Includes bibliographical references and index.

Print version record.

Within a decade, St. Paul established the Church in the four provinces of Galatia, Macedonia, Achaia and Asia. This informative study focuses on the social background to the Apostle's missionary journeys with comparisons between his methods and those of the modern day. The book divides into five parts; the first examines the social and religious world which the Apostle inhabited in AD 50; the second addresses how St. Paul presented the Christian Gospel and his financial policy of self-support for the new churches. Here, contrasts are made between St. Paul's financial and missionary principles, which differ alarmingly from those of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The rapidity of the Apostle's appointment of responsible church leaders is sharply contrasted with the slowness of the present in the third part. Part four deals with St. Paul's procedures for authority in churches, where those of the present day fail to address the conscience of the local church. Conclusions are provided in part five and the clarity and vigour of Allen's style ensures the reader's interest is maintained to the end. "Many missionaries in later days have received a larger number of converts than St. Paul; ... but none have so established churches. We have long forgotten that such things could be."--Extract from Chapter One.

Front Cover -- Other titles by Roland Allen published by The Lutterworth Press -- Title Page -- New Foreword by Michael Nazir-Ali -- Foreword to the 1960 Edition -- Author's Preface to the 1927 Edition -- Contents Page -- Part One : Antecedent Conditions -- Chapter 1: Introduction -- Chapter 2: Strategic Points -- Chapter 3: Class -- Chapter 4: Moral and Social Condition -- Part Two: The Presentation of the Gospel -- Chapter 5: Miracles -- Chapter 6: Finance -- Chapter 7: The Substance of St Paul's Preaching -- Part Three: The Training of Converts -- Chapter 8: The Teaching -- Chapter 9: The Training of Candidates for Baptism and Ordination -- Part Four: St Paul's Method of Dealing with Organized Churches -- Chapter 10: Authority and Discipline -- Chapter 11: Unity -- Part Five: Conclusions -- Chapter 12: Principles and Spirit -- Chapter 13: Application -- Chapter 14: Epilogue: A Present-day Contrast -- Index to Bible References -- Back Cover.

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