When Jesus Became God: The Struggle to Define Christianity during the Last Days of Rome

When Jesus Became God: The Struggle to Define Christianity during the Last Days of Rome

by Richard E. Rubenstein

4.4 (673)

4.4 stars from 673 reviews. Top 93% of Religion Spirituality books we track.

267 pages~4.5 hr readPublished by La DécouvertePublished 1999-01-01

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Last checked: Jun 30, 2026

Price history: $1.99 $12.99

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Fans of these authors will like this...

  • Bart D. Ehrman
  • Tom Holland
  • Mary Beard

Fans of these books will like this...

  • The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire
  • A History of Christianity

Perfect for you if...

  • You're interested in how religious doctrine actually gets decided, beyond what textbooks present as settled truth
  • You enjoy history that reads like a thriller, with real people fighting for what they believe matters most
  • You want to understand the roots of modern Christianity's divisions without needing a theology degree

Maybe not for you if...

  • You prefer your history focused on military campaigns and political leaders rather than theological debate
  • You're looking for a book that takes sides on which camp was 'right' rather than exploring the human conflict
  • You want a quick read. this requires patience with fourth-century theology and church politics

About this book

A panoramic view of early Christianity as it developed against the backdrop of the Roman Empire of the fourth century. While the story of Jesus and Christian persecutions under Rome are well known, the history of fervent debate, civil strife, and bloody riots within the Christian community as it formed is rarely described. Richard E. Rubenstein takes readers to the streets of the fourth-century Roman Empire during a fateful debate over the divinity of Jesus Christ. Under a Christian emperor, followers of Jesus no longer fear for their faith's survival. However, they split into two camps over worship's direction: Is Jesus the son of God and therefore distinct from God, or is Jesus precisely God on earth and therefore equal to Him? Two charismatic priests lead the vicious debate. Arius, an Alexandrian priest and poet, preaches that Jesus, though holy, is less than God. Athanasius, a brilliant and violent bishop, views any diminution of Jesus's godhead as the devil's work. Between them stands Alexander, the powerful Bishop of Alexandria, who must find a resolution to keep the empire united and the Christian faith alive. Through thorough historical, religious, and social research, Rubenstein recreates one of the most critical moments in religious history.

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Free$6.50$12.99Mar '21Jan '23Jan '24Dec '25
$1.99$12.99

Currently on sale at $2.99 — 77% off peak. Price has dropped 30 times over the last 5 years. Goes on sale roughly every 66 days. Typically stays discounted for 30 days.

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#69#250,455#500,840Jun '18Aug '23Dec '24Jun '26

Currently around #105K in the Kindle store — a niche title. Sales have softened 35% recently.

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3.5★4.3★5.0★May '23Apr '24Oct '24Apr '26RatingReviews

Currently 4.4★ from 673 reviews

Gaining approximately 4 new reviews per month. Rating has remained stable at 4.4 over the tracking period.

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Free$6.50$12.99Mar '21Jan '23Jan '24Dec '25PredictedJun '26

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This book is currently discounted at $2.99. It typically returns to around $12.99.

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Richard E. Rubenstein

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