From the cover. "Christianity arose out of a highly complex and rich environment. Its primitive character--that is to say, its character during the first two centuries after the Crucifixion--were shaped by many forces. Late Judaism is, of course, the primary influence; however, Professor Bultmann does not hold that Judaism is alone in its impact upon the formation of Christian beliefs and practices. In the course of PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY he examines the structure and import of Greek paganism, the role of the mystery religions, the ideas of Stoicism and Gnosticism. All contributed to shaping and moulding the fundamental doctrines of Christian life. It is Professor Bultmann's conviction that great movements such as Christianity, though not resulting from historical inevitability, can be better assessed and estimated if set against the background of their environments. In PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY he presents a challenging interpretation of the environment in which Christianity was founded and developed.