Not for the first time, reviewers have had very mixed feelings about Dr Barclay's writing, and his approach to the theology of the sacraments has been found wanting. On the other hand, considerable personal correspondence and requests to use the liturgy with which the book concludes show that once again, for the ordinary reader, the author has managed to bring new meaning to what he claims has become 'a ritual rather than a reality'. When we can neither grasp nor teach the truth, ' Dr Barclay goes on, 'it is better to get hold of some part of the truth which we can understand and on which we...

Each chapter begins with a brilliantly sketched account of the city in which the church addressed lived, followed by an exposition of the Letter to that church, concise, well-illustrated and written in an arresting style. His gift of bringing out the valuable meanings of Greek words is particularly helpful. This book will be a boon to teachers, preachers and Bible readers. Baptist Times Done with admirable clarity and most interestingly. It is just the kind of book to help anyone who wishes to lead a Bible Study Group. Expository Times Dr Barclay brings to his task the experience of the tried...