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Church History: An Essential Guide
One of the chief difficulties in studying the history of Christianity is the lack of prior exposure to the subject that students often bring with them. Struggling to keep up with the large numbers of names, dates, and places presented to them, it is easy for students to lose sight of the "big picture," the broad sweep of movement and change that instructors most wish to communicate. Justo Gonzalez has written this book to help students gain just such a quick and basic grasp of the main periods and issues in the history of Christianity. Drawing upon his own extensive experience and that of others, he contends that having been introduced to the essentials of church history in a brief and accessible form, students are far better able to understand and appreciate what they encounter in more detailed lectures and reading.
Gonzalez provides a comprehensive opening chapter that summarizes major issues and concerns of each of the principal eras of church history. Subsequent chapters focus on the ancient church, the Christian empire, the Middle Ages, the Reformation, the seventeenth through nineteenth centuries, and the twentieth century and the end of modernity.
Gonzalez provides a comprehensive opening chapter that summarizes major issues and concerns of each of the principal eras of church history. Subsequent chapters focus on the ancient church, the Christian empire, the Middle Ages, the Reformation, the seventeenth through nineteenth centuries, and the twentieth century and the end of modernity.
95 pages, Paperback
First published August 31, 1996
About the author
Justo L. González
158 books169 followersJusto L. González, author of the highly praised three-volume History of Christian Thought and other major works, attended United Seminary in Cuba, received his MA at Yale, and was the youngest person to be awarded a PhD in historical theology at Yale. He is one of the few first generation Latino theologians to come from a Protestant background. He helped to found the Association for Hispanic Theological Education and the Hispanic Theological Initiative. Dr González is now on the faculty of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
March 15, 2024
I love a book that does exactly what it sets out to do.
This was a no-fluff-minimalist-guide to the History of the Church.
González does a great job giving the reader a filing cabinet of Church History for further study. If anyone is seriously setting out to study Church History, I would say this is a must have companion. González is super kind in not just outlining where his guide parallels his own “The Story of Christianity” series, but additionally clearly states the corresponding pages of a half dozen other popular resources on the topic.
This was a no-fluff-minimalist-guide to the History of the Church.
González does a great job giving the reader a filing cabinet of Church History for further study. If anyone is seriously setting out to study Church History, I would say this is a must have companion. González is super kind in not just outlining where his guide parallels his own “The Story of Christianity” series, but additionally clearly states the corresponding pages of a half dozen other popular resources on the topic.
February 6, 2022
This text does exactly what you want an essential guide to do - present a concise yet representative account of the field. Gonzalez keeps his prose smooth and engaging, never allowing the book to feel like an outline stretched across 95 pages. The Overview near the beginning is an especially valuable resource, further distilling the content down to 10 pages. It's one potential drawback is it was published nearly 30 ago and thus contains no information concerning the 21st century. All in all, it's a solid book.
April 27, 2021
I get that it’s an overview, but I would have like a *little* more detail. Some sentences are literally just, “So-and-so is the best known theologian from this movement” without any discussion of what that theologian argued.
October 7, 2024
This book is exactly what it says it is; a quick overview of church history from the apostles to the 20th century. It's kind of impressive how much ground is covered in less than 100 pages.
October 6, 2020
This is meant to be a brief overview of church history for the person wanting to get into it but not knowing where to start. The book accomplished that purpose masterfully and I would highly recommend it.
Studying church history has helped me deepen my faith and see how Christians from all cultures and ages follow Jesus whether they are facing governmental persecution or are living in a society peaceful to Christianity.
Studying church history has helped me deepen my faith and see how Christians from all cultures and ages follow Jesus whether they are facing governmental persecution or are living in a society peaceful to Christianity.
December 8, 2023
Great quick survey on church history
“(3rd century church)The most outstanding leaders of Christianity took a middle position:
they continued living in the cities and taking part of the life of society, but with a critical stance. It was thus that, finally freed from the constant threat of persecution, the church produced some of its greatest teachers. It was a time in which great theological treatises were produced, as well as important works of spirituality, and the first history of the church.”
“(White settler vs native interactions) When they refused or did not respond positively—which they could hardly do, since the document was not read to them in their own language
—this provided the excuse for war, expropriation, and subjugation to slavery. Clearly in all these matters the church lent itself to the ends of the colonial enterprise, providing theological justification for actions that were unjustifiable.
At the same time, however, the church also raised some of the most vigorous voices of dissent and protest—voices declaring that the entire enterprise was evil, or at least that it was being carried on in a most unchristian way.”
“Therefore, no matter how one reacts to the various emerging theologies of the Third World, it seems likely that the twenty-first century will be marked by a vast missionary enterprise from the South to the North. Thus, the lands that a century before were considered 'ends of the earth' will have an opportunity to witness to the descendants of those who had earlier witnessed to them."
“(3rd century church)The most outstanding leaders of Christianity took a middle position:
they continued living in the cities and taking part of the life of society, but with a critical stance. It was thus that, finally freed from the constant threat of persecution, the church produced some of its greatest teachers. It was a time in which great theological treatises were produced, as well as important works of spirituality, and the first history of the church.”
