Studying “Fractionation” in Earliest Christianity in Rome and Ephesus

This study reveals significant similarities and differences between the earliest Christian communities in Rome and Ephesus, two major cities of the Roman Empire. It finds that both cities experienced 'fractionation,' a phenomenon characterized by local fragmentation influenced by various factors. Drawing on Peter Lampe's influential work on early Christians in Rome, the research compares these communities to assess whether their histories can be fruitfully contrasted. The study highlights how fractionation contributed to the development and perpetuation of distinct Christian identities in both cities.

Trebilco, P. (2013). Studying “Fractionation” in Earliest Christianity in Rome and Ephesus. Reflections on the Early Christian History of Religion - Erwägungen Zur Frühchristlichen Religionsgeschichte, 293–333. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004230675_013