This Book is written to highlight some First Christian Perspectives regarding Almsgiving and Atonement. We do not believe that Almsgiving can remove sins as only the Blood of Christ can do that making us “New” in the “Resurrection” where we ‘taste the powers of the age to come now’ by His Mercy. We do believe that Almsgiving does remove some Judgment of sins. Regardless of how Scriptural one might argue, we all point to ‘men of God’ which history sets before us as the ‘founding persons’ of certain theology or exegesis. So if God used John Calvin (as almost all protestants will agree) and John Calvin in turn points to St. Augustine, then if St. Augustine contemplated these same doctrinal points to some extent and is not a heretic, so we contemplating on these possibilities likewise to even a deeper extent without concluding anything must likewise be not deemed as ‘false teachers’, right? If this Book causes your faith in Christ to stumble in any way, we encourage you to stop reading but if it increases, solidifies or increases your faith in Lord Jesus Christ, we exhort you to continue reading it in any way that may be beneficial as you may seek our Most Blessed Saviour and Pray for His Leading in this accordingly. Thank you for reading it & Peace to you!

In the light of the New Testament's conviction that Jesus Christ died for sins, and that the Cross is a 'once for all' act that makes the Temple cult unnecessary, this challenging work probes the reasons for the emerging doctrine of redemptive almsgiving in early Christianity. Do the New Testament writers themselves (even Jesus!) implicitly endorse the view that a 'supplementary' or alternative means of atonement is necessary? What is the background of this theme in Graeco-Roman sources and in the Hebrew Bible? What are the principal texts in early Christian literature that advocate almsgiving as a 'ransom' for sin? These questions firmly govern this investigation of the social and theological forces that gave legitimacy to a doctrine that at first appears to contradict the primary New Testament soteriology, namely that the death of Jesus Christ is the exclusive means of redemption from sin.

6 Love Covers a Multitude of Sins: Atoning Almsgiving in 1 Peter 4:8 and Its Early Christian Reception -- 7. Merciful Practice Is Good as Repentance for Sin: Resurrection, Atonement, and Care for the Poor in Second-Century Christianity -- 8. By Alms and Faith Sins Are Purged Away: Almsgiving and Atonement in Early Christian Scriptural Exegesis -- Conclusion -- Bibliography -- Index.

The Apostolic Fathers Commentary Series aims to complement the study of early Christianity through historical, literary, and theological readings of the Apostolic Fathers. Writers of the AFCS volumes seek to be mindful of critical scholarship while commenting on a final-form text. Shawn J. Wilhite's commentary on the Didache includes a brief introduction to the Didache, the use of Scripture by the Didachist, and the theology of the Didache. The commentary proceeds section by section with a close ear to the text of the Didache, relevant early Christian literature, and current scholarship.

This Content of this Book is a Chapter from the Lake of Fire – Hope for the Wicked One Day? Essays in First Christianity Book. We decided to separate out this particular chapter due to the lack of exposure regarding this particular Topic which might be of interest to Christians and potential believers too. We present the earliest known ancient orthodox concepts regarding the gradation of Salvation and how some of the early Church leaders have wrote about it presenting their quotes and sources accordingly. We hope that this Booklet might help you find your life calling in Lord Jesus Christ and help you persevere in faith toward the end of the Prize and Crown which the Blessed Lord may grant to you for your works one day. Knowing about these ancient mysteries of the Gospel may alter life decisions considerably and spark a fire of faith in you which may help even others to believe in Christ and find their calling in Him too.

Christ Centered Universalism has been a Hope in First Christianity among the earliest orthodox Christians as testified even as late in St. Augustine of Hippo's infamous quote in that even he didn't call them as heretics but soft hearted Christians who did not deny Holy Scripture. A form of Christian Universalism by Origen of Alexandria may have been condemned by a later council. For protestants, please take note that both St. Augustine and that later council consists of members who Pray to Virgin Mary something which is absent from even Origen of Alexandria. Therefore, just because something is majority by later early Christianity it does not necessarily mean that it was First Christianity Doctrine. In light of this, we discuss various viewpoints, quotes by Church Fathers and Ancient Christian Writings in support of this Hope. Since the time lapse and loss of records to these First Christians being replaced by later Christianity is hard to trace or prove due to scarcity of evidences, nevertheless we endeavour to present as much as we can including some rarely known quotes within Christian Universalism Hopefuls itself. An example of a set of rare quotes which point to Christ Centered Universalism in this book which may not be popularly known is that by St. Hillary of Poitiers, the Champion of Trinity in the West and a set of interesting quotes likewise by St. Ignatius of Antioch who was a direct disciple if St. John the Apostle of Christ himself. We see traces of such an understanding in a quote by St. Justin Martyr toward the Wicked being made subject to obey God eventually as one child while St. Ireneous of Lyons has a few interesting quotes especially those that relate to the Concept of Ages/Aeons/Olam to come where in a particular instance, St. Ireneus clearly shows that the strongest phrase "ages of Ages" refers to the subset "ages" out of a larger set of "Ages" implying limitedness. Just like God of Abraham does not limit God to Abraham only, the phrase God's Glory to the Age/Aeon/Olam (singular) need not limit God's Glory to one Age only but may be highlighting it for that Age (unknown long time period). We do not need to teach it as a 100% certain doctrine but we may hope for it as the Bible Verses can also be understood consistently to present this Hope in some Way. One Day we will know and all things are possible with God Who Alone Decides. Peace to you.

The Parable of the 5 Wise and 5 Foolish Virgins has been interpreted in many ways in Christianity. Here we look at First Christianity and the oldest way of interpreting it via the Church Fathers which was maintained in Principle even in the First protestant Martin Luther's Writings likewise till even John Wesley the Co-Founder of Methodism also held to it likewise as referring to Love God and Love your neighbour as yourself with Good Works in Action.