The developments of these communities and the practices of their members could hardly have been more different. After all, the early Christians struggled with the question of what a truly Christian life might look like and came up with various answers. Under these conditions, a variety of beliefs and Christian values emerged that had an immediate impact on an individual’s way of life. Thus, this book tells the story of a Christian world beyond dogmas and council decisions. During this time, did one feel like a Christian, a Jew? And who was really a heathen? What authority should one listen to in a world so full of deception and temptation? How should one look after one’s self and one’s neighbor in order to please God? And which path would help one resist all the earthly pleasures? Hartmut Leppin creates an engaging, colorful and multifaceted picture of the early days of Christianity.