A Concise History of the Early Church

by Norbert Brox

Book Overview

A standard work which offers an illuminating alternative to sometimes more conservative Anglo-American works, this accessible history provides a lucid and highly readable, up-to-date study of the early Christian church, from its beginnings to the Council of Chalcedon in 451 C.E. Includes full bibliographies for each section.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0826407927
• ISBN13: 9780826407924
• Release Date: January 1995
• Publisher: Continuum
• Length: 184 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.7" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

An Excellent Overview for the Serious Student

This book offers an overview of Early Christianity from the apostolic times to the fourth ecumenical Council (Chalcedon, 451). It does not have a literary, easy-to-read style, as some other woorks (Paul Johnson and Henry Chadwick came to mind),I admit, but its text is deep enough for an introduction. The first divisions, heresies, schisms and the imperial functions the Church progressively assumed are described in a concise but very clear way. Nevertheless, the reader must have in mind that this is an academic work, not a book for the general reader. It is not heavy, full of references (on the contrary, the text is very clear, and most the references are only to primary sources), but its style may seem rather dry. Anyway, it's an excellent source for all those interested on Early Christianity who intends to start a serious study.