This ground breaking study explores how the first fight between dispensationalists and covenant theologians started and how sociological factors were largely responsible for enflaming it. Surprisingly, most of the original protagonists on both sides were Presbyterians, and soteriology, rather than eschatology, was the original bone of contention between them. Understanding how the feud began may hold the key for rapprochement today. 'sheds welcome light on an episode of American church history that is as important as it has been neglected', Mark A. Noll