WENDY ELGERSMA HELLEMAN has a long and distinguished international teaching career spanning five decades. She has taught at various institutions around the world including the University of The Gambia, the University of Jos, Nigeria, Moscow State University, Russia, the University of Toronto, Canada, and a number of seminaries in the Philippines. Her PhD is in Ancient Philosophy from the Free University of Amsterdam, Netherlands, and she has authored a number of major publications over her career. MUSA A. B. GAIYA is a professor of church history at University of Jos, Nigeria. He did post-graduate studies in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the University of Jos. He is an ordained minister with the Evangelical Church Winning All, established by Serving In Mission. He has published several books and articles in reputable journals, locally and internationally. Musa enjoys cycling, reading and gardening and is married with four children.
Early Christianity: A Textbook for African Students, a significant
contribution, is very timely in addressing a broader readership of
Christians and Muslims interested in understanding an important
common heritage of contemporary Africans. A substantive resource
for students.
Tite Tienou, PhD
Research Professor, Theology of Mission,
The Tite Tienou Chair of Global Theology and World
Christianity,
Dean Emeritus, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School,
Deerfield, Illinois, USA
Wendy Helleman and Musa Gaiya provide an indispensable resource for
the study of early church history. Building on the work of Bediako,
Kalu and other African scholars, they take seriously Africa's
contribution to world Christianity - the text itself is anything
but Afrocentric however. It plumbs the depths of the great minds of
early African Christianity, placing them in the context of the
larger church and the theological, political, social and cultural
issues early Christianity in general faced. This is the kind of
Christian history text African Christians have been waiting
for.
Joel C. Elowsky, PhD
Professor of Historical Theology,
Director of the Study of Early Christian Texts,
Concordia Seminary, St Louis, Missouri, USA
Research Fellow, Centre for Early African Christianity
This significant history of the early church by two scholars who
have lived in Africa is long awaited. It is in-depth, up-to-date
and comprehensive. Highly recommended.
Timothy Palmer, PhD
Former Professor of Biblical Studies,
Theological College of Northern Nigeria,
Bukuru, Plateau State, Nigeria
This textbook gives a comprehensive account of the history and
thought of early Christianity, particularly in Africa, making it
easy to understand the trends and dynamics of present-day African
Christianity. Written in simple English, it is useful for students,
lecturers, Christians and Muslims. Rev Thomas A. Oduro, PhD
President, Good News Theological Seminary, Accra, Ghana This book
provides a concise summary of the history of the church from the
Jewish backgrounds of early Christianity until the fall of the
Roman Empire. It proceeds to provide the reader with an explanation
of a selection of the most influential events within this time
period. With its introductory level content, the book's goal is to
be an overview of early church history and not an exhaustive text.
It serves as an informative source for an undergraduate theology
student or any student in need of accessible, introductory material
regarding early church history.
Retief Muller, PhD
Associate Professor of Church History,
Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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