THE BELIEVERS: CHURCH

by Donald F. Durnbaugh ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 14, 1968

Mr. Durnbaugh's ""believers' church"" is roughly equivalent to what is more commonly known as the ""free church"" -- that is, a spiritual community of believers living ""in the fellowship of mutual correction, support, and abiding hope"" -- as opposed to synodal or episcopal, liturgical, credal, dogmatic and monarchical Churches. The book consists of an introductory section which defines the concepts involved and formulates definitions of terms. Then, there is a historical section, tracing the genesis and development from the Middle Ages to the present. A final section sets out the specific differences of the believers' churches, their major emphases and common characteristics with respect to discipleship and apostolicity, mission and evangelism, church and state, mutual aid and service, and sectarian and ecumenical stances. As a work of exposition, The Believers' Church stands somewhere between Littell's topical The Free Church and Westin's narrative The Free Church Through The Ages; it is perhaps less ample than either of those standard works, but immensely more readable and synthetic without the sacrifice of any of the important themes. A considerable work, though for a limited readership.

Pub Date: Oct. 14, 1968

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Macmillan

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1968

Categories: NONFICTION