Christian History Home > 1990
Persecution in the Early Church: Recommended Resources
Recommendations provided by Kenneth R. Calvert, Th,M. candidate in patristics at Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
From the Archives: The “Edict of Milan”
Selections from an agreement, made in 313, that changed the course of history
From the Archives: Nero's Cruelties
An account from Roman historian Tacitus (C. 115)
From the Archives: Emperor Hadrians moderate policies
This rescript, c. 124, protected Christians
From the Editor: Welcome to this Special Issue
Important information before you begin
KEVIN A. MILLER
A.D. 70 Titus Destroys Jerusalem
When the Roman general sacked the temple, the Jews were forced into a new era—and so were the Christians.
313 The Edict of Milan
The agreement shifted Christianity from being an illicit, persecuted sect to being a welcome—and soon dominant—religion of the Roman Empire.
David F. Wright is dean of the faculty of divinity at the University of Edinburgh and a member of the advisory board of Christian History.
325 The First Council of Nicea
At stake in the church's first general council was the simplest, yet most profound, question: Who is Jesus Christ?
Dr. Bruce L. Shelley is professor of church history at Denver Seminary and a member of the advisory board of Christian History
367 Athanasius Defines the New Testament
His letter is the earliest authoritative statement to fix the New Testament as we know it today.
Dr. Carsten Peter Thiede is president of Reinhold-Schneider-Gesellschaft e. V. in West Germany and a member of the advisory board of Christian History.
386 Augustine Converts to Christianity
A brilliant, profligate professor of rhetoric became the church's leading theologian for centuries to come.
405 Jerome Completes the Vulgate
This Latin translation stood as the preeminent Bible text for centuries—and set the standard for future translators.
461 The Council of Chalcedon
If Jesus was truly God, how could he be truly human as well? Leo the Great helped guide a critical council to a clear answer.
Tony Lane is lecturer in historical theology at London Bible College and a member of the advisory board of Christian History
540 Benedict Writes His Monastic Rule
His flexible, compassionate guidelines for Christian community forever shaped monastic life—and influenced Western society.
Dr. Bennett D. Hill is professor of history at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
988 Vladimir Adopts Christianity
The pagan prince of Kievan Rus' embraced a new faith, leading to the Christianization of the Ukrainian, Russian, and Byelorussian peoples.
1054 The East-West Schism
Long-standing differences between Western and Eastern Christians finally caused a definitive break, and Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox still remain separate.
Dr. George T. Dennis is professor of history at Catholic University of America in Washington. D.C., and author of several books on the Byzantine Empire.
1095 Pope Urban II Launches the First Crusade
Waves of pilgrims and soldiers embarked for the Holy Land, beginning an era of exploration, conquest, defeat, and folly.
1272 Thomas Aquinas Concludes His Word on Summa Theologiae
The massive treatise set forth a theological system so influential it has been declared eternally valid.
1378 The Great Papal Schism
When two popes, and later three popes, vied for supremacy, the medieval church entered a dramatic, forty-year crisis of authority.
Dr. Francis Oakley is president of Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts.
1456 Gutenberg Produces the First Printed Bible
Using his revolutionary invention—printing from movable type—he made the Scriptures potentially accessible to every person.
The History of the Church: Recommended Resources
—The Editors
Important Events in Church History: Christian History Timeline
Important Events in Church History
A selective chronological listing
1517 Luther Posts the 95 Theses
An obscure monk invited debate on a pressing church issue—and touched off a history-shattering reform movement.
Dr. Eric W. Gritsch
1521 The Diet of Worms
Was the wayward Luther free to dissent? A German council rendered a judgment.
ERIC W. GRITSCH Dr. Eric W. Gritsch is Maryland Synod Professor of Church History and director of the Institute for Luther Studies at Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
1525 The Anabaptist Movement Begins
Hated by Protestants and Catholics alike, these "radical reformers" wanted to not merely reform the church but restore it.
1534 The Act of Supremacy
Breaking from Rome, the English Parliament declared King Henry VIII "the only supreme head on earth of the Church of England."
1536 John Calvin Publishes Institutes of the Christian Religion
Either adored or abhorred, the reformer and his teachings live on in his monumental work.
1545 The Council of Trent Begins
Responding to the Reformation, the council charted the Catholic church's course for the next 400 years.
1611 Publication of the King James Bible
A team of scholars produced an English Bible translation unsurpassed in linguistic beauty and longevity.
1738 John & Charles Wesley Experience Conversions
They were ordained ministers and missionaries. Then their hearts were "strangely warmed," and their changed lives gave rise to a worldwide movement.
Dr. Roger J. Green is professor and chair of biblical and theological studies at Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts.
1740 The Great Awakening Peaks
A mighty wave of revival washed across North America, forever altering the religious landscape.
Dr. Mark A. Noll is professor of history at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, and a member of the advisory board of Christian History.
1962 The Second Vatican Council
In an epochal council, the Catholic Church undertook its most searching self-examination ever and renewed itself for a modern world.
Dr. Joseph A. Komonchak is professor of theology in the Department of Religion and Religious Education, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.
