Early Christianity did not exist in the first three centuries after Jesus' death. What existed was a multitude of Christianities. The developments of the communities and the paths of their members could hardly have been more different. The early Christians grappled with the question of what a truly Christian life might look like, arriving at various answers. Under these conditions, a diversity of beliefs and Christian values emerged, which had immediate effects on the individual’s way of life. This book tells the story of a Christian world beyond dogmas and council decrees. How did one identify as a Christian or a Jew - and who was actually a pagan? Which authorities should one listen to in a world so rich in misdirections and temptations? How should one care for oneself and for one's neighbor?.