This comprehensive history traces the birth and growth of the Christian Church and the people who brought it into being.

The stories and contributions of the apostles provide an important entrée into church history. This comprehensive historical and literary introduction uncovers their lives and legacies, underscoring the apostles' impact on the growth of the early church. The author collects and distills the histories, legends, symbols, and iconography of the original twelve and locates figures such as Paul, Peter, and John in the broader context of the history of the apostles. He also explores the continuing story of the gospel mission and the twelve disciples beyond the New Testament.

From Campbell and Stone to Craddock and Keck, biblical interpretation in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has traveled a distinctive path. In search of a Disciples hermeneutic, this study looks intensively at the pattern of interpretation--and interpreters--from the denomination's beginnings in the early nineteenth century to the present.

Acts is the sequel to Luke's gospel and tells the story of Jesus's followers during the 30 years after his death. It describes how the 12 apostles, formerly Jesus's disciples, spread the message of Christianity throughout the Mediterranean against a background of persecution. With an introduction by P.D. James