Here is a very informative and highly stimulating account of how the early Christians changed the world.

New way of life

As suggested by the subtitle, they did this by embracing a ‘Third way’, which, according to the author, was a phrase which first appeared in a second century letter by an unknown writer who wanted to describe the peculiar nature of Christianity to a member of the Roman elite.

‘Third’ in the phrase the ‘Third Way’ is intended to convey the sense of being neither Roman nor Jewish. The early Christian movement was distinct from both of these, and embodied a different and new way of life. Followers of Christ may have lived among Jews or Romans, but they believed in the reality of another and greater kingdom, one that was not of this world. This was based upon the centrality of Jesus in their lives, individually and corporately.

As such, they were alien residents wherever they lived, something which required a resilient faith as they faced the challenge of bearing witness to this king and kingdom within the massive expanse of the Roman Empire. This movement of the ‘Third Way’ may have grown steadily, but it did so under Rome’s watchful and sometimes hostile eye. With Jesus himself being the new Way, his early followers provided a movement that was unique in the ancient world, both in terms of belief and way of life. In particular, it neither accommodated itself to Rome nor isolated itself from Rome. Rather it provided a quiet but potent challenge from within.

They had to choose to live for Christ and to stand by their Christian convictions. Is this not the same for us today?

Christ alone

Out of this period of history, we are invited in this book to gain a perspective on where the Christian faith is today. As Sittser comments, “The premise of this book is that we, witnessing the end of Christendom, might have much to learn from Christians who lived before Christendom began.” (p17). Our circumstances may not be exactly the same but there is enough similarity between then and now to provide us with a model for consideration. They had to choose to live for Christ and to stand by their Christian convictions. Is this not the same for us today?

In one chapter, entitled ‘Authority’, Sittser takes up the example of Ignatius, whose faithfulness to the gospel led to him being martyred. This was typical of the early Church in general. Their authority came from Jesus himself and no amount of difficulties would persuade them to live otherwise, even when (indeed, especially when) they came under threat of persecution.

It is interesting to discover that the author originally set out to write a different book, one which explored how the early Christians took new converts and formed them into a faithful community of believers. In some ways, it is a pity he did not pursue this, as such a book on discipleship would have provided a most usable history for the Church today. However, Sittser abandoned this idea, “not because it was wrong but because it was misleading and incomplete.” (p173). It would have been good to hear more about why he found this to be so.

Their authority came from Jesus himself and no amount of difficulties would persuade them to live otherwise, even when (indeed, especially when) they came under threat of persecution.

More than history

One interesting fact which comes out of chapter 9 concerns baptism. In the New Testament, conversion leads straightaway to being baptised, as illustrated by the stories of the Ethiopian eunuch, the Philippian jailer, and the household of Cornelius. However, by the second century this was no longer the case. Why this change? The author explains that this was because they found it necessary to introduce a training program (a ‘catchumenate’) for new converts who had no, or very little, background in, or understanding of, Judaism. It took more time for these young believers to become functional disciples, and display solidity in faith and commitment.

Overall, though packed with historical details, this study is more than just a history book. The lessons drawn from this period of Christianity are worth further consideration. As expected from an author who is a professor of theology at a university in Washington state, Resilient Faith is well researched, and ends with an annotated bibliography, a full set of notes and an index.

Resilient Faith (222 pages) is published by BrazosPress, and is available from Amazon for £13.99 including p&p.