The Imperial Church and Monasticism
The Imperial Church
As previously mentioned, ConstantineConstantine I (c. A.D. 272–337) was a Western Roman Emperor who, after a series of civil wars, became emperor of the entire Roman Empire. He strengthened the Empire through reforms and led successful military campaigns on the frontiers. He famously... more realized that in the ancient world, religion played an integral role in unifying a nation. He abandoned the syncretic fiction that the various gods of the diverse communities throughout the empire were the same gods with different names. Christianity was intentionally chosen as the glue to hold his empire together, along with the imperial cult that recognized the emperorRefers to the Emperor of the Roman Empire and its succeeding Byzantine Empire as well as the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, beginning with Charlemagne. more as divine. He made Sunday a public holiday. He chose the location for a new capital in the east and set about creating it as a Christian city. In 330, when ConstantineConstantine I (c. A.D. 272–337) was a Western Roman Emperor who, after a series of civil wars, became emperor of the entire Roman Empire. He strengthened the Empire through reforms and led successful military campaigns on the frontiers. He famously... more dedicated his new capital, ConstantinopleWas established in A.D. 324 by Emperor Constantine as the Eastern capital of the Roman Empire. The city was built over the much smaller ancient city of Byzantium from which the Byzantium empire is named. After the fall of Rome... more (known as Istanbul today), it contained the massive church known as the Hagia Sophia, and its companion, the Hagia Irene. Christian architecture and imagery were displayed with opulence throughout the city, with much of the marble and resources to build the city taken from pagan temples in Rome and other cities in the empire. He set about converting pagan temples into Christian cathedrals and in general, making Christianity the de facto state religion. Christianity became a public and political religion in precisely the same way the Roman pagan religion had been.
The period spanning Constantine’s assumption of power to the fall of Rome is often referred to as caesaropapism, when the emperorRefers to the Emperor of the Roman Empire and its succeeding Byzantine Empire as well as the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, beginning with Charlemagne. more was also the unofficial head of the church and the supreme judge over religious issues. As we saw with the Donatistinvolves a controversy arising in Carthage at the beginning of the 4th century and lasted until the 6th century. The dispute centered on the legitimacy of the appointment of imperfect bishops against the popular will of the diocese and the... more controversy, this mixing of state and religion upset some of the more devout, rigorous conservative Christians.1
Patronage was an additional element that informed all aspects of Greco-Roman society. Relationships were defined by one’s standing in a vertical social, political, and religious system in which homage, praise, and adulation were directed upward toward one’s patrons and gods. In turn, favors were bestowed downward from the gods and patrons to their clients who did their bidding and who were deemed worthy of the assistance proffered them. Once Christianity became the state religion, this same system was infusedA term used in Catholic theology that is derived from the Latin word for “poured in” referring to the grace (love) of God that he pours into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (see Romans 5:5). This term is used... more into the Christian religion. The process for ordination to the priesthood also changed to exactly mimic the multiple levels of initiation that were found in the pagan mysteries. Martyrs and patron saintsIs a term used in the New Testament for Christian believers. In Roman Catholicism it refers to officially canonized, deceased holy men and women who can intercede with God on behalf of ordinary men and women and whose ascension to... more replaced the gods, and a hierarchical structure played a stronger role in the church. Bishops adopted the pomp and circumstance of the pagan religion to attract new converts and increase devotion.
