The Story of Christianity: Volume 1 - 2nd Edition by Justo L Gonzalez (Paperback)

About the Book

In The Story of Christianity: Volume 1, Justo L. Gonzalez, 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, Gonzalez 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."

Book Synopsis

From its very beginning, the Christian message was grafted onto human history.

But how did a persecuted sect from a forgotten corner of the Roman Empire become one of the most powerful forces in the world? In this masterful first volume of The Story of Christianity, acclaimed historian Justo L. González tells the epic story of the faith's first fifteen hundred years. This engaging work of Christian history makes the past come alive with insight and clarity.

Dr. González skillfully navigates the pivotal events, charismatic figures, and theological debates that shaped the early and medieval church. From the days of the apostles and the church fathers to the rise of the papacy, readers will journey through the fires of Roman persecution, witness the monumental conversion of Constantine, and understand the crucial doctrinal battles of the Council of Nicea and the Arian controversy. This narrative history brings figures like the great theologian Augustine of Hippo, the defiant bishop Ambrose of Milan, and the desert monks to life, not as distant saints, but as complex people whose struggles and triumphs defined an era.

How did a small Jewish sect grow to become the defining faith of Western civilization? This volume uncovers the people, controversies, and historical forces that shaped the first fifteen hundred years of the church:

• The Early Church and Roman Persecution: Follow the spread of the faith from Jerusalem into the vast Roman Empire, and witness the courage of early martyrs like Ignatius and Polycarp who faced down imperial power.
• Constantine and the Imperial Church: Explore the dramatic shift after the conversion of Constantine, the explosive debates of the Arian Controversy, and the pivotal decisions of the Council of Nicea.
• The Great Church Fathers: Encounter the brilliant minds and pastoral hearts of figures like Athanasius, the staunch defender of orthodoxy; Ambrose, the bishop who defied emperors; and Augustine of Hippo, whose thought would define Western theology for centuries.
• Medieval Christianity: Chart the rise of the papacy and monasticism as forces of order in a fractured Europe, and delve into the epic conflicts of the Crusades that pitted Christendom against the Islamic world.
• The Dawn of a New World: Discover the beginnings of colonial Christianity as the Spanish and Portuguese empires expand, carrying the faith to the Americas, Africa, and the East.

From the Back Cover

In this fully revised and updated edition, the lauded church historian Justo González tells the story of Christianity from its fragile infancy to its pervasive dominance at the dawn of the Protestant Reformation. The Story of Christianity, volume 1, relates the dramatic events, the colorful characters, and the revolutionary ideas that shaped the first fifteen centuries of the church's life and thought.

From Jesus's faithful apostles to the early reformist John Wycliffe, González skillfully weaves details from the lives of prominent figures tracing core theological issues and developments within the various traditions of the church. The Story of Christianity demonstrates at each point what new challenges and opportunities faced the church and how Christians struggled with the various options open to them, thereby shaping the future direction of the church.

This new edition of The Story of Christianity incorporates recent archaeological discoveries to give us a better view of the early Christian communities. Among these are advances in the recovery of Gnostic texts that have revealed a richer diversity of "Christianities" in the first century. González also includes important research done in the past twenty-five years revealing the significant role of women throughout the history of the church.

With lively storytelling incorporating the latest research, The Story of Christianity provides a fascinating introduction to the panoramic history of Christianity.

Review Quotes

"This crisp retelling of Christian history from the days of the apostles to the eve of the Reformation is filled with insight. Gonzalez excels in the brief character sketch. With economy of expression he is still able to define the significance and enliven the character of many great figures in the church's first 1500 years. An additional strength is the careful treatment of Christian expansion into Central and South America during the early modern era. This is a good book for introductory courses, for personal reading, and for adult education in the church."--Mark A. Noll, associate professor, Wheaton College