Peril and Peace chronicles the growth of the Church to 550 AD, focusing on the formation of doctrine, early persecution and martyrdom, and the beginnings of missionary activity. Subtly exploring complex themes in narrative form, authors Mindy and Brandon Withrow draw readers into the realities of the Early Church and all the difficulties encountered by those establishing an infant religion to all the ends of the earth.
Saints profiled include Paul, Jerome, Justin Martyr, Polycarp, Athanasius and Patrick—as well as a few less well-known such as Cyprian and Ambrose, and groups like the Cappadocians. This isn't just a series of mini-biographies, however: readers learn about ecclesiological structure, the writing of the creeds, the establishment of the biblical canon, and many other matters essential for a full understanding of Church history, all presented in a clear and engaging style that will keep students and adults reading to the end.
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