universalen Missionsaktivitäten. Selbstverständlich war das entstehende Christentum in die religiösen und kulturellen Traditionen seiner Zeit eingebunden, die es aber von der Christuserfahrung her neu interpretierte, dabei Grenzen überschritt und etwas Neues schuf. [The Emergence of Early Christianity. New Contributions] In six previously unpublished essays, Udo Schnelle - an internationally recognized New Testament scholar - addresses central questions on the emergence of early Christianity, with the focus on early Christianity's relationship to Judaism. With a myriad of methodological questions, he takes into account historical developments from different directions, avoiding single-line, ideologically oriented global theses. They show that one can assume, especially with Paul and his communities from around 60 AD onwards, that the new movement had its own momentum and independence, which was also observed by the Romans and Jews. It is particularly visible at several levels: the development of theological concepts, community self-organization, literary production, education, and in universal missionary activities. Of course, the emerging Christianity was integrated in the religious and cultural traditions of its time. Yet it reinterpreted them from the experience of Christ, crossing boundaries and creating something new.