Reviews

Promoting the thesis that the processes of moral and community formation are inseparable, Meeks (biblical studies, Yale Univ.) has written ``an ethnography of Christian beginnings,'' analyzing specific aspects of the Christian community in relation to its pagan environment. An outstanding example of Meeks's argument is the development of the Christian house church, patterned after the Roman household in many respects. Meeks has good control of all available canonical and noncanonical writings over the first two centuries. However, the paucity of information and the variety of doctrine and practice in the period before canon and practice were set results in a rather preliminary and, at times, sketchy survey that often leaves one with a sense of frustrated incompleteness. Although the book presents much significant comparative data, it is recommended for advanced students only.-- Eugene O. Bowser, Univ. of Northern Colorado, Greeley