“(White settler vs native interactions) When they refused or did not respond positively—which they could hardly do, since the document was not read to them in their own language
—this provided the excuse for war, expropriation, and subjugation to slavery. Clearly in all these matters the church lent itself to the ends of the colonial enterprise, providing theological justification for actions that were unjustifiable.
At the same time, however, the church also raised some of the most vigorous voices of dissent and protest—voices declaring that the entire enterprise was evil, or at least that it was being carried on in a most unchristian way.”
“Therefore, no matter how one reacts to the various emerging theologies of the Third World, it seems likely that the twenty-first century will be marked by a vast missionary enterprise from the South to the North. Thus, the lands that a century before were considered 'ends of the earth' will have an opportunity to witness to the descendants of those who had earlier witnessed to them."
August 22, 2022
An effective summary of church history in such a short time. There were a couple places that I think more clarity could have been offered, but otherwise I feel much more informed about the timeline of how the church grew and evolved over time.
February 10, 2024
I recommend this book if you need a cliff-notes version of the history of Christianity. I think a little more attention could be paid to Christianity after it hit global status more recently. But then again, for being < 100 pages, it’s hard to beat, given the large amount of time it covers.
July 26, 2024
Covers a vast span of history in a small package. Less than 100 pages to fly over 2000 years of history. The 10 page overview at the beginning of the book is very valuable, but the lack of detail and fast pace does leave the book quite dry.
March 27, 2019
Succinct and very helpful in learning about the history of the church!
August 10, 2019
Great read.
A fantastic quick read to get a handle on the history of Christianity. Plus it gives you a starting point to pursuing a more in-depth understanding of the subject.
A fantastic quick read to get a handle on the history of Christianity. Plus it gives you a starting point to pursuing a more in-depth understanding of the subject.
July 22, 2020
The book does as promised--gives a synopsis and starting point for further study of church history. A brief and succinct overview of 2000 years.
July 31, 2021
Good overview but a little dated. No mention of the evangelical movement.
January 15, 2023
Presents the bleak facts about how men have used religion to commit atrocities for centuries.
At least it’s short
At least it’s short
June 11, 2024
A short, informative outline of church history that is useful to give a broad overview it suggests other readings to use alongside it to get a more detailed look at each era.
March 30, 2011
This book was a very great summary book. It is meant to be an overview for it is a summary of the book The Story of Christianity.
The guide gives a concise overview of many of the "periods" of church history such as the following:
1) The Ancient Church
2) The Christian Empire
3) The Early Middle Ages
4) The High Point of the Middle Ages
5) The Late Middle Ages
6) Conquest and Reformation
7) The Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries
8) The Nineteenth Century
9) The Twentieth Century and the End of the Modernity
I recommend the book for anyone who wishes to know the general timeline of the crazy and dramatic history of the church. It is a great book - but keep in mind that it is an overview.
The guide gives a concise overview of many of the "periods" of church history such as the following:
1) The Ancient Church
2) The Christian Empire
3) The Early Middle Ages
4) The High Point of the Middle Ages
5) The Late Middle Ages
6) Conquest and Reformation
7) The Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries
8) The Nineteenth Century
9) The Twentieth Century and the End of the Modernity
I recommend the book for anyone who wishes to know the general timeline of the crazy and dramatic history of the church. It is a great book - but keep in mind that it is an overview.
July 20, 2015
This is an overview book, one read because I wanted to assign it as a beginning text. Sometimes I thought it too brief or I did not entirely like his perspective. But usually I found it did a difficult job very well. I especially like the fact that he covered the expansion of Christianity into the Americas, rather than turning aside to only focus on the Reformation, as many church histories do. And his coverages was balanced, with both the problems with the connection of the church to the state in the venture into the Americas, and the heroic action of a number of orders and individuals in caring for, protecting, and developing the interests of slaves and Native Americans. The work was a good read throughout. It was quick. It did hit the main themes. And it did so with considerable balance.
March 29, 2013
A very good book, with excellent historical overview.... However, the Kindle version had a large number of typos, which drove me nuts while reading! Typos aside, excellent information and a good overview.
November 19, 2015
Good overview of church history. It covers all of Christian history in about 85 pages. So, what you are getting is the big sweeping movements with minimal details. However, this gives the reader a solid foundation upon which to build with further study.
July 25, 2007
a quick oveview of church history, its good, but not too detailed.
Want to read
April 16, 2009This is that book people really want to read when they tell you they're interested in Church history. Very short, very much an overview. A really good starting point on this topic.
February 22, 2012
Excellent as either a capstone or introductory read. Recommended.
June 21, 2012
Good high-level summary, which is what Professor Gonzalez intended.
June 29, 2012
Small but a great overview of Christian history.
July 17, 2014
This was a short introduction to Church History. I don't know if it did any good as I never picked it up again after the first week of class.
Read
October 15, 2014Good books
July 21, 2016
A good overview of Church History. A companion to Gonzalez's larger text, which is more detailed and fleshed out. What's nice about this book, is that it's a good quick guide and a good refresher.
December 31, 2022
Reminded me of a lot of the key points in history. The dates expressed in this book are very interesting.
April 6, 2017
An easy to read book taking a broad overview of the History of the Christian Church, with references with each chapter for further study of specific eras.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews