Dr. Oscar Cullmann (1902-1999) was born in Strasbourg--then in Germany--where he studied classical philology and theology. From then on, he held a variety of teaching positions involving history and theology. He is best known for his extensive work in the ecumenical movement and can be partially credited for establishing a dialogue between the Lutheran and Roman Catholic traditions. Gary Habermas (Ph.D., Michigan State University) has written or edited over 40 books (20 on aspects of Jesus' resurrection). Other topics include near-death experiences, doubt, and suffering. He has also contributed over 70 more essays to other volumes, plus over 100 articles to journals and other publications. He has been a Visiting or Adjunct Professor at over 15 different graduate schools, teaching dozens of courses. He is Distinguished Research Professor in the PhD program and Chair of the Philosophy Dept. at Liberty University. Benjamin C. F. Shaw (Ph.D. [Cand.], Theology and Apologetics, Liberty University) has written eight book chapters or journal articles, including: ""What's Good for the Goose is Good for the Gander: Historiography and the Historical Jesus,"" in the Journal for the Study of the Historical Jesus, and (with Habermas) ""Agnostic Historical Jesus Scholars Decimate the Mythical Jesus Popularists,"" in Philosophia Christi. He has delivered lectures and essays at universities (including the University of Virginia) and conferences. He has been a Graduate Assistant for Gary Habermas for the past five years.

'Among historians of the Early Church in Europe today, none surpasses Professor Cullmann, wrote Professor F. F. Bruce in a review of this book, adding: 'this volume of studies is assured of wide and eager acceptance.' A reviewer from a quite different religious background, Father Gervase Mathew, O.P., noted that these essays are 'marked by three rare qualities: strong sanity, exact scholarship and Christian charity'. 'All are written with the author's customary distinction, clarity and orderliness, ' said an Anglican, Canon Montefiore, about this 'fine collection of brilliant essays'. The Early Church was first published in English in 1956. For this edition five of the chapters (2-6) have been selected as being of special importance, but the original pagination has been retained for the convenience of scholars. This arrangement, suggested by the volume's editor Dr A.J.B. Higgins, has been approved by Dr Cullmann