Parkyns shares four reasons that caused the explosive growth of Christianity in the late 1st century and 2nd century. He identified the growing seeds of failure, such as the tendency to 'bind the gospel with legal restrictions.' Both Paul and Jesus warned of corruption in the Church; the reality of the grace of God and the gifts of the Spirit were lost. Increasing differences between laity and clergy developed into an 'obey us' mentality and the growing corruption gave birth to hermit movements.
