Church History: A Basic Bibliography

Church History: A Basic Bibliography Robert M. Bowman Jr. Note: This bibliography lists books covering all of church history, rather than select periods or denominations. It is deliberately selective. Studying Church History Bradley, James E., and Richard A. Muller. Church History: An Introduction to Research Methods and Resources. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2016. A standard textbook on how to study church history. Rea, Robert F. Why Church History Matters: An Invitation to Love and Learn from Our Past. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2014. Evangelical scholar explains why evangelicals, who view the Bible as the sole authority for Christian faith, should care about and understand church history. Church History Textbooks Best Popular Surveys Noll, Mark A. Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2012. Popular introduction to church history focusing on key events such as the Council of Nicaea, the coronation of Charlemagne, the Great Schism of 1054, the conversion of the Wesleys, and the Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization. Shelley, Bruce L. Church History in Plain Language. 4th ed. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2013. A 5th edition, revised by Bruce’s son Marshall Shelley, is due out in July 2021. The most popular and enduring introduction to church history. Best One-Volume Textbook McGrath, Alister E. Christian History: An Introduction. New York: Wiley, 2012. One of several fine textbooks by this premier evangelical theologian. Standard Mainline Protestant Textbook González, Justo L. The Story of Christianity. 2 vols. 2nd ed. New York: HarperCollins, 2010. Standard textbook representing a mainline Protestant perspective on church history. Standard Evangelical Textbooks Ferguson, Everett. Church History, Volume One: From Christ to the Pre-Reformation: The Rise and Growth of the Church in Its Cultural, Intellectual, and Political Context. 2nd ed. Bowman/Church History: A Basic Bibliography—page 2 Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic, 2013. Standard evangelical textbook on church history, completed by the volume by Woodbridge and James. Woodbridge, John D., and Frank A. James III. Church History, Volume Two: From PreReformation to the Present Day: The Rise and Growth of the Church in Its Cultural, Intellectual, and Political Context. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic, 2013. Excellent follow-up to Ferguson’s textbook. Best Up-to-Date Textbooks Hannah, John D. Invitation to Church History: American. Invitation to Theological Studies. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2019. New, up-to-date textbook on church history in two volumes, this one focusing on church history in America. Hannah is a respected evangelical scholar in the field of church history. Hannah, John D. Invitation to Church History: World. Invitation to Theological Studies. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2019. The two volumes are also available as a set. Historical Theology Allison, Gregg R. Historical Theology: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine: A Companion to Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011. Excellent textbook on historical theology (the study of Christian theology throughout church history), reflecting a conservative evangelical perspective. Charts, Maps, Etc. Dowley, Tim. Atlas of Christian History. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2016. The best atlas covering all of church history, extremely helpful to provide a visual understanding of the growth and movements of Christianity. Jones, Timothy Paul. Christian History Made Easy. Rose Bible Basics. Rev. ed. Torrance, CA: Rose Publishing, 2009. Colorful, reader-friendly overview, clearly identifying key people, events, doctrines, and movements. For those who want them, there are other resources such as a 12-session DVD and a PowerPoint presentation. Walton, Robert C. Chronological and Background Charts of Church History. Rev. and expanded ed. Zondervan Charts. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005. Visually helpful presentations of a lot of information in 126 charts or tables including timelines, a list of popes, early symbols of Christianity, ancient heresies, Thomas Aquinas’s five arguments for God’s existence, church and state in England and France, prominent Protestant missionaries, Bible translations, religion in the 13 colonies, black denominations in America, etc. Popularizations of Church History For Adults Nichols, Stephen J. 5 Minutes in Church History: An Introduction to the Stories of God’s Faithfulness in the History of the Church. Sanford, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing, 2019. 40 chapters designed to be read in about five minutes each, described as Bowman/Church History: A Basic Bibliography—page 3 “postcards” from church history. An engaging way to be introduced to such people as Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, and some perhaps surprising figures (e.g., Shakespeare). Rustin, E. Michael, and Sharon O. Rusten. The One Year Book of Christian History. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House, 2003. A kind of daily devotional book with stories from church history correlated with each day of the year. For Kids Nichols, Stephen J., and Ned Bustard. The Church History ABCs: Augustine and Twenty-Five Other Heroes of the Faith. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010. “A is for apricot, apple, and Augustine—Africa’s ancient bishop.” So begins this fun church history primer for kids. Topical Perspectives on Church History Bowman, Robert M. Jr. Faith Thinkers: 30 Christian Apologists You Should Know. Tampa, FL: DeWard, 2019. Short book that surveys Christian apologists from Luke to Lee Strobel, each placed in historical and cultural context, thus providing a quick introduction to church history through the lens of apologetics. The first half covers up through the 19th century, while the second half covers the 20th century. Stark, Rodney. The Triumph of Christianity: How the Jesus Movement Became the World’s Largest Religion. New York: HarperOne, 2011. Sociologist’s insightful history of Christianity. Svigel, Michael, and John Adair. Urban Legends of Church History: 40 Common Misconceptions. Nashville: B&H Academic, 2020. Survey of church history that debunks popular misconceptions such as that the church became apostate after the apostles died, that Constantine made Christianity the official state religion, that Protestants invented the doctrine of salvation by grace, that fundamentalists were the first Christians to believe in biblical inerrancy, and more.