p. 18, n. 2, _for_ cc. III, xxxi. Justin Martyr _read_ cc. III, xxxi; Justin Martyr. p. 36, n. 1, _for_ Isidore Loeb, _La Cabbale juive_, p. 587. F. Herman Krüger, _La Grande Encyclopédie_, _s.v._ Gnosticisme _read_ Isidore Loeb, _La Grande Encyclopédie_, _s.v._ La Cabbale juive; _ibid._ F. Herman Krüger, _s.v._ Gnosticisme. p. 37, n. 1, _for_ Thou the King, the Aeon of Aeons _read_ Thou King, Aeon of Aeons. p. 38, n. 3, _for_ Introduction (pp. xx-xxiii) _read_ Introduction (pp. lxi-lxiii). p. 69, n. 3, _for_ השטבה _read_ חשטפה. p. 72, l. 4, _for_ boundless _read_ thoughtless. p. 102, l. 22, _for_ Ecclesiasticis _read_ Ecclesiasticus. p. 129, n. 3, _for_ Canons _read_ Canon. p. 146, l. 17, _for_ its _read_ Its. p. 146, n. 2, _for_ the Five Words, translated in the text _read_ the five words translated in the text. p. 166, n. 2, _for_ 18 Eons _read_ 18 Aeons. p. 174, l. 1, _for_ die _read_ dies. p. 183, l. 10, _for_ Books _read_ Texts. p. 200, l. 10, _for_ Pistis Sophia _read_ Texts of the Saviour. p. 338, n. 2, _for_ Journal des Savants _read_ Journal des Savans. CONTENTS TABLE OF DATES . . . Pages xiii-xxvii BOOKS AND ARTICLES REFERRED TO . . . xxviii-xlviii INTRODUCTION Importance of study of Christian origins—Cause of popular misconceptions on the subject—Change of standpoint with progress of science of religions—Definition of science and religion—Apparent dilemma of orthodox—Christianity seems to follow evolutionary law like other faiths—Rivals of infant Christianity—Judaism, classical Paganism, and philosophy ruled out—Real competitors, Oriental religions, Gnosticism, and Manichaeism—Certain features common to surviving documents of all these faiths—Possibility of common origin—Question insoluble till origin and dates of Zoroastrianism ascertained . . . Pages xlix-lxiii CHAPTER I THE CONQUESTS OF ALEXANDER The extent of the Persian Empire and its government—Alexander’s aim, the marriage of Europe and Asia, attained after his death—Greek becomes common language—Importance of this for History of Religions—Ideas of antiquity about gods—Monotheism of philosophers, and of Hebrew Prophets—Aristotle’s _dictum_ that religion follows form of temporal government—Alexander, perfect type of monarch—Adoption of monarchical government by his Successors—Identification of Greek with barbarian gods—Worship of Syrian and other foreign gods in Athens—Increase of foreign worships after Alexander—Deification of Alexander and his Successors leads to Euhemerism—Change of religious views among Greeks—Age of innovation in religion—The missions of Asoka—Religious associations in Greece, their composition and influence—Low character of their priests and members—Alexander of Abonoteichos—Impulse given by associations to proselytism—Summary . . . 1-27 CHAPTER II THE ALEXANDRIAN DIVINITIES