1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Early Church history

Discussion in 'History Forum' started by ZeroTX, May 18, 2004.

Top Posters
  1. ZeroTX

    ZeroTX Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    May 4, 2004
    Messages:
    95
    Likes Received:
    0
    Hi guys,

    Can anyone recommend a book, or set of books on the history of the Early Church, from a non-biased source? Meaning, not something off a Catholic press.

    I'm specifically looking for detailed material from the days of Jesus' life all the way to the late 4th century -- once again from a non-Catholic perspective. Pure history.

    Thanks,

    Michael
     
    #1 ZeroTX, May 18, 2004
  2. Debby in Philly

    Debby in Philly Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2003
    Messages:
    2,538
    Likes Received:
    0
    Faith:
    Baptist
    #2 Debby in Philly, May 19, 2004
  3. Matt Black

    Matt Black Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2003
    Messages:
    11,548
    Likes Received:
    193
    Gibbon's 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' has a good section on it.

    Yours in Christ

    Matt
     
    #3 Matt Black, May 19, 2004
  4. Ben W

    Ben W Active Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2002
    Messages:
    8,883
    Likes Received:
    6
    Two that I can reccomend are - Justo Gonzalez, Church History an Essential Guide and a much larger volume, by Walker, A History of the Christian Church.
     
    #4 Ben W, May 19, 2004
  5. ZeroTX

    ZeroTX Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    May 4, 2004
    Messages:
    95
    Likes Received:
    0
    Thanks! That gets me started!

    -Michael
     
    #5 ZeroTX, May 20, 2004
  6. R. Charles Blair

    R. Charles Blair New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2003
    Messages:
    231
    Likes Received:
    0
    ZeroTX - You have a full plate, but let me add
    "An Ecclesiastical History, Ancient and Modern," by the German Lutheran John Laurence Mosheim, originally done about 1826, still available. It is as close to an unbiased work, century by century, as I have seen, very thorough. Each century is taken up in 2 general headings,
    "Concerning the External History of the Church" and "Concerning the Internal History of the Ch."
    Each of those in turn is divided in subtopics. He was of the "objectivist" school, similar to the German von Ranke whose "History of the Popes" is extremely thorough and reasonably impartial. Their approach was simply to lay out all the facts and let the reader come to conclusions. It isn't bedtime reading, unless you're trying to help insomnia; but it is all there.

    Best- Charles Blair - Rom. 8:28
     
    #6 R. Charles Blair, May 25, 2004
  7. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
    Administrator

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2000
    Messages:
    30,401
    Likes Received:
    553
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Would give a hearty (hardy?) second to Mosheim. He is oft quoted by other historians, so why not use the primary source?
     
    #7 Dr. Bob, May 26, 2004
  8. mioque

    mioque New Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2003
    Messages:
    3,899
    Likes Received:
    0
    It's indeed hearty as far as I know.
    And yes I give a hearty third to Mosheim.
    Allthough it is an excruciatingly boring book at times (especially in the original German).
     
    #8 mioque, May 27, 2004
  9. ZeroTX

    ZeroTX Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    May 4, 2004
    Messages:
    95
    Likes Received:
    0
    I'm trying to find the Mosheim book, but coming up empty on Amazon.com. I've never found a book that Amazon DIDN'T carry... Are you guys sure this is in print?...

    Can you dig up an ISBN?

    thanks!

    -Michael
     
    #9 ZeroTX, May 29, 2004
  10. mioque

    mioque New Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2003
    Messages:
    3,899
    Likes Received:
    0
    Considering it's originally from 1826 I'm not surprised at all it isn't currently in print.
     
    #10 mioque, May 30, 2004
  11. Billy De Kid

    Billy De Kid New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2004
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    As my first post/reply, I too am very interested in books about early church history.
    Also, I am looking for a book on Bible History, and have no idea where to start. So much material exists that finding an unbiased publication is a task.
    I would like an unbiased book, or set of books that detail history behind each book of the Bible.
    Thanks
    -Billy
     
    #11 Billy De Kid, Jun 8, 2004
  12. Jeff Weaver

    Jeff Weaver New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2001
    Messages:
    2,056
    Likes Received:
    0
    Try ABEBOOKS. I did a search and several copies are available at what seem to me to be reasonable prices.

    Jeff.
     
    #12 Jeff Weaver, Jun 8, 2004
  13. mioque

    mioque New Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2003
    Messages:
    3,899
    Likes Received:
    0
    another interesting early church history book.

    ISBN: 0-06-069254-5 / 0060692545
    Title: The Triumph of the Meek: Why Early Christianity Succeeded
    Author: Michael Walsh
    Publisher: HarperSanFrancisco

    Ought to be easier to find than Mosheims work (not to mention, much more readable, if a little to liberal for most folks around here).
     
    #13 mioque, Jun 8, 2004
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Loading...