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James Collazo, baptized in North Macedonia close to where the apostle Paul once preached, is a paleo-orthodox Wesleyan teaching minister and theologian passionate about reviving the beliefs and practices of the early church. He holds a Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.) from Southwestern College in Kansas and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Religion from American Military University. For more than twenty years, he has taught the Bible and adult faith formation in churches, college ministries, and military chapels. His faith journey spans Catholic, Evangelical, and Mainline Protestant traditions, ultimately leading him to embrace a “first-century faith.” James specializes in the historical-grammatical method of biblical interpretation, early church history, and Wesleyan theology. He is a member of the Wesleyan Covenant Association, the Society of Evangelical Arminians, and the Society for Post-Supersessionist Theology. He also founded the First Century Christian Faith online teaching ministry.
Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
First-Century Faith by James Collazo explores Christian theology through a unique lens, mixing biblical teachings with personal and cultural observations. Collazo investigates the resilience of the Arctic woolly bear caterpillar, using it as a metaphor for divine design and resurrection. He speaks on significant theological concepts, such as God's sovereignty, Christology, and the Holy Spirit, drawing from biblical texts and historical giants like Paul and Søren Kierkegaard. Collazo critiques modern theological movements like the seeker-sensitive church model, championing a return to biblical orthodoxy and true discipleship. He shares his own experiences, including his time at Camp Liberty and in Iraq, and discusses theological perspectives on salvation, free will, and the atonement. Collazo encourages an approach to scripture with a first-century perspective, to value the theological significance of creeds, and to engage in respectful dialogue when sharing the gospel.
First-Century Faith: Reviving Christian Origins in Belief and Practice is a comprehensive and exhaustively researched invitation for readers to review modern Christian life and theology in a thoughtful, approachable way. James Collazo’s writing is clear and well-organized, making even some of the most complicated discussions accessible to a wide audience. I found Collazo's practical applications to be the book's greatest strength, especially in encouraging us to reconsider not just the concepts of faith, but how those concepts merge with contemporary issues. The most interesting section is Collazo's view on “scientism,” and the phenomena of almost wholly unquestioned authority of scientific experts. Collazo walks the walk, using kid gloves to prompt us to step back and think it over without overwhelming a reader with academic jargon, or posturing. I might not agree with everything, but I am also ready to admit that Collazo got me to consider them. Very highly recommended.