1963 Martin Luther King, Jr. Leads the March on Washington
A Baptist preacher had a dream that guided one of the most profound social movements of our times.
Dr. Wesley A. Roberts is pastor of Peoples Baptist Church of Boston and a member of the advisory board of Christian History.
75 Other Important Events in Church History
A brief listing of significant dates that also earn a place in the "Christian History 100"
Persecution in Early Church: Did You Know?
by EVERETT FERGUSON [EVERETT FERGUSON Dr. Everett Ferguson is professor of Bible at Abilene Christian University and author of Backgrounds of Early Christianity (Eerdmans, 1987).]
From the Editor: Tomb of the Unknown Christians
KEVIN A. MILLER
Persecution in the Early Church: Did You Know?
Beginning as a despised, illicit religious sect, Christianity endured 300 years of hostility to emerge as the dominant force in the Roman Empire.
Dr. Everett Ferguson is professor of Bible at Abilene Christian University and author of Backgrounds of Early Christianity (Eerdmans, 1987)
When Christianity Triumphed
The achievement brought new difficulties.
Dr. William H. C. Frend, clerk in holy orders for the Diocese of Peterborough (U.K.), is professor emeritus of ecclesiastical history at Glasgow University and author of Martyrdom and Persecution in the Early Church (Oxford: Blackwell; New York: New York University, 1965).
From the Archives: Perpetua & Polycarp: Two Heroic Martyrs
Perpetua
The Piety of the Persecutors
In the Roman mind, there were valid religious reasons to halt the spread of Christianity.
Dr. Robert L. Wilken is the William R. Kenan, Jr., Professor of the History of Christianity at the University of Virginia. He is author of The Christians as the Romans Saw Them (Yale University Press, paper edition, 1985).
Rome's Religious Ferment
The first-century Empire swirled with an exotic mix of religions.
Dr. Herbert Schlossberg, Project Director, Fieldstead Institute.
Persecution in the Early Church: A Gallery of the Persecuting Emperors
by MARK GALLI Mark Galli is associate editor of Leadership Journal.
Controversial Constantine
The famous emperor ended the persecution of Christians. But was he a true believer, or merely a superstitious political opportunist?
David F. Wright is dean of the Faculty of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh.
Constantine's Famous Emblem
The chi-rho symbol he adopted is now displayed in churches throughout the world.
David F. Wright is dean of the Faculty of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh.
Persecution in the Early Church: A Christian History Timeline
How the Early Church Viewed Martyrs
Christians held a theology of martyrdom that gave them courage to endure.
William G. Bixler
The Gallery: Martyrs and Confessors
by JOHN O. GOOCH Dr. John 0. Gooch is editor of youth/adult curriculum for The United Methodist Publishing House in Nashville, Tennessee.
Cowards Among the Christians
by JOHN O. GOOCH [JOHN O. GOOCH Dr. John 0. Gooch is editor of youth/adult curriculum for The United Methodist Publishing House in Nashville, Tennessee.]
From the Archives: Cyprian's Letter to Banished Christians
Encouragement for believers sentenced to the Roman mines.
Persecuted Christians Today
by JAMES REAPSOME [JAMES REAPSOME Evangelical Mission Information Service]
The Faith Behind the Famous: Charles Dickens
Some of his novels mercilessly lampoon Christians. Yet the great Victorian author also wrote a reverent account of Jesus' life.
Stephen Rost, a writer from Mesquite, Texas, is the editor of eight volumes in the Christian Classics Series (Nelson, 1988–9).
Events in the Life of Charles Dickens
Stephen Rost, a writer from Mesquite, Texas, is the editor of eight volumes in the Christian Classics Series (Nelson, 1988–9).
How Dickens Viewed Jesus Christ
Selected quotations from The Life of Our Lord.
—Selected by Stephen Rost
William and Catherine Booth: Did You Know?
John D. Waldron, retired Salvation Army commissioner of Canada and Bermuda, is the author or editor of many books on The Salvation Army.
From the Editor: Fashionable or Forceful?
Booth and his Army drew much opposition, including this 1882 editorial cartoon in The Entr'acte. Often the hostility was not only verbal, but also violent. See "The Army Under Seige".
KEVIN A. MILLER
The General
William Booth was born in economic and spiritual poverty, yet he founded a worldwide organization dedicated to their eradication.
NORMAN H. MURDOCH
The Army Mother
With her bright mind and powerful speaking abilities, Catherine Booth emerged as one of the most influential women in modern religious history.
NORMAN H. MURDOCH
Sayings of William Booth
COMPILED BY NORMAN H. MURDOCH
Sayings of Catherine Booth
Pioneer in Female Ministry
Catherine Booth's firm conviction that women should be free to preach the gospel forever shaped The Salvation Army's openness to female officers.
Major Christine Parkin is stationed at The Salvation Army's Croydon Citadel Corps in England.
Female Ministry
Excerpts from Catherine Booth's landmark pamphlet
—Catherine Booth (1859)
William Booth's Officers
Thousands of young men and women devoted themselves to the rugged nineteenth-century Army life. Where did they come from? Why did they join?
