The Early Christians: In Their Own Words

Rating:
Summary: Good compilation of early believers' writings
Review: Eberhard Arnold begins with a brief history of the gradual institutionalizing of simple discipleship into ecclesiastical Christianity. His understood intent, througout the book, is to bring believers back to the basic lifestyle of Christ that was so resplendent in the early disciples. Chapters on martyrs, description of early church life and worship, and the beliefs of the early Christians concerning prophecy, persecution, and the return of Jesus are especially beneficial. A MUST read for anyone who wants to "walk as Jesus did" (1 Jn. 2:6) and follow the examples of the early believers. I heartily recommend this stirring and passionate treatment of "authentic discipleship" by disciple Arnold.

Rating:
Summary: "Wonderful Reference Tool for Early Christianity"
Review: Eberhard Arnold's work on "The Early Christians," is an excellent source for understanding the beliefs and doctrines of the early christians in context of their own testimony and time. Arnold begins with a comprehensive introduction to shed light upon the social aspects of church society contrasted with its remarkable spread throughout the Pagan world. In other words, Arnold does a good job describing the initial steps of primative Christianity that would eventually leed to the well-structured and ecclesiastical institution that has prevailed to this very day. The testimonies recorded of these champions of faith, are composed with skill, and fit the criteria for which they were purposed in this work and in their time. Unfortunately, early christians didn't write that much, so we are indebted to work with what has existed from either oral tradition or scholarly manuscripts. There are no 'real' drawbacks to this work except the fact that the actual testimonies are few and emanate only from the scholarly retinue of the sencond century. Overall, this book gets four stars; the benefits range from quick reference to quotes(etc.), and to a broad spectrum of the personality and character of the early church itself.

Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite books, but everyone borrows it!
Review: I am still thankful for the day that I stumbled upon this book. Once I saw it, I just had to order it. I've never been disappointed. However, now that I have it all of my friends keep coming across it and borrowing it. I just got it back from a friend last week. I had it exactly one weekend, when another friend saw it and asked to borrow it.

This book doesn't feel as "flaky" as some books of early church writings. Not that other books are all bad, but sometimes I get the feel that they fit in with UFO sightings and things that go bump in the night. Nor is this book as "dry" as some books of early church writings. Not that they are all bad, but sometimes I get the feel that they are better read by people who take vacations in libraries and get excited about the prospects of learning some new, long lost, language. This book is interesting, easy to read, and contains a wealth of understandable information that adds to what we already know from Scripture.