A Week In the Life of Ephesus (A Week in the Life Series)

"In this historical novel, David deSilva paints a vivid portrait of Ephesus and brings to life the compelling struggles faced by early Christians. Supplemented by historical images and explanatory sidebars, this imaginative novel digs into the early Christians' conflict with the religious cults of the day as well as the Roman empire"-- Provided by publisher Preface Characters in the Drama 1 New Year's Day (1 Kaisaros, 9 Kalends October) The Divine Artemis Sends Birthday Wishes Musical Instruments in the Roman Period Roman Asia's Calendar A Symposium in the Prytaneion The Title Neōkoros 2 Roman Piety, Roman Peace (2 Kaisaros, 8 Kalends October) In Serapion's Town House The Harbor of Ephesus Titus Flavius Zeuxis The Jewish Community of Ephesus The City Fathers Convene The Third Horseman and Domitians Edict The Staff of the Imperial Cult 3 In the Shadow of the Gods (3 Kaisaros, 7 Kalends October) Asia's Shared Temple of the Augusti in Ephesus Civic Pride and Imperial Cult In the Shade of the Basilica Stoa In the Merchants' Quarter Aelius Aristides on the Roman Imperial Economy 4 The Lord's Day (4 Kaisaros, 6 Kalends October) Morning Orisons Christian Worship at the Turn of the First Century In the Great Theater Imperial Cult in the Games of Neapolis The Assembly in Amyntas's House The Varieties of Christianity in Ephesus 5 The Crucible of Faith (5 Kaisaros, 5 Kalends October) In Serapion's Town House In the Gymnasium Prochorus Arrives John's Removal to Patmos 6 The Day of Decision (6 Kaisaros, 4 Kalends October) The View from Above Domitian's Diminished Popularity and Ephesus's Flavian Temple In the Council Chamber The Fiscus Iudaicus and the "Synagogue of Satan" 7 The Day After (7 Kaisaros, 3 Kalends October) Business as Usual A Grace Defaced For Further Study How should Christians live in an age of empire? As the city of Ephesus prepares for a religious festival in honor of the emperor Domitian, a Christian landowner feels increasing pressure from the city's leaders to participate. Can he perform his civic duties and remain faithful to his Lord? Or has the time come for a costly choice? In this historical novel, biblical scholar David deSilva brings to life such compelling struggles faced by the early Christians. Their insistence on the absolute lordship of their own singular deity brought them into conflict not only with the myriad religious cults of the day, but with all the crushing power of the empire itself. Meticulously researched and supplemented by historical images and explanatory sidebars, A Week in the Life of Ephesus poses anew the timeless question of Christianity and empire. Here is a vividly imaginative portrait of the Roman empire in all its beauty and mightand hanging over it, the looming sky of apocalypse.