Traces the history of the Church, focusing on the motivations of its founders, conflicts, key figures, and defining events over the centuries.

It's about time that someone wrote church history that tells about people, not just about "eras" and "ages." Church History in Plain Language taps the roots of our Christian family tree. It combines authoritative research with a captivating style to bring our heritage home to us.

Church History in Plain Language makes church history clear, memorable, and accessible to every reader. Dr. Bruce Shelley makes church history come alive in this classic book that has become not only the first choice of many laypeople and church leaders but the standard text in many college classrooms. Church History in Plain Language treats history as the story of people—their motivations, the issues they grapple with, the decisions they make—and the result is that history reads like a story, almost as dramatic and moving as a novel. This fourth edition, revised by R.L. Hatchett, brings the story of Christianity into the twenty-first century, with detailed information on: Theology of the early church and Reformation Gnosticism and its ongoing relevance The rapid global extension and transformation of Christianity since 1900 The decline in traditional mainline denominations The influence of technology on the spread of the gospel How Christianity intersects with other religions in countries all over the world Church History in Plain Language makes history easy to follow and retain by dividing the Christian story into the great ages of the church. Its clarity, organization, and historical accuracy are part of what make this book a go-to resource for today's readers.

A history of the church from its beginnings to the present that reflects on successes and failures over the years.

In this concise, accessible guide, author Christopher Catherwood takes his readers through the history of the faith, educating them about the uniqueness of Christianity from its birth to the diverse, global Evangelical Church we know today. Church History is the perfect place to start for anyone who wants to know where to begin this quest for knowledge. Enjoy discovering more about the lives of men and women from various times and places, not only to better understand the church, but also to know how to live wisely in this age. These are some of the many reasons why history is so important. From those who desire to learn more about their fellow followers of Jesus Christ throughout history to those who want to learn more about church for themselves, this book will test you to dig deeper in your faith.