The Christian bishops introduced, with but slight alterations, into the Christian worship, those rites and institutions by which formerly the Greeks and Romans, and other nations had manifested their piety and reverence toward their deities; supposing that the people would more readily embrace Christianity, if they saw that the rites handed down to them from their fathers still existed unchanged among the Christians, and perceived that ChristDerived from a Greek term meaning anointed and is equivalent to the word “messiah” from Hebrew roots. The anointing references the act of installing a new king similar to the modern custom of crowning a king, so the term “Christ”... more and the martyrs were worshipped in the same manner as formerly their gods were. There was, of course, little difference in these times, between the public worship of the Christians and that of the Greeks and Romans. In both alike there were splendid robes, mitres, tiaras, wax tapers, crosiers, processions, illustrations, images, golden and silver vases, and numberless other things.2
The public face of Christianity looked to some very much like the simple continuation of the Greco-Roman religion, with its public festivals, its sacred days, its elaborate liturgies, and processions with incense and chant carried out between great edifices dedicated to God and the saintsIs a term used in the New Testament for Christian believers. In Roman Catholicism it refers to officially canonized, deceased holy men and women who can intercede with God on behalf of ordinary men and women and whose ascension to... more [in place of the pagan gods]. In terms of outward appearance alone, it would indeed be difficult, apart from some specifics of how worship was carried out, to distinguish public Christianity of the fourth century as an imperial religion from its pagan predecessor.3
Once it became clear that the emperorRefers to the Emperor of the Roman Empire and its succeeding Byzantine Empire as well as the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, beginning with Charlemagne. more favored Christianity, it did not take much time for people to fall in line. Ambitious aristocrats seized the opportunity to improve their political standing and the masses followed. Certainly, some of these new Christian converts were sincere, but there were numerous conversions for convenience. The historian Gibbon, in his masterpiece The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire(27 B.C.) After a period of unrest and competing generals jockeying for power, Octavian, the adopted son of Julius Caesar, becomes the first official Emperor of Rome, being known as Augustus. Octavian’s rule initiated an approximately 200 year period of... more, wrote:
Twelve thousand men and a proportionate number of women and children were baptized in a single year in Rome; but how far did the twenty pieces of gold and a white garment promised to each convert by the emperorRefers to the Emperor of the Roman Empire and its succeeding Byzantine Empire as well as the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, beginning with Charlemagne. more influence the conversionThis term is derived from the Latin word for “turning,” and is a theological term that refers to one turning his will from evil to good and is generally used to denote one becoming a Christian and/or joining a particular... more of such a great number?” 4
Christianity grew rapidly throughout the Roman Empire(27 B.C.) After a period of unrest and competing generals jockeying for power, Octavian, the adopted son of Julius Caesar, becomes the first official Emperor of Rome, being known as Augustus. Octavian’s rule initiated an approximately 200 year period of... more and by the time of Constantine’s death, nearly half the empire had converted to Christianity.
Monasticism
Not all Christians were excited about this drastic change of fortune and mass conversions. Certainly, their temporalIs a technical term used in theology referring to this mortal physical existence in time as opposed to eternal divine existence outside of time. more welfare was more secure, but they were concerned about the spiritual welfare of their souls and of the church as a whole. These individuals felt that the spiritual power of Christianity was being diluted by its union with the world. They longed for the past, which required individuals to make a life-altering commitment to follow God. As with physics, actions cause reactions in societies, and the greater the force that affects it, the more dramatic the reaction will be. Monasticism sprang out of this sea of discontent. These individuals felt driven to flee the world and to seek spiritual fulfillment through solitude, asceticism, and extreme control of their physical bodies. This fourth-century reaction to a comfortable, imperial church became a major force in Christianity that morphed and splintered over time but has survived to this day. Indeed, it is difficult to over overstate monasticism’s influence on Christianity and Western ideas.
