This work by the famous theoretician of German social democracy focuses on the social preconditions for the emergence of Christianity. The author analyzes the economic, political and spiritual prerequisites that gave rise to 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 did not disappear as completely as the memory of other messiahs. http://polit-kniga.narod.ru