The Church of the Catacombs: The Introduction to the Surging Life of the Early Church from the Apostles to A.D. 250, Based on Firsthand Accounts"Why did Christians gather in the catacombs? What do we know about their worship life? How did the perform baptism and celebrate the Eucharist? What forms did Christian teaching and church organization take? How did the church relate to government and society? These questions are answered in fascinating descriptions of life from apostolic times to A.D. 250. The author has succeeded in making the surging life of ancient Christians as live and fresh as the morning newspaper. He avoids the dullness of merely writing about the early centuries by introducing the reader to writers of the period. Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Hippolytus "speak" to the modern reader in their own words. These firsthand reports provide a direct line with the early Christian period. Readers will be surprised to discover how "modern" the issues of early Christians really are. The way they wrestled with problems of mission, worship, organization, teaching, and relationships to the state provides help for the same concerns in the 20th century. Walter Oetting offers adventure and discovery in The church of the Catacombs, volume one in a projected Church in History paper-back series." -Publisher |
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