Dr. Justo Gonazalez's "Church History, Vol. 1," 112ff.

Chapter 11. Christian Life, pp.105-117—Dr. Gonzalez describes: (1) social origins of early Christians, (2) Christian worship, (3) the organization of the Church, (4) missionary methods, and (5) the beginnings of Christian art. He weakly describes the early, pre-Constantinian Christians as “from the lower eschelons of society (105) without any definitions of sociological markers. Were they not like the other 98% of Roman citizens? Who were the elites and what identified whom? No answer. One hears of Celsus’s famed arrogance, rebutted by Origen’s Contra Celsus, about Christians as illiterates, but what of the vast millions in the Roman Empire? Sounds like an academic elitist rather than a skilled sociologist or economist. A review of Christian worship is also offered, but through his Methodist lens of “celebration,” overworking the Eucharistic angle through Justyn Martyr—too simplistic was the marginal note years back and reconfirmed through multiple readings. Dr. Cranmer’s MP/EP gets at it far better—confession, absolution, LORD’s prayer, much Bible reading, praises, prayers, petitions AND Holy Communion—an anatomy of the soul and wide practices versus the rather cruel reduction of Dr. Gonzalez’s to Communion and celebration. Little is offered of note on church organization about bishops, presbyters and deacons. The missionary methods were conversions by conversations with neighbors and lifestyle issues. The beginnings of Christ art discusses catacombs and domiciles, a rudimentary form of art, e.g. the fish and the cross. Our view? Stick with Dr. Philip Schaff’s 8-volume set as an introduction to church history. There is no discussion of the canon, systematics or key doctrinal developments. Grade? Being charitable, a “C,” average.