The movement started with a wealthy eighteen-year-old man in Alexandria named Anthony. He was so moved by a sermon about Jesus(c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 30-33) Also known as Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and Savior of the World. He is the founding figure of Christianity and accepted by Christians as the Son of God in the flesh. He taught... more telling a rich young man to “Go, sell all your possessions, and come follow me”5 that he gave everything he owned to his sister and left to live alone on the edge of the desert. The word hermit comes from a Greek word meaning desert, and the word monk comes from the Greek word monos meaning alone. He attracted followers, who chose to live around him and seek his wisdom. He kept retreating further into the desert until he settled at an abandoned Roman fort where he locked himself into one of its cells and survived on the food his followers and pilgrims brought him. Over time, a small city of monks sprang up around the fort which beckoned pilgrims seeking wisdom and advice, replicating the Greco-Roman traditionThis word comes from a Latin term meaning “to hand down,” that originally referred to the teaching of the apostles as handed down in the churches they founded, which led to these churches gaining authority of other locations due to... more of pilgrimages to the oracles of Delphi and other locations. Even a Roman emperorRefers to the Emperor of the Roman Empire and its succeeding Byzantine Empire as well as the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, beginning with Charlemagne. more sought counsel from Anthony. He lived a long life and died at the age of 105. During his lifetime, monasteries, both male and female, sprang up throughout the empire, following Anthony’s example and this pattern.6
Early monasticism led to fanatical beliefs and practices. The early monks literally became the foot soldiers of Christianity. From a secularOf the world in contrast to the divine. more perspective, they appear to have been more like current-day Islamist extremists, for both would periodically sweep in from the desert to enforce their rigid and austere theology on the public at large using violence. Competing bishops would use monks from sympathetic monasteries to threaten their rivals and enforce their position at regional and ecumenicalcomes from a Greek word for “worldwide,” and refers to both ancient church councils representing the whole church as well to discussions during the past century between Roman Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox churches regarding unification of the various branches of... more councils. The monks in Alexandria even defeated the Roman army, requiring the emperorRefers to the Emperor of the Roman Empire and its succeeding Byzantine Empire as well as the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, beginning with Charlemagne. more to send in a large force from Rome to reestablish control. The renowned historian Fredrick JohnJohn (c. A.D. 6–100) was a Jewish fisherman, chosen by Jesus to be one of his 12 Apostles, and appears to have developed an especially close bond with Jesus. John outlived the other Apostles and heavily influenced early Christian thinkers... more Foakes Jackson wrote:
They [the monks] were fighters, not debaters; fighters, not disciplined soldiers, not persuading Christians. They swarmed down from the mountains like hungry wolves. They fought heretics, they fought bishops, they fought Roman authorities, they fought soldiers, they fought one another. Ignorant, fanatical and cruel, they incited riots, disturbed the public peace and shed the blood of foes. …The fighting monks crowded councils and forced decisions. They deposed hostile bishops or kept their favorites in power by murder and violence.7
Pilgrims came to the monasteries bearing gifts because they believed that the monks’ solitary life of prayer, fasting and extreme sacrifice, even self-mortification, brought them closer to God and the spiritual realm. They viewed the monks as conduits of divine wisdom. This led to the creation of the concept of a two-tiered level of morality: one for the masses and the other for those who chose to follow a committed, religious lifestyle. This distinction between common folk and the religious merged with the priesthood, setting them apart as the gatekeepers to God’s graceIs a term used to identify unmerited assistance by God primarily to redeem and transform human beings. In the early and medieval church it also referred to God’s influence throughout existence. Redemptive grace is important to Augustinian theology which has... more. No longer were the sacraments a physical symbol of a spiritual reality generated by the marriage of an individual’s spiritual commitment with the graceIs a term used to identify unmerited assistance by God primarily to redeem and transform human beings. In the early and medieval church it also referred to God’s influence throughout existence. Redemptive grace is important to Augustinian theology which has... more and mercy of God. The act of the ordinance itself, which could only be administered by one of these privileged gatekeepers, became the source of graceIs a term used to identify unmerited assistance by God primarily to redeem and transform human beings. In the early and medieval church it also referred to God’s influence throughout existence. Redemptive grace is important to Augustinian theology which has... more and salvation. We will see later how this privileged was corrupted and became a flashpoint during the Protestant Reformation(A.D. 1517) The Protestant Reformation begins as Martin Luther posts his 95 Theses, largely in response to the widespread abuses caused by the aggressive commercialization of indulgences. more.
As the monastery system grew, Benedict(c. A.D. 2 Mar 480–21 Mar 547) also known as Saint Benedict of Nurcia. He is credited with founding modern monasticism through his written rule for life in a monastery called the Benedictine Rule, which became a model for other monastic orders. more of Nursia (480–550) saw the need to establish order and uniformity. He wrote out instructions and a regimen that became known as the Benedictine Rule, which almost all Western monasteries followed. Unlike the original approach of purposefully seeking a harsh and physically demanding lifestyle that celebrated extreme asceticism, Benedict(c. A.D. 2 Mar 480–21 Mar 547) also known as Saint Benedict of Nurcia. He is credited with founding modern monasticism through his written rule for life in a monastery called the Benedictine Rule, which became a model for other monastic orders. more created a more sustainable regimen that most people of goodwill could follow.
