Description
Book SynopsisThis highly readable investigation of the early church explores the revolutionary nature, dynamics, and effects of the earliest Christian communities. It introduces readers to the cultural setting of the house churches of biblical times, examines the apostle Paul's vision of life in the Christian church, and explores how the New Testament model of community applies to Christian practice today. Updated and revised throughout, this 40th-anniversary edition incorporates recent research, updates the bibliography, and adds a new fictional narrative that depicts the life and times of the early church.
Table of ContentsContents Preface to the Third Edition Preface to the Second Edition Preface to the First Edition Introduction 1. The Sociocultural and Religious Settings 2. The Gospel of Other-Directed Freedom 3. Church in Family Business Residences 4. Church as Present Heavenly Reality 5. The Community as a Loving Household 6. The Community as an Organic Harmony 7. Mutual Learning and Testing of Faith 8. Common Meals and Signs of Fellowship 9. The Sharing of Gifts and Ministry 10. The Interplay of Grace and Order 11. Unity and Diversity among the Members 12. The Contribution of Women in Church 13. Abolishing Religious Distinctions between Members 14. Defining Leadership by Function, Not Position 15. The Role of Visiting Missioners 16. The Link between Mission and Church 17. The Nature of Paul's Authority 18. The Exercise of Paul's Influence Conclusion Appendix 1: The Drift of the Pastorals Appendix 2: Going to Church in the First Century Glossary Indexes
