The Philippian Fragment

by Calvin Miller

After months of meticulous archaeological sleuthing, Calvin Miller has discovered a long-lost second-century manuscript which demonstrates conclusively that in church life the more things change, the more they remain the same. In this fictional account, the author describes what might have happened in the first century and certainly is happening in the twenty-first. This Christian eBook is brought to you by Novo Ink.

Genres: Fiction, Christian Fiction, Christian, Christianity, Faith

175 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1982

About the author

Calvin Miller has written over 40 books of popular theology and inspiration. A former pastor, he is professor of preaching and pastoral ministry at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama. He and his wife, Joyce, have two grown children.

Reviews

[Tiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and thoughtful fiction; a first century pastor's experiences with churches and Romans and lions and things.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a satirical letter from one pastor to another in the early centuries of the church. It is almost entirely meant to be humorous. The author imagines what our current weird church problems would have looked like back then, picture a chariot with a rapture bumper sticker.

Overall, it was fine. It made me chuckle at points and roll my eyes at others. A lot of it felt like pastoral whining about how mean everyone is to the pastor. I probably would not have read it if someone in my church did not ask me to.

A lot of the reason I didn't fully appreciate this book is because I have studied and read too much from the patristic era. It was too hard for me to turn off the part of my brain that wanted to nitpick instead of acknowledging this is just meant to be funny.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truth book with story flair and wisdom; how the church may not understand the hardship and challenges it creates for the Pastor preaching the truth.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of a simple man doing his best to pastor his flock in the tension between lions and lepers. Inspiring, humorous and thought provoking!

[Geo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reminded me a little of the wit in Candide

[Michael Jeffries · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not gonna lie, I thought this was real. But it’s still very good!

[Gene · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a book that was to tongue-in-cheekly show the timelessness of the struggles of the Church of Jesus Christ, it seems very much a book of the 70's and 80's. Somehow it didn't speak to me today the way I think it would have back then. The church has moved on to other issues and other difficulties in this new century, thereby, in a sense, disrupting the theme of the story. Rather than really present the early church's struggles in a humorous, though authentic way, it simply modifies the problems of the church of the late 70s so that they can be historically and culturally grafted onto the early church. And if it was really as funny as was intended, it still may have made for good reading. Despite this criticism, some of the ways Miller presents fallen human nature harming the body of Christ are thought-provoking.

Two two-star books in a row for me. Hoping for something better soon.

[Donnis Short · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fresh look at pop Christianity from a fictional, historical
approach.

[Robin Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

That it was a very good read. I've bought several copies over the years and given them out to others and never regretted sharing them. It's a great little book!

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourites. Makes me smile as I identify the characters recorded in this letter from my own ministry. So glad God has a sense of humour.

[Kevin Casto · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting commentary on the church from the perspective of an early church leader with much humor included.