His rule was centered around the summons found in its prologue to “Hearken to the Words of the Master.”8 This is based on the principle that all sinIs violation to God’s Law, and implicitly includes disobedience to God’s the command to love God and one’s neighbor. See mortal sin, original sin. more is disobedience to God which comes from pride, while faithfulness is connected with obedience and humility. So, paradoxically, one’s ascent up Jacob’s ladder to God is matched by corresponding levels of lowliness as one seeks God’s will instead of one’s own. Consequently, Benedict’s rule requires absolute fidelity to the Rule and obedience to the abbot (father) of the monastery as a physical manifestation of one’s devotion to this divine model of obedience to God.9 As the influence of monasticism increased and more monks and abbots became bishops, this unquestioning obedience to one’s superior in the abbey carried over to the expectations the clergyconsists of the priest, ministers and pastors of Christian churches. In the medieval church this term referred to both regular priest who were monks subject to a rule (regula) of a monastic order and secular priest who were not monks... more imposed on the laityOr “lay persons” is a term derived from the Greek word for “the people,” and refers to the rank and file membership of the church in contrast to the clergy. The distinction is much greater and more important in Roman... more. Religions that follow this top-down hierarchical structure and attitude are referred to as “high churches” while religions that are loosely connected with direction flowing up from the congregational level, such as the Assembly of God and BaptistThe first English Baptist congregation is created (A.D. 1609) out of a Puritan Separatist congregation that is meeting in exile in the Netherlands. This tradition grew out of the English Puritan Separatist movement in the 17th century and later spread... more organizations, are referred to as “low churches.” This top-down authoritarian attitude influenced the worldview and theology of Christendom for a millennium and also became a flashpoint during the Protestant Reformation(A.D. 1517) The Protestant Reformation begins as Martin Luther posts his 95 Theses, largely in response to the widespread abuses caused by the aggressive commercialization of indulgences. more.
Over the centuries, monasteries grew in power and affluence and became the dominant formal expression of Western Christianity in the tenth century. What once attracted individuals seeking solitude, privation and humility shifted to attract wealthy, ambitious individuals seeking power and a life of comfort surrounded by opulence. It also attracted simple folk who faced a life of poverty, sickness and violence outside the cloister. Life expectancy outside the monastery was only thirty years. Work was grueling and never ending. Infant mortality was high, only half survived childbirth, and women had many pregnancies. Girls married young and were old or dead by thirty. On the other hand, the monasteries’ accumulation of wealth from patronage over the centuries offered an orderly, comfortable life with a good diet and exposure to music, beauty and mental stimulation. 10
However, as with the early monks in the fourth century, some monks in the twelfth century were concerned with the corrupting influence of wealth and power on the monasteries and Christianity. They felt the need to return to their roots of a life of poverty dedicated to God. Thus, the two mendicant (beggar) orders of the Franciscans and Dominicans were created. Individual monks entered into vows of poverty and left the cloistered life of the monastery to serve the community, provide education, perform missionary service and respond to the Pope’s special requests. They became the friars who proselytized the New World and the feared Dominican interrogators of the Spanish inquisition.
As we continue our course of study, we will see how monasticism influenced nearly every aspect of Western thought into the modern era.
The History Of The Christian Church: From The Earliest Times To A.D. 461
by F. J. Foakes-Jackson
The History of the Christian Church: From the Earliest Times to A.D. 461 is a comprehensive book written by F.J. Foakes-Jackson and published in 1891. The book provides a detailed account of the development of Christianity from its origins up until the year 461. It covers the early Christian Church, the Roman Empire, the spread of Christianity throughout Europe and beyond, and the many religious and political conflicts that shaped the Church’s history.
The History of the Church: From Christ to Constantine
by Eusebius
The only surviving historical record of the Church during its crucial first 300 years. Bishop Eusebius, a learned scholar who lived most of his life in Caesarea in Palestine, broke new ground in writing the history of Christianity and provided a model for all later ecclesiastical historians. In tracing the history of the Church from the time of Christ to the Great Persecution at the beginning of the fourth century, and ending with the conversion of the Emperor Constantine, his aim was to show the purity and continuity of the doctrinal tradition of Christianity and its struggle against persecutors and heretics.
