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From the 1960s to the 1990s, Christians dived into fascinating timelines of the past with the Church in History series—a popular presentation of the nearly two thousand years of people and events that have formed our definition of “Church.” In 2011, Church in History explorers were given the content of the six volumes in one book, featuring fresh content that moved into the twenty-first century.
Church History: The Basics offers a smaller abridged version that’s widely accessible to anyone looking for an entry into Church history studies. Uncover themes, persons, and events in historical and chronological order. All content is arranged by the different eras that historians commonly use as well as by geography. Within these pages, discover headlines in the story of Christianity, from the big picture to the delicious details. This book presents a truly global perspective from the time of the apostles to today.
Contributors include:
• Dr. Robert G. Clouse is professor emeritus of history at Indiana State University. He was a founding member of the Conference on Faith and History, served on the editorial board of the Brethren Encyclopedia, and was a contributing editor of the New Twentieth Century Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge.
• Dr. Karl H. Dannenfeldt † served as professor of history at Arizona State University, the American editor of Archiv f ür Reformationsgeschichte, a committee member for the American Society of Church History, and president and officer for the American Society of Reformation Research.
• Dr. Marianka S. Fousek is an independent historian who served as a professor at Miami University and other schools. She also served as a council member for the American Society of Church History.
• Walter Oetting † (MA) served as professor of Church history at Concordia Seminary. He died young, just after completing his book for the Church in History series, which was reissued in 1992 due to its continuing interest as an introductory text.
• Dr. K. Detlev Schulz is associate professor and chairman for the department of pastoral ministry and mission at Concordia Theological Seminary, serves as the PhD supervisor of the missiology program, and is dean of the graduate school. He grew up in Africa, studied in Europe and the United States, and served as a missionary in Botswana.
• Dr. Roy A. Suelflow † served as a missionary in China, Japan, and Taiwan. He also served as a seminary professor and mission director in East Asia. He later taught church history at Concordia Seminary and served as associate editor for the Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly.
• Dr. Carl A. Volz † served as professor of church history at Luther Seminary and as an editor for Dialog: A Journal of Lutheran Theology. In 1997, that American Academy of Parish Clergy selected his book, The Medieval Church, as one of the ten best books of that year.
“Covering two thousand years of Christian history, from the birth of Christ to the twenty-first century, Church History: The Basics is well researched, highly informative, and definitely not boring. Readers will be edified seeing the ‘hand’ of God in how He preserved His Church through the ages in spite of numerous attacks from outside and from within her midst. It’s a must-have book for every congregation’s church library.”
—Dr. Alvin J. Schmidt, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, Illinois College, Author of How Christianity Changed the World (2004)
