Becoming a Christian in the early church brought enormous social costs. This article considers why anyone in that context would become a Christian, offering three reasons why Christianity attracted followers. These are the lessons the church can learn today in the cultural environment.

How relevant is the Old Testament for Christian ethics and how should it be used? The purpose of this first part of a two-part article is to survey some approaches to the question, both ancient and modern, examining assumptions and methods. Special notice is given to the early church, the time of the Reformation, and the modern period.

How did the early church view the revelation of God? The article discusses the views of the second-century apologists and their Christian contemporaries. The apologists claimed that the Scriptures contained knowledge unattainable by the human mind; a special inspiration was needed.

How did the early church view God's revelation? This article examines what Irenaeus wrote on this topic, mainly in his work Against Heresies.

How should the relationship between organized and charismatic ministry in the early church be perceived? What is the relation between church order and charismata? Fung critically engages with contemporary reconstructions of this relationship.

How does Luke represent Christian leadership in the early church? Giles finds it inappropriate to regard the ecclesiology of Luke as "early catholic." He emphasizes that those would lead in the Christian community are not rulers but servants.

Wright surveys the way the early church viewed war. He demonstrates how complex the views were during the period of the early martyrs, i.e. the first three centuries. The prominence of idolatry in the Roman army complicated the attitudes of Christians. The church did not function with a worked-out public ethics.

This article addresses the relationship between the church and Israel as it is reflected in the different views on Jesus as Messiah. The history of the early church reflects a vigorous debate between Jewish scholars and the church about the true identity of the Messiah. Probably the most well-known interaction from the patristic period is Justin Martyr's Dialogue with Trypho, who was the Jew from the second century.

What was the place and understanding of the Lord's Supper in the early church? How can a recovery of the early church's practice of the Eucharist help us to live in Christ in a more profound way? How is the grace of God mediated to us through the celebration of the Lord's Supper? These questions are reflected upon in relation to the developments in the Eucharist during the Middle Ages and the Reformation.

What did the early church believe about the second coming or return of Christ? This paper explores the views of the ante-Nicene fathers on this topic and touches upon the conditions of his return, the result of his return, personal preparation for his return, relationship to the first resurrection, tribulation, etc.

How does the New Testament view the Christian's relation to wealth and wealth accumulation? The author gives a basis for reflecting on this topic, and reflects on the early church's attempt to place its resources under the rule of Christ.

Kistemaker considers the place, significance, and importance of the Lord's Prayer in the early church.

Catechism teaching is under threat in many churches. This article shows that the church's instruction of the youth has always been the practice of God's people. Tracing this practice through the Old and New Testament, the early church, and the Reformation, the author encourages the church to continue in this practice.

This series of articles continues the discussion of the office of deacons. Looking at 1 Timothy 5:9-10 and 1 Timothy 3:11, this series focuses on how women in the church can support the work of the diaconate. This article gives a historical survey of how these texts were implemented in the early church and the middle ages in regard to the role of women in the church.

This article supports the use of bread and wine in the sacrament of Lord's Supper. The author is convinced that the replacement of wine by grape juice is unbiblical, and gives reasons for this based on the history of the early church.

This article on church history looks at the fall of Rome. Emphasis is on the impact of the fall of Rome on the early church.

This article on church history looks at some of the doctrinal beliefs of the early church. The author discusses the contemporary views on the doctrine of the second coming, the millennium, atonement, baptism, and church government and polity.

On this article about church history, the author looks at the early church with a focus on the book of Acts. The author discusses the Jewish nature of the early church, the early persecution of believers, and the message of the church, showing how the Gospel progressed amidst all this.

The influence of the Jews and Judaisers was significant in the life of the early church. Understanding their ideas helps us to understand the background behind many of Paul's epistles.

This article is about the Arian controversy in the early church. The author discusses the divinity of Jesus Christ, the beliefs of Origin and Athanasius with regards to the Trinity and Jesus Christ, and the Nicene Creed.

This article looks at the doctrine of the Trinity in the early church, specifically Tertullian and Hillary of Poitier's view of the Trinity.

This essay paints in broad brushstrokes a picture of what ministry looked like in the early church. The author discusses the ministry's organization, purpose and authority.