Christianity at the Crossroads
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
Christianity at the Crossroads examines the crucial issues that faced the second-century Church – a period often neglected or overlooked in other studies. It was during this period that the fledgling Church struggled to work out its identity and stay true to the vision of Christ and the apostles. Threatened by divisive controversies from within and fierce persecution from without, the Church’s response to these and other issues not only determined its survival; it was to shape the beliefs, values and lives of millions of Christians throughout the world over the next two millennia.
- Considers seriously, the socio-cultural background of the early Church
- Examines identity formation and belief systems in 2nd century Christianity
- Presents a nuanced account of the development of the Christian canon
- Introduction: What is so important about the second century
- A peculiar identity: The sociological make-up of second-century Christianity
- A strange superstition: The political and intellectual acceptability of the second-century Christianity
- Worshipping Jesus: The ecclesiological structure of second-century Christianity
- Alternative pathways: Diversity in second-century Christianity
- The Great Church: Unity in second-century Christianity
- A textual culture: The literature of second-century Christianity
- A new Scripture: The New Testament canon in second-century Christianity
- Conclusion: Christianity at the crossroads
Top Highlights
“Although the boundaries of this collection would not be solidified until the fourth century, the essential bulk of it was in place by the middle of the second century.” (Page 8)
“We must be careful not to study second-century Christianity as if its future were already predetermined.” (Page 5)
“the second century has proved to be one of the most critical periods for the emergence of the New Testament canon” (Page 8)
“‘orthodox’ writers such as Polycarp, Ignatius, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria” (Page 7)
“Stark suggests the early Christian population may have been composed of nearly two-thirds women” (Page 36)
Kruger correctly points to the second century as crucial in the formation of what became subsequent Christianity, and the New Testament too. This book will serve readers well in pointing to important developments, issues, writings and people that make the second century essential for the study of Christian origins
—Larry Hurtado, emeritus professor of New Testament Language, Literature and Theology, University of Edinburgh
In this well-written study, Michael J. Kruger makes accessible the overlooked, yet fascinating, world of second-century Christians. He not only introduces readers to the key texts, figures and modern scholars in the discussion, but also the social circumstances in which second-century Christians made their distinct identity claims. Kruger treats complex topics, such as the relationship between Judaism and Christianity, pagan criticisms of Christians or the textual culture of early Christians, with nuance. Christianity at the Crossroads is a fantastic introduction to second-century Christianity.
—Chris Keith, professor of New Testament and Early Christianity, St Mary’s University, London
- Title: Christianity at the Crossroads: How the Second Century Shaped the Future of the Church
- Author: Michael J. Kruger
- Publisher: SPCK
- Print Publication Date: 2017
- Logos Release Date: 2022
- Pages: 256
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Bible. N.T. › Canon; Church history › Primitive and early church, ca. 30-600
- ISBNs: 9780281071319, 9780281071326, 0281071314, 0281071322
- Resource ID: LLS:CHRSTNTYCRSSRDS
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2025-08-08T17:00:27Z
Dr. Michael Kruger serves as the President and Samuel C. Patterson Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at the Charlotte campus of Reformed Theological Seminary. He earned his Ph.D. under one of the world’s leading text-critical scholars, Larry W. Hurtado, at the University of Edinburgh, where he researched a parchment fragment of an apocryphal gospel, P.Oxy. 840. He graduated summa cum laude with a M.Div. from Westminster Seminary California, and received his B.S. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research interests center upon Christian Origins, particularly the development of the New Testament canon within the context of the early church.
Prior to joining the RTS faculty, Dr. Kruger served in the pastorate for several years at Church of the Redeemer in Phoenix, AZ. There he developed a passion for preaching and ministry which he passes on to his students in the classroom. Dr. Kruger has been a member of ETS for 18 years serving on the editorial board of the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, as well as vice-president in 2017 and president in 2019. He is the co-founder and co-chair of the ETS study group, “NT Canon, Textual Criticism and Apocryphal Literature.” In addition to his faculty duties, he currently serves part-time as the Pastor of Discipleship Training at Uptown Christ Covenant Church in downtown Charlotte.
He is the author of thirteen books, including Bully Pulpit: Confronting the Problem of Spiritual Abuse in the Church (Zondervan, 2022, Book of the Year” award from The Gospel Coalition, ministry category). His book Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College (Crossway, 2021, “Book of the Year”, Southwestern Baptist Journal of Theology, Worldview/Apologetics category), and Christianity at the Crossroads: How the Second Century Shaped the Future of the Church (SPCK, 2017; IVP Academic, 2018, “Book of the Year”, The Gospel Coalition, history and biography category).
Dr. Kruger regularly speaks, lectures, and teaches throughout the United States and the world—including conferences such as The Gospel Coalition and the Ligonier Conference. In addition to his academic publications, his popular-level articles have appeared in places like Modern Reformation, Tabletalk Magazine, The Gospel Coalition, and the Wall Street Journal. He also blogs regularly on his own website, Canon Fodder.
Dr. Kruger and his wife Melissa B. Kruger have been married for almost 25 years and have three children.
Reviews
1 rating
Patrick
1/19/2022
I don't know if Kruger could even write a bad book. Kruger once again shows himself to be a well balanced scholar and one of the greatest living New Testament scholars out there. This book does cover the essence of what Christians in the 2nd century were dealing with and/or thought. He looks at who made up the church at the time and how radical the make up was. During that discussion he breaks apart some charges leveled at early Christianity like that they were all illiterate, poor slaves. He looks at the start of the heretical groups that were foretold by the Apostles and showed that the core of Christianity had cemented the fact that there was only one path in faith through Jesus Christ. He builds from his work of "Heresy of Orthodoxy" with a discussion on 2nd century unity in Christianity. Finally he takes a look at the books and canon of the church during that time. I can't say much more than Kruger knocks it out of the park and covers what needs to be covered with this subject. He is fair to present alternative views but does also critique them for the views he espouses. This is a really great book for those who may doubt the rich and unified history of Christianity in its infancy and where it begins to walk - in the 2nd century. Final Grade - A+