What if the greatest crisis of our time wasn’t political, economic, or even scientific, but spiritual? The Human Quest for Meaning, presents an unflinching, scholarly, and soul-searching excavation of humanity’s deepest longings. This work cuts through the fog of postmodern relativism and the sterile worship of science to confront the core dilemma of our time: why does a civilization without God still hunger for transcendence? Drawing from ethnological studies, ancient texts, and forgotten philosophical wisdom, Hallstrom traces the arc of religious and philosophical history; not to convert, but to clarify. In a world obsessed with novelty, this book dares to remember.
In this book, readers will delve into the surprising belief systems of some of the most primitive cultures, exploring why they revered a moral Supreme Being contrary to modern theories of religious evolution. The text also revisits the foundations of Christianity, not as dogma, but as a cultural and metaphysical force that shaped the Western mind. The book further explores how modern secularism has gradually replaced meaning with a mechanistic worldview and why this replacement is now collapsing. It presents concise, accessible summaries of major world religions, from Hinduism and Buddhism to Islam, Sikhism, Taoism, and Zoroastrianism to help broaden a reader’s global spiritual literacy.
In the face of cultural amnesia, this work offers clarity and equips readers with the tools to forge their own enduring philosophy of life. Hallstrom writes with scholarly rigor but aims for accessibility, avoiding dry academic jargon while still delivering a serious intellectual exploration that reads smoothly like a story. While books on religion and philosophy are not new, Hallstrom brings a refreshingly countercultural lens.
Whether you’re a skeptic, a seeker, or a believer, The Human Quest for Meaning will challenge your assumptions, deepen your worldview, and perhaps even awaken something within you.
Available in hardback, audio, paperback and e‑book.
Desert Christians: An Introduction to the Literature of Early Monasticism
by William Harmless
In the fourth century, the deserts of Egypt became the nerve center of a radical new movement, what we now call monasticism. Groups of Christians-from illiterate peasants to learned intellectuals-moved out to the wastelands beyond the Nile Valley and, in the famous words of Saint Athanasius, made the desert a city. In so doing, they captured the imagination of the ancient world. They forged techniques of prayer and asceticism, of discipleship and spiritual direction, that have remained central to Christianity ever since.
The Monkhood of All Believers: The Monastic Foundation of Christian Spirituality
by Greg Peters
Although the institution of monasticism has existed in the Christian church since the first century, it is often misunderstood. Greg Peters, an expert in monastic studies, reintroduces historic monasticism to the Protestant church, articulating a monastic spirituality for all believers.
Mosheim’s Church History, of the First Two Centuries, (Maclaine’s Translation)
by Johann Lorenz Mosheim
This book takes you on a journey through the early centuries of Christianity, exploring the transformations and challenges faced by the first Christians. The author meticulously examines both the external and internal forces that shaped the nascent faith, from the political and religious landscape of the Roman Empire to the rise of influential leaders and diverse doctrines within the church.
The Age of Faith: The Story of Civilization, Volume IV
by Will Durant
The Story of Civilization, Volume IV: A history of medieval civilization—Christian, Islamic, and Judaic—from Constantine to Dante: A.D. 325-1300. This is the fourth volume of the classic, Pulitzer Prize-winning series.
Antiquity: From the Birth of Sumerian Civilization to the Fall of the Roman Empire
by Norman F. Cantor
Bestselling author Norman Cantor delivers this compact but magisterial survey of the ancient world—from the birth of Sumerian civilization around 3500 B.C. in the Tigris-Euphrates valley (present-day Iraq) to the fall of the Roman Empire in A.D. 476. He covers such subjects as Classical Greece, Judaism, the founding of Christianity, and the triumph and decline of Rome. In this fascinating and comprehensive analysis, Cantor explores social and cultural history, as well as the political and economic aspects of his narrative. He explains leading themes in religion and philosophy and discusses the environment, population, and public health. With his signature authority and insight, he highlights in Antiquity the great books and ideas of antiquity that continue to influence culture today.
by St. Benedict of Nursia
“Hearken, O my son, to the precepts of thy Master, and incline the ear of thine heart; willingly receive and faithfully fulfill the admonition of thy loving Father, that thou mayest return by the labor of obedience to Him from Whom thou hadst departed through the sloth of disobedience.” So begins the timeless guide to spiritual growth, community living, and wise leadership, The Rule of St. Benedict, one of the most influential works in Western Christianity. Written in the 6th century by the father of Western monasticism, St. Benedict of Nursia, this short but profound text offers practical instructions for monks on prayer, work, obedience, humility, hospitality, and daily discipline. More than a manual for monasteries, The Rule speaks to anyone seeking balance, purpose, and a deeper relationship with God. With its emphasis on stability, moderation, and rigor, this spiritual classic continues to inspire both religious and lay readers around the world. Whether you’re exploring monastic traditions, studying Catholic spirituality, or simply looking for peace in a noisy world, The Rule of St. Benedict offers enduring wisdom for the soul.
