The early Christian letters in this book are short sharp & to the point. They are full of clear practical advice for Christians taking their early steps in the faith & needing to know where the problems were going to come & what resources they could find to cope with them. But they also breathe the fresh air of delight in a new-found faith hope & life. They are full of wonder at the fact of Jesus himself at what hed done in giving his life to rescue people at what he had revealed about who God himself is. They are realistic in facing the dangers a Christian community will face from the world around trying to squash the church into its own ways of life & to stifle the rumour that the living God might be on the loose. & they are equally realistic in highlighting difficulties which may arise within the community itself. They draw richly on the ancient scriptures of Israel to help give the young Christians that all-important sense of depth in discovering who they really are within Gods love & purposes; & they range widely across issues of everything from politics to private life. They are a vital resource for every church & every Christian.