In this work, the well-known theorist of German Social Democracy focuses on the social prerequisites for the emergence of Christianity. The author analyzes the economic, political and spiritual prerequisites that caused the need for a new religion, shows on what historical basis and under the influence of what external influences Jewish monotheism developed and how the Christian church arose on its basis. K. Kautsky explains why the memory of the founder of the original Christian community has not disappeared so completely as the memory of other messiahs. The work has not been published in Russian since 1930. and has long been a bibliographic rarity. Designed for a wide range of readers. Contents G. and . Ezrin . Karl Kautsky and His Book'The Origin of Christianity? 1 Foreword 9 Division I . Sources of Early Christianity 15 Chapter 1. Pagan Sources 15 Chapter 2. Christian Sources 18 Chapter 3. The Struggle for the Image of Christ 23 Division II . Social Order in the Age of the Roman Empire 26 Chapter 1. Slavery 26 Chapter 2. Political system 46 Chapter 3 . Mental and Moral Condition of the Roman Society 61 Odt III. Judaism 97 Chapter 1. Israel 97 Chapter 2. Judaism after the Babylonian Captivity 118 Chapter 3. The Struggle of the Party in Jerusalem 140 Division IV. Early Christianity 166 Chapter 1. Original Christian Community 166 Chapter 2. Christian Messianism 182 Chapter 3. Judeo-Christians and Pagan-Christians 195 Chapter 4. A History of Christ's Suffering 201 Chapter 5. Evolution of the internal structure of the original Christian community 208 Index of names 245