How did Christian missions happen in the early church from AD 100 to 750? Beginning with a brief look at the social, political, cultural, and religious contexts, Mission in the Early Church tells the story of early Christian missionaries, their methods, and their missiology. This book explores some of the most prominent themes of mission in early Christianity, including suffering, evangelism, Bible translation, contextualization, ministry in Word and deed, and the church. Based on this survey, modern readers are invited to a conversation that considers how early Christian mission might inform global mission thought and practice today.

Edward L. Smither (PhD, University of Wales-Trinity St. David; PhD, University of Pretoria) serves as the Dean of the School of Missions and Intercultural Ministry and Professor of Intercultural Studies and History of Global Christianity at Columbia International University.