A candid narrative of the good, bad, and ugly of the early church. Where most books dance around the distasteful details of the church’s past, this one puts a spotlight on the negative and positive alike. With one ear attuned to the early church and another to contemporary culture, this book addresses the growing concerns both Christians and non-Christians have about how honest the church has been about its roots. While the facts are not always pretty, this book offers a forthright depiction of early Christianity, beginning with the apostles and ending after the time of Augustine.

Sinners and Saints is the first of a four-volume series that humanizes the history of Christianity by honestly examining both the noble and ignoble actions, doctrines, decisions, groups, movements, and practices of past Christians. This book is a frank yet fair assessment of the church’s background to help the reader accurately understand Christianity’s background and recognize how it continues to shape the present.