Books on Church History

August 13, 2007 at 12:01 pm (Books (reviews and recommendations))

Good general places to start: this is the best one volume starting-out history of the church.  It is Reformed, and gives great scope for the whole, while still giving many good details. This looks to be a great set (I don’t own it, so I am not able to say for sure how good it is; however, they have excellent editors).

Early Church History: In this category, this is essential reading, as is this. For further primary sources, go here and here. Of course, nothing substitutes for the original sources. You can download many of the Migne set (the definitive Greek and Latin source texts) on books.google.com. Search for patrologiae in full view mode. Good secondary sources are here, here and here. I especially appreciate Pelikan. His whole series is well worth purchasing (here, here, here, here, and here), not least because he pays careful attention to the Eastern church, which not too many Western church historians do, and because it is a history of doctrine, which is an appropriately limited scope (contrary to many other histories, which try to tell us everything).

Medieval Church History: Here is excellent sources for primary material (includes the outstanding Cur Deus Homo, by Anselm). Secondary sources are here, here, and here.

Reformation History: I am assuming that most people will already know how to get their hands on Calvin and Luther’s works. But I cannot recommend too highly this work. You could go broke on secondary sources on this period. But this, this, this, this, and this are good secondary sources on Reformation history.

Modern Church History: I am also assuming that anyone who wants primary sources can find them for themselves. With regard to secondary sources, I would go here, here, and here.

10 Comments

  1. SamChevre said,

    August 13, 2007 at 2:38 pm

    For Reformation-era history, I think it is useful to be at least somewhat familiar with Anabaptist history as well. For that, the best primary sources are (IMO) The Martyrs Mirror, especially the section called the “Old Book”, and the writings of various leaders. A good secondary source is John Horsch’s Mennonites in Europe.

    And, just as an extra, here’s a link to one of the great hero stories. Michael Sattler, who had a primary role in writing the first Anabaptist confession of faith, the Schleitheim Confession. (All the links go to texts.)

  2. tim prussic said,

    August 13, 2007 at 6:05 pm

    Dude, Pastor, I know it’d be a little more work on your part, but in lieu of the hyper-link’d “here,” would you put the Author and Title? I spend too much time hitting everyone of the links. Even when I put the cursor on the link, all it shows is the WTS bookstore, so I can’t tell what the work is. Anyway, just a thought!

    Thanks for all your labors, Pastor Lane. I know I’ve benefitted from them. Your eMinistry (!) is helpful.

  3. greenbaggins said,

    August 13, 2007 at 6:11 pm

    Tim, I would be more than happy to do that, except it would defeat the purpose! I want you to click on those links, because clicks generate gift certificates for me from Westminster bookstore. So, the lack of author/title is on purpose.

  4. tim prussic said,

    August 13, 2007 at 6:29 pm

    Oh, I see… you’re gettin’ paid with my time! hehe
    that’s one version of affiliate marketing!
    here’s another: http://www.prussic.mychoises.biz – I get paid on this one! I just don’t know how to make the “here” link!

    -Tim

  5. tim prussic said,

    August 13, 2007 at 6:31 pm

    I misspelled my own web site! What an idgit!
    http://www.prussic.mychoices.biz

    Feeling idiotic, Tim

  6. tim prussic said,

    August 14, 2007 at 12:21 am

    What? No buys yet? I thought Reformed folk had deep pockets!!!

  7. Steven Carr said,

    August 14, 2007 at 12:53 pm

    Lane,

    You should mention the Texts and Studies in Reformation and Post-Reformation Thought series published by Baker. Also Protestant Scholasticism ed. by Trueman and Clark.

    Steve

  8. Paul B. said,

    August 15, 2007 at 3:09 pm

    I understand your desire to generate gift certificates, Pastor Lane, but I do have to echo Tim’s comment. It’s tiresome to have to click on twenty-seven “heres” and “thises” and wait for downloads just to see a title.

  9. Jonathan Bonomo said,

    August 16, 2007 at 2:52 pm

    A couple more “musts”:

    Early: Primary: the Ichthus series’ “Christology of the Later Fathers.” Secondary: J.N.D. Kelly’s “Early Christian Doctrines,” and Quasten’s 4 vol. “Patrology.” (The latter is rather hard core, and only for extreme geeks.)

    Reformation: John T. McNeil’s “History and Character of Calvinism.” A.G. Dickens’, “The English Reformation.” (a rough read, but worth it.)

    I agree with you on Pelikan, taking the time to work through those volumes pays off huge. I would also suggest his “Credo.” It is an excellent companion to the 5 vol. series.

  10. Illustrations Gone Bad « Unashamed Workman said,

    August 16, 2007 at 7:35 pm

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