The apostle John, writing at the end of the first century AD, warned Christians of church leaders who were rejecting John’s authority and the traditional teachings of the apostles, and even expelling faithful brethren from their congregations. Jeff Patton looks into scripture and the history of the time to add important information about the major changes in doctrine and observance that took place in the gentile Christian church beginning at the time of John’s writings. This important information about church authority is for all Christians who are looking to understand and practice the “Christianity” of Christ and the apostles.