The Golden Thread: A History of the Western Tradition, Volume I: The Ancient World and Christendom
by James Hankins and Allen C. Guelzo
"...a monumental work of reclamation and revival...The Golden Thread comes as a history, an argument, a treasure hoard." — The Wall Street Journal. It is a sweeping, resource-rich history of the ancient world and Christendom—designed for students and lifelong learners alike, and faithful to the enduring legacy of the Western tradition. This is Volume I of a two-part series tracing the story of Western civilization from antiquity to the modern age. Where do the threads that form the Western tradition originate, and how were they woven together over the two and a half millennia before A.D. 1500? What are the sources of our modern ideas about science, freedom, equality, law, good government, and virtue? These are the questions explored in The Golden Thread, Volume I: The Ancient World and Christendom. The story begins with the seminal culture of the classical Greeks and moves through the Hellenization of the east following the conquests of Alexander the Great. Hankins then narrates the rise and dominance of Rome and the fusion of Greco-Roman and Judea-Christian cultures in the Christian empire of the fourth century AD. The volume follows the history of Christendom from the fall of the Western Roman Empire, charts its centuries-long rivalry with the Islamic world, and culminates in the emergence of European civilization in the Middle Age and Renaissance. Written by two of the most distinguished historians of our time. It includes nearly 1000 curated images—sculptures, paintings, and artifacts—from the vaults of the West’s finest cultural institutions. Readers are not merely told what happened, but shown what was created—page after page alive with the rich architecture, sculpture, music, and painting and maps that gave visible form to the West’s most enduring aspirations.
Christian Theology: An Introduction 6th Edition
by Alister E. McGrath
“The genius of Alister E. McGrath is his remarkable ability to write in a clear, concise, and lucid manner that draws both teachers and students to participate with the great thinkers of the Christian tradition, past and present. Education and illumination are the abundant fruits of this massive, well-organized text, which is sure to appeal to a wide range of Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox audiences. For this we are indebted to the author.” Dennis Ngien, Professor of Systematic Theology, Tyndale University College and Seminary, Toronto, Canada. “For sheer comprehensiveness, clarity, and coherence, Alister McGrath has produced the definitive textbook. Always accurate and engaging, students are gently introduced to the gift of Theology in a memorable way.” Ian S. Markham, Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary.
by Alister E. McGrath
Regarded as the leading text in Christian theology for the last 25 years, Alister E. McGrath’s The Christian Theology Reader is now available in a new 5th edition featuring completely revised and updated content. It brings together more than 350 readings from over 200 sources that chart 2,000 years of Christian history, situates each reading within the appropriate historical and theological context with its own introduction, commentary, and study questions, includes new readings on world Christianity and feminist, liberation, and postcolonial theologies, as well as more selections by female theologians and theologians from the developing world, and contains additional pedagogical features, such as new discussion questions and case studies, and a robust website with new videos by the author to aid student learning. It is designed to function as a stand-alone volume, or as a companion to Christian Theology: An Introduction, 6th edition, for a complete overview of the subject.
Church History in Plain Language
by Bruce Shelley and Marshall Shelley
Bruce Shelley's classic history of the church brings the story of global Christianity into the twenty-first century. Like a skilled screenwriter, Shelley begins each chapter with three elements: characters, setting, plot. Taking readers from the early centuries of the church up through the modern era he tells his readers a story of actual people, in a particular situation, taking action or being acted upon, provides a window into the circumstances and historical context, and from there develops the story of a major period or theme of Christian history. Covering recent events, this book also: Details the rapid growth of evangelical and Pentecostal Christianity in the southern hemisphere; Addresses the decline in traditional mainline denominations; Examines the influence of technology on the spread of the gospel; Discusses how Christianity intersects with other religions in countries all over the world. For this fifth edition, Marshall Shelley brought together a team of historians, historical theologians, and editors to revise and update this father's classic text. The new edition adds important stories of the development of Christianity in Asia, India, and Africa, both in the early church as well as in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. It also highlights the stories of women and non-Europeans who significantly influenced the development of Christianity but whose contributions are often overlooked in previous overviews of church history. This concise book provides an easy-to-read guide to church history with intellectual substance. The new edition of Church History in Plain Language promises to set a new standard for readable church history.
Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years
by Diarmaid MacCulloch
The New York Times bestseller and definitive history of Christianity for our time—from the award-winning author of The Reformation and Silence. A product of electrifying scholarship conveyed with commanding skill, Diarmaid MacCulloch's Christianity goes back to the origins of the Hebrew Bible and encompasses the globe. It captures the major turning points in Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox history and fills in often neglected accounts of conversion and confrontation in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. MacCulloch introduces us to monks and crusaders, heretics and reformers, popes and abolitionists, and discover Christianity's essential role in shaping human history and the intimate lives of men and women. And he uncovers the roots of the faith that galvanized America, charting the surprising beliefs of the founding fathers, the rise of the Evangelical movement and of Pentecostalism, and the recent crises within the Catholic Church. Bursting with original insights and a great pleasure to read, this monumental religious history will not soon be surpassed.
Ancient Christianities: The First Five Hundred Years
by Paula Fredriksen
How, over the course of five centuries, one particular god and one particular Christianity came to dominate late Roman imperial politics and piety. The ancient Mediterranean teemed with gods. For centuries, a practical religious pluralism prevailed. How, then, did one particular god come to dominate the politics and piety of the late Roman Empire? In Ancient Christianities, Paula Fredriksen traces the evolution of early Christianity—or rather, of early Christianities—through five centuries of Empire, mapping its pathways from the hills of Judea to the halls of Rome and Constantinople. The New Testament, as we know it, represents only a small selection of the many gospels, letters, acts of apostles, and revelations that circulated before the establishment of the imperial church. It tells how the gospel passed from Jesus, to the apostles, thence to Paul. But by using our peripheral vision, by looking to noncanonical and paracanonical texts, by availing ourselves of information derived from papyri, inscriptions, and archaeology, we can see a different, richer, much less linear story emerging. Fredriksen brings together these many sources to reconstruct the lively interactions of pagans, Jews, and Christians, tracing the conversions of Christianity from an energetic form of Jewish messianism to an arm of the late Roman state.
The Story of Christianity: The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation
by Justo L. González
In The Story of Christianity: Volume 1, Justo L. González, author of the highly praised three-volume History of Christian Thought, presents a narrative history of Christianity, from the Early Church to the Dawn of the Protestant Reformation. From Jesus’ faithful apostles to the early reformist John Wycliffe, González skillfully traces core theological issues and developments within the various traditions of the church, including major events outside of Europe, such as the Spanish and Portuguese conquest of the New World. This updated and expanded edition incorporates recent archaeological discoveries about the life of Early Christian Communities, as well as important contemporary research revealing the significant role of women throughout the history of the church. With lively storytelling, The Story of Christianity provides a fascinating and panoramic history of the dramatic events, colorful characters, and revolutionary ideas that shaped the first fifteen centuries of the church.
Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith
by Robert Barron
What is Catholicism? A two-thousand-year-old living tradition? A worldview? A way of life? A relationship? A mystery? In Catholicism, Bishop Robert Barron examines all these questions and more, seeking to capture the body, heart, and mind of the Catholic faith. Starting from the essential foundation of Jesus Christ’s Incarnation, life, and teaching, Bishop Barron moves through the defining elements of Catholicism—from sacraments, worship, and prayer, to Mary, the Apostles, and saints, to grace, salvation, heaven, and hell—using his distinct and dynamic grasp of art, literature, architecture, personal stories, Scripture, theology, philosophy, and history to present the Church to the world. Paired with his documentary film series of the same title, Catholicism is an intimate journey capturing “the Catholic thing” in all its depth and beauty. Eclectic, unique, and inspiring, Bishop Barron brings the faith to life for a new generation in a style that is faithful to timeless truths while simultaneously speaking in the language of contemporary life.
Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices
by Frank Viola and George Barna
Have you ever wondered why we Christians do what we do for church every Sunday morning? Why do we “dress up” for church? Why does the pastor preach a sermon each week? Why do we have pews, steeples, and choirs? This ground-breaking book, now in affordable softcover, makes an unsettling proposal: most of what Christians do in present-day churches is rooted, not in the New Testament, but in pagan culture and rituals developed long after the death of the apostles. Coauthors Frank Viola and George Barna support their thesis with compelling historical evidence and extensive footnotes that document the origins of modern Christian church practices. In the process, the authors uncover the problems that emerge when the church functions more like a business organization than the living organism it was created to be.
The Story of the Christian Church
by Jesse Lyman Hurlbut
No institution has spanned more centuries and more continents than the Christian church. Its dramatic story is one of bloodshed and peace, corruption and purity. Here Dr. Hurlbut retells this story in an objective, concise, and clear style, emphasizing the spirit of the church, its growth and maturation, and the causes leading to historic events and their resulting influence. Accurate, up-to-date, and vividly presented, Hurlbut's Story of the Christian Church traces the six general periods of church history from A.D. 30 to the present day. A concluding section, covering the period since Dr. Hurlbut's death, has been added in this revised edition, thus giving the reader a complete, easily understood overview of the Christian church. Designed for two audiences, this book contains outlines and references in the margins to aid the student or teacher along with a continuous narrative and numerous illustrations for the general reader. It is ideal for Sunday school use, since it includes suggested outlines and review questions for each chapter at the end of the book.
History Of The Christian Church (The Complete Eight Volumes In One)
by Philip Schaff
A monumental work tracing the development of Christianity from its inception to the modern era. Spanning eight volumes condensed into one comprehensive edition, Schaff meticulously examines the growth of Christian doctrine, the evolution of church institutions, and the profound impact of key figures and events on global religious history. Through detailed scholarship and engaging narrative, Schaff provides readers with a thorough understanding of Christianity's journey through the centuries, making this work an essential resource for scholars and enthusiasts alike.
by Will and Ariel Durant
A concise survey of the culture and civilization of mankind, The Lessons of History is the result of a lifetime of research from Pulitzer Prize–winning historians Will and Ariel Durant. With their accessible compendium of philosophy and social progress, the Durants take us on a journey through history, exploring the possibilities and limitations of humanity over time. Juxtaposing the great lives, ideas, and accomplishments with cycles of war and conquest, the Durants reveal the towering themes of history and give meaning to our own.
2Outlines of Ecclesiastical History, pg 149, citing Mosheim.
3 Luke Timothy Johnson, The History of Christianity: From the Apostles to the Dawn of the Reformation, (The Teaching Company, 2012), p 249.
4 Roberts, Outlines of Ecclesiastical History, pg 132, citing Gibbon, Decline and Fall, I, iii. ch. xvi.
5 Mark 10:21.
6 William R. Cook, The Lives of Great Christians, The Teaching Company, 2007, Lecture 4.
7 Barker, Apostasy from the Divine Church, p 519, quoting, Foakes-Jackson, History of the Christian Church A.D. 461, p. 385.
8 Deuteronomy 30:10–20.
9 William R. Cook, The Lives of Great Christians, The Teaching Company, 2007, Lecture 8.
10 Luke Timothy Johnson, The History of Christianity: From the Apostles to the Dawn of the Reformation, (The Teaching Company, 2012); Ryan Reeves, “Monasticism in Early Church”, YouTube video, 28:23, May 31, 2014, https://youtu.be/Aotkle8uCdI.
Pilgrims Arriving at Jasna Gora, by Adrian Głębocki, 1868, Muzeum Częstochowskie, [PD-old-100]
Hagia Irene Eastern Orthodox church, Photograph by Julia Sumangil, 2022, [PD-CC 4.0]
Hagia Sophia, by MilenaBal, 2019, [PD-CC 4.0]
Saint Benedict of Nursia and Saint Mark by Giovanni Bellini, Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari- Venice, Italy [PD-CC 4.0]
Pilgrims outside Church & Monastery of the Dormition, by Adam Jones, 2011, Jerusalem, Israel, [PD-CC 2.0]
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