Michael J. KRUGER. Christianity at the Crossroads: How the Second Century shaped the Future of the Church.  Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP Academic, 2018. Pp. 256.  $23.40 pb. ISBN 978-0-8308-5203-1. Reviewed by Nathan R. KOLLAR, St. John Fisher College, Rochester, NY 14618.

Dr. Kruger provides us with a clear argument as to the importance of the second century in the life of the Christian church. He writes clearly, argues with precision and logic, and succeeds in what he sets out to do. His audience is the newly awakened student in theology who is a novice with second century Christian documents. This is, as he says, an introductory text.

As such he introduces us in successive chapters to the demographic makeup of the second-century, how the Christians were accepted politically and intellectually, their developing polity and worship, their rule of faith and the diversity amidst such theological uniformity. It is only natural that the president of the Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina, and professor of New Testament there, would spend time on the developing bible during this century. He does not disappoint. In two comprehensive chapters he argues for the existence of most of the current Canon during this time and describes how the copying process occurs in the transmission of the foundational texts of Christianity. He argues throughout the book for the centrality of the sacred texts in teaching, worship, and apologetics during the second century.  While admitting the oral nature of transmitting the contents of some of these texts he loudly proclaims the centrality of the sacred Christian texts for the transmission of the rule of faith for Christian polity and worship. As a sort of canon within a canon the Christian texts are the letters of Paul and gospels. The Christians are those who gather together to hear that Word of God (and the TANACK, of course), expounded for their growth in the Spirit, share a meal in in remembrance of Jesus who is Christ and Lord. All of this was an act of praise, thanksgiving and worship of Jesus. Those who did this were indeed ecclesia: a gathering of the baptized who worshipped not the gods of their neighbors but the God who is Jesus who is eternally alive for us.

Kruger’s method is to propose his thesis and then expound on it as he demonstrates from second century documents that it is true.  Almost in the old proof text methodology of the 50s, 60s, and 70s these ancient documents appear repeatedly to demonstrate the polity, worship, morals, and beliefs of second century Christians that Kruger claims continue until today. Certainly they are found in the syllabi offered at his seminary as found on its website.

Anyone who appreciates and expects footnotes will find them at the bottom of the page and well placed to provide sources for his claims and counterclaims. These are especially helpful when he offers two or three positions to one of his theses. His use of such sources differs from texts such as Bart D. Ehrman’s   The Triumph of Christianity (2018) that proclaims an eye catching thesis with few endnotes or Luke Timothy Johnson’s Among the Gentiles (2009) that deals with the same time period and texts from a more comprehensive position and supports his position with a greater variety of publishers and authors, both religious and non-religious.