FIRST-CENTURY FAITH

A Christian author calls for a return to the old ways in this debut nonfiction work.

“The first century was the best of church history,” Collazo declares in the book’s opening lines. Despite being an era of extreme persecution of Christians within the Roman Empire, the apostles laid the groundwork, both in their theology and their actions, that continue to serve as a model for Christians today. Applying a first-century model of Christianity, per the author, this book is “a call to action to do away with ‘church’ as we know it.” Describing his theology as “Paleo-orthodox,” Collazo details the teachings and practices of the early church fathers from a distinctly Evangelical Protestant perspective. Thus, not only is a historical rendering of Roman Catholicism largely eschewed, but so too are other interpretations of first-century Christianity that reject the Trinity, emphasize Gentile observations of Jewish legal traditions, and promulgate other nonevangelical beliefs. Organized thematically, the author’s analysis surveys first-century Christian beliefs across a range of more than 20 topics that span from baptism and the Holy Spirit to marriage and human nature. Though more scholarly minded readers, as well as those from Catholic or Orthodox perspectives, may prefer less engagement with evangelical sources, the text is supported by more than 500 endnotes and a 14-page bibliography. Collazo has a firm grasp on Christian doctrine and biblical exegesis and writes in an accessible style geared toward “the average churchgoer,” as he aims to bridge “the worlds of white-collar academia with blue-collar industry.” The author’s emphasis on engaging lay readers who may be unfamiliar with the context of first-century Christianity or the nuancesof evangelical theology is evidenced by the inclusion of a multi-page glossary and an ample assortment of charts, images, and other visual aids. While Christians of other traditions may disagree with the book’s conclusions, Collazo generally avoids strawman arguments and keeps his critiques fair and civil.

A well-researched (if skewed toward Evangelical Protestantism) study of first-century Christianity.