I could not have completed this book—at least not in any reasonable amount of time—without the help of a number of gifted graduate students at Palmer Seminary at Eastern University, where I teach. Lori Baynard, Heather Biscoe, David Fuller, Rebecca Hall, Stefanie Israel, Rachel Lesher, and Howard Pinder served (in their capacity as Sider Scholars) as helpful assistants, doing research on different chapters. In addition, David Fuller typed and retyped successive versions, becoming expert at deciphering my handwriting. To each of them I offer my special thanks.
I also want to thank Bob Hosack, my editor and friend at Baker, for his help and wisdom over many years. He has been an important part of making my long partnership with Baker Publishing Group a very satisfying experience.