One has to keep in mind the difference between fact and fiction when reading this interesting and thought-provoking book. Scott's opinions regarding the church and its early leaders may not set well with those who take a strict literal view of the New Testament. To Scott, each New Testament writer sees the church from a different perspective, is influenced by their background and culture, yet writes accordingly in the Spirit. Inconsistencies in the NT are then to be expected, but the church eventually grew to overlook them instead of being overcome by them.

The book has ten chapters which give clues to the focus of the author:

I. Difference and Unity in the New Testament
II. The Primitive Teaching
III. Hellenistic Christianity
IV. The Religion of Paul
V. The Rivals of Paul
VI. Apocalyptic Christianity
VII. Western Christianity
IX. The Johannine Teaching
X. The Rise of a Common Religion

I believe the book is useful to persons who are interested in trying to develop a better understanding of what the primitive church may have been, and why it is so difficult to try to replicate it today.

The author is a good writer. The book is not technical. Indexed. ( )