Publisher's Synopsis
In Western church history, the movement which sought to go further than the Protestant Reformation has been called both the "Radical Reformation" and the "Free Church", as distinct from the national churches, such as the Church of England. They demanded a restoration of the "primitive church" reflected in the New Testament. This movement emerged in seven major branches: Pietists, Anabaptists, Brethren, Puritans, Methodists, Christians (Disciples), and Pentecostals. Each of these claimed to be nearer to the primitive church than the others. In this research, the claim of each is compared with the New Testament for appraisal and evaluation. The 8th chapter concentrates on the churches reflected in the New Testament (cf. Minear, Aune).
