The Church In History

A standard survey of the history of the Christian church from A.D. 33 to modern times, The Church in History by B. K. Kuiper has long been the textbook of choice for many secondary schools and Bible institutes, having sold well over 150,000 copies since first published more than a half century ago. Detailed and fact-filled yet balanced and readable, this volume offers a panoramic view of the church's growth worldwide throughout the past 2,000 years, including a comprehensive section on the church in the United States and Canada. With close to 300 photographs, maps, and timelines throughout and thought-provoking study questions at the end of each chapter, The Church in History is an excellent introductory resource for students or for anyone wanting to better understand the history of the church.

An absorbing survey of the history of the Christian church from A.D. 33 to the present, including a comprehensive section on the church in the United States and Canada. An ideal text for seondary schools and Bible institutes.

This classic includes the following chapters: Period I. From the Beginnings to the Gnostic Crisis Section I. The General Situation Section II. The Jewish Background Section III. Jesus and the Disciples Section IV. The Palestinian Christian Communities Section V. Paul and Gentile Christianity Section VII. The Interpretation of Jesus Section VIII. Gentile Christianity of the Second Century Section IX. Christian Organization Section X. Relations of Christianity to the Roman Government Section XI. The Apologists Period II. From the Gnostic Crisis to Constantine Section II. Marcion Section III. Montanism Section IV. The Catholic Church Section V. The Growing Importance of Rome Section VI. IRENiEus Section VII. Tertullian and Cyprian Section VIII. The Triumph of the Logos Christology in the West Section IX. The Alexandrian School Section X. Church and State From 180 To 260 Section XI. The Constitutional Development of the Church Section XII. Public Worship and Sacred Seasons Section XIII. Baptism Section XIV. The Lord’S Supper Section XV. Forgiveness of Sins Section XVI. The Composition of the Church and the Higher and Lower Morality Section XVII. Rest and Growth, 260-303 Section XVIII. Rival Religious Forces Section XIX. The Final Struggle Period III. The Imperial State Church Section I. The Changed Situation Section II. The Arian Controversy to the Death of Constantine Section III. Controversy Under Constantine’S Sons Section IV. The Later Nicene Struggle Section V. Akian Missions and the Germanic Invasions Section VI. The Growth of the Papacy Section VII. Monasticism Section VIII. Ambrose and Chrysostom Section IX. The Christological Controversies Section X. The East Divided Section XI. Catastrophes and Further Controversies in the East Section XII. The Constitutional Development of the Church Section XIII. Public Worship and Sacred Seasons Section XIV. Lower Christianity Section XV. Some Western Characteristics Section XVI. Jerome Section XVII. Augustine Section XVIII. The Pelagian Controversy Section XIX. Semi-Pelagianism Section XX. Gregory the Great Period IV. The Middle Ages to the Close of the Investiture Controversy Section I. Missions in the British Islands Section II. Continental Missions and Papal Growth Section III. The Franks and the Papacy Section IV. Charlemagne Section V. Ecclesiastical Institutions Section VI. Collapsing Empire and Rising Papacy Section VII. Papal Decline and Renewal by the Revived Empire Section VIII. Reform Movements Section IX. The Reform Party Secures the Papacy Section X. The Papacy Breaks With the Empire Section XI. Hildebrand and Henry Iv Section XII. The Struggle Ends in Compromise Section XIII. The Greek Church After the Picture Controversy Section XIV. The Spread of the Church Period V. The Later Middle Ages Section I. The Crusades Section II. New Religious Movements Section III. Antichurchly Sects. Cathari and Wal-Denses. The Inquisition Section IV. The Dominicans and Franciscans Section V. Early Scholasticism Section VI. The Universities Section VII. High Scholasticism and Its Theology Section VIII. The Mystics Section IX. Missions and Defeats Section X. The Papacy at Its Height and Its Decline Section XI. The Papacy in Avignon, Criticism. The Schism Section XII. Wyclif and Hus Section XIII. The Reforming Councils Section XIV. The Italian Renaissance and Its Popes Section XV. The New National Powers Section XVI. Renaissance and Other Influences North of the Alps Period VI. The Reformation Section I. The Lutheran Revolution Section II. Separations and Divisions Section III. The Swiss Revolt Section IV. The Anabaptists Section V. German Protestantism Established Section VI. The Scandinavian Lands Section VII. Revolt in French Switzerland and Geneva Before Calvin Section IX. The English Revolt

Church History, Volume One offers a unique contextual view of how the Christian church spread and grew from its development in the days of Jesus to the years leading up to the Reformation. Looking closely at the integral link between the history of the world and that of the church, Church History paints a portrait of God's people within its setting of times, cultures, and events that both influenced and were influenced by the church. FEATURES: Maps, charts, and illustrations spanning the time from the first through the thirteenth centuries. Overviews of the Roman, Greek, and Jewish worlds and how they developed or declined. Insights into the church's relationship to the Roman Empire, with glimpses into pagan attitudes toward Christians. Explanations of the role of art, architecture, literature, and philosophy—both sacred and secular—in the Church. Details on the major theological controversies of the periods. Each chapter also contains callout passages from Scripture to assist in understanding the narrative of the Church, even to the present day, as part of the greater narrative of the Bible. AUTHOR'S PERSPECTIVE: Scholar and writer Everett Ferguson wrote this history of the church from the perspective that such a history is the story of the greatest movement and community the world has known. It's a human story of a divinely called people who wanted to live by a divine revelation. It's a story of how they succeeded and how they failed or fell short of their calling. From the Apostle Paul to the apologists and martyrs of the second century to Martin Luther, the historical figures detailed are people who have struggled with the meaning of the greatest event in history—the coming of the Son of God—and with their role in that event and in the lives of God's people.

Church History, Volume Two chronicles the events, the triumphs, and the struggles of the Christian movement from the years leading up to the Reformation through the next five centuries to the present-day. Looking closely at the integral link between the history of the world and that of the church, Church History paints a portrait of God's people within the context of the times, cultures, and developments that both influenced and were influenced by the church. FEATURES: Maps, charts, and illustrations spanning the time from the thirteenth century to today. Explanations of all the major denominational movements, traditions, and schisms during and after the Reformation. Overviews of the Christian movement in Africa, eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin America to cover the scope of the ecumenical environment of the twenty-first century. Insights into the role and influence of politics, culture and societal norms, and technology on the Western church. Unbiased details on the major theological controversies and issues of each period. AUTHORS' PERSPECTIVE: Authors John D. Woodbridge and Frank A. James III wrote this history of the church from the perspective that such a history is the story of the greatest movement and community the world has known—as imperfect as it still is. It's a human story of a divinely called people who want to live by a divine revelation. It's a story of how they succeeded and how they failed and of how they are still trying to live out their calling. From the Reformation theologians in Europe to the revivalists, apologists, and Christian thinkers all over the world, the historical figures detailed are people who have struggled with the meaning of the greatest event in history—the coming of the Son of God—and with their role in that event and in the lives of God's people.

The Church in History examines key historic events in the life of the Church from the time of the apostles through today. The book gives a basic overview and summary of political, social, and economic factors that contributed to the development of the Christian Church.