Looking at the life of Paul as outlined in the book of Acts, this work compares what the claims of the Bible are compared with other ancient sources. Although the claims of Acts are undisputed within the Church Renan still applies the higher criticism of other works.
Continuing in his method of higher criticism, Renan uses this work to continue to story of Christ as his apostles undertake the task of spreading his word to the farthest reaches of the world. This work tracks the spread of Christianity from the Pentecost to the tribes of Europe and the polytheistic faiths of the Near East.
In China, an Army Is Rising... For years, China’s population size, economic growth, and thirst for military power have taken center stage by those who study biblical prophecy. Most end-time experts have seen the “Red Dragon” as an aggressor to Israel. In Revelation 16 and 19, John's mention of the armies involved in the final battle marking the end of the world could well depict China’s army today. However, a different kind of army is also rising in China, and it is quickly approaching two hundred million people. This army is for Christ, not against Him. It is a host of Christians from the Chinese underground house church who are fighting a battle against principalities and powers and spreading the gospel in unprecedented ways under intense persecution. These Christians are motivated by a powerful vision called “Back to Jerusalem.” The Chinese church is quietly working to complete the Great Commission by bringing the gospel to unreached peoples in China’s eastern provinces and to all the countries between the border of China and the city of Jerusalem. Yet there’s even more to this fascinating development. What you read in this book may change your view of end-time prophecy. Back to Jerusalem is not just a missions movement of the Chinese church. It is an eschatological event confirmed by both the Old and New Testaments. God is using the Red Dragon to fulfill His ultimate purposes. China and End-Time Prophecy explores the surprising connection between ancient prophecy and China’s modern missions phenomenon. This book will give you a new vision of what it means to go into all the world with the gospel. Most of all, it will show you why the completion of the Great Commission is inevitable and the return of Christ is unstoppable.
This work had a large hand in shaping modern Biblical criticism. Using the German form of criticism in his own day Renan goes through the Gospels and examines the miracles and other aspects of the life of Jesus. Although the work denies the divinity of Christ, this documents role in shaping how we work with the Bible is significant.