The first edition of this book, published in 1948, was widely discussed. "There is hardly a page which does not bear evidence of shrewd insight, profound theological grasp and evangelistic passion," wrote Principal F. J. Taylor in The Churchman. Essentially, the book was an explanation of the theology behind the infant Church of South India in which Dr. Newbigin was a bishop.For this edition, first published in 1960, Dr. Newbigin wrote a new introduction. This drew out the significance of the Church of South India's experience after 1948, and was an important contribution to the continuing worldwide discussion. An outspoken commentary on the Lambeth Conference of 1958 is included.

The late Lesslie Newbigin was one of the twentieth century's most influential Christian thinkers. A founding bishop of the Church in South India, he later served as an associate general secretary of the World Council of Churches, before being called back to southern India as Bishop in Madras in 1965.