri, and insights from Greek, Roman, and Jewish sources. Join us for an eye-opening journey through history that will challenge what you thought you knew about the origins of Christianity.
Session 1: A rapid survey of 1500 years of Israelite history, from Abraham to the First Temple’s destruction, highlighting redemption under Hezekiah and its ultimate failure.
Session 2: The history of Judea from the First Temple’s destruction to the fall of the Second Temple.
Session 3: The evolution of Messiah and redemption, and the influence of earlier pagan ideas on Christianity.
Session 4: The rise of Rome, the fall of the Hasmoneans, and the rule of Herod through Pontius Pilate.
Session 5: Key figures of the time—Jesus, James, Josephus, and the Essene’s.
Session 6: Insights from the Dead Sea Scrolls, Gabriel Stone, and Nag Hammadi texts on Jesus, James, Thomas, and Mary Magdalene.
Session 7: The rise of competing Christianities, Gnosticism, and the Eastern cults that shaped Christian thought.
Session 8: The transformation from the “Primitive Church” to Constantine’s Christianity, and Paul’s reshaping of an apocalyptic Jewish sect into the Latin Church.
Can’t make it to one or some of the live sessions? Register anyway! All paid students will receive a recording of the classes they missed. But join us in real time for as many classes as you can to engage with the teacher, ask questions, and be part of the conversation!
David Meir-Levi is an American-born Israeli currently living in Palo Alto, CA. He taught Archaeology and Near Eastern History at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and at the University of Tel Aviv in the 60’s and 70’s, during which time he completed his service in the Israeli military. He has most recently lectured at universities such as John’s Hopkins, Florida State University, San Jose State University, and more.
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