Understanding the origins and beginnings of Christianity historically and placing them within the context of historical development is one of the greatest tasks faced by historians. However, with anxious hesitation, all historians have so far avoided this challenge: they take Christianity as a given entity, tracing its further development, the influences of general cultural currents, and the conflicts it encounters with world powers; yet they seem to regard its beginnings as outside their scope. Nevertheless, there is a very rich material of the utmost importance that awaits historical treatment; on the other hand, the usual representations lack coherence when they begin, for instance, with the Neronian persecution or the development of church doctrine, treating what precedes as a historical undercurrent.