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Vincent M. Smiles provides a fresh look at the early Church and the faith with which they approached their dynamic, diverse community. With a brief introduction to each letter, Smiles brings to light issues such as authorship, dating, and historical situation. Smiles focuses on similarities and contrasts—such as eschatology, ecclesiology and the status of women–within these diverse, yet unified letters.
A reading of these letters as “partners in a conversation” provides both an understanding and inspiration for today’s Christian society: inspiration to meet our challenges in faith with the same creativity as did the early Church.
With an understandable, yet comprehensive manner, this commentary will appeal to those interested in the changing early Church and its ancient wisdom.
Comprehensive and understandable, the New Collegeville Bible Commentary series brings the timeless messages and relevance of the New Testament to today’s readers. With recent scholarship, this series provides vital background and addresses important questions such as authorship and cultural context.
The New Collegeville Bible Commentary includes New American Bible translation and will appeal to preachers, teachers, Bible study groups, and Bible readers.
Vincent M. Smiles, PhD, is chair of the Department of Theology at the College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University, Minnesota. He is author of The Gospel and the Law in Galatia.