Glenn K. Horridge, a lifelong Salvantionist, is assistant housemaster and teacher of history at Wellingborough School, Northamptonshire, England. The author of three history books, he is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of London.
The Army Under Siege
Early officers sometimes encountered brutal opposition.
CYRIL BARNES
The Salvation Army: A Missionary Crusade
How a small, East London mission became one of the leading missionary organizations in the world.
Dr. E. H. McKinley is chair of the social science division at Asbury College, Wilmore, Kentucky, and the author of several books on The Salvation Army, including Marching to Glory: The History of The Salvation Army in the United States, 1880–1980 (Harper & Row, 1980).
William Booth Finds His Destiny
The Booths' American Mentors
Three revivalists from across the Atlantic profoundly influenced the Booths' theology and mission.
Dr. John Coutts, us an author, broadcaster, and lecturer in religious studies at Avery Hill College in London. A Salvation Army officer for twenty years, he is currently a soldier in the Army's corps in Gravesend, Kent.
William Booth's Life
In His Own Words
William and Catherine Booth: Christian History Timeline
William and Catherine Booth: A Gallery of the Booths' Children
Their struggles and achievements
NORMAN H. MURDOCH
William Booth's Theology of Redemption
The General's view of sanctification, the kingdom of God, and salvation moved his Army to action.
Dr. Roger J. Green is professor and chair of biblical and theological studies at Gord College in Wenham, Massachusetts, and author of War on Two Fronts: The Redemptive Theology of William Booth (The Salvation Army, 1989)
What Do Salvationists Believe?
The Story Behind Salvation Army Music
William Booth felt suspicious of organized music groups. Yet he launched a movement that became renowned worldwide for its bands and choirs.
Dr. Ronald W. Holz is chair of the division of fine arts at Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky, and author of several studies of Salvation Army music.
Major Events in Salvation Army Music
Milestones during the life of William Booth
Dr. Ronald W. Holz is chair of the division of fine arts at Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky, and author of several studies of Salvation Army music.
In Darkest England
Exactly one hundred years ago, William Booth published a dramatic, detailed plan for ending unemployment and overcoming poverty.
NORMAN H. MURDOCH
In Darkest England and the Way Out
Selections from William Booth's bold proposal for eliminating poverty
—William Booth (1890)
Sources of Booth's Reforming Ideas
NORMAN H. MURDOCH
Life in the Army Today
Contemporary officers continue the mission of William and Catherine Booth.
NANCY KRESSLER MURPHY
Christmas Kettles
The history behind a Yuletide institution
MARY ANN JEFFREYS
William and Catherine Booth: Recommended Resources
The Booths, their children, and The Salvation Army have all received extensive study, so only a small portion of available works can be listed here. Works are listed alphabetically by title within each category. Asterisks denote those available through The Salvation Army (see addresses below).
Christian History Sampler: History Behind the News
Ancient Assistance Against the New Age
Douglas Groothuis is the author of Unmasking the New Age, Confronting the New Age (InterVarsity, 1986 and 1988), and a forthcoming book on the New Age view of Jesus
Christian History Sampler: Martin Luther on Marriage
The Reformer deeply influenced more than one institution.
Dwight L. Moody: Did You Know?
From the Editor: Delightfully Unconventional
KEVIN A. MILLER
The Life & Times of D. L. Moody
How an awkward country boy with a grade-school education became the greatest evangelist of the Gilded Age.
Dr. David Maas is professor of history at Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois.
Colorful Sayings From Colorful Moody
Moody's common sense and quick wit led to many pithy sayings. A sampling.
The World Has Yet to See…
—Mark Fackler
The Nearly Fatal Voyage
Key People in the Life of D. L. Moody: A Gallery
The Three Rs of Moody's Theology
Three great Bible truths were central to all of Moody's preaching.
Stanley N. Gundry is publisher for academic and professional books and general manager of Zondervan Publishing House in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His book Love Them In: The Life and Theology of D. L. Moody (Moody, 1976, and Baker, 1982) is the definitive study of Moody's theology.
Questions About Moody's Theology
The five that people ask most often
Dr. Stanley N. Gundry is publisher for academic and professional books and general manager of Zondervan Publishing House in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His book Love Them In: The Life and Theology of D. L. Moody (Moody, 1976, and Baker, 1982) is the definitive study of Moody's theology.
Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899) and His World: Christian History Timeline
How Moody Changed Revivalism
The evangelist converted mass evangelism.
Dr. David W. Bebbington is lecturer in history at University of Stirling in Stirling, Scotland.
What Is Revivalism?
Dr. David W. Bebbington is lecturer in history at University of Stirling in Stirling, Scotland.
The Popular Educator
Moody was not an educational theorist or systematizer, but he was a popular educator par excellence.
Virginia Lieson Brereton
The Northfield Schools
by VIRGINIA LIESON BRERETON [VIRGINIA LIESON BRERETON Dr. Virginia Lieson Brereton teaches history and writing at Harvard College. Her most recent book is The Formation of American Bible Schools, 1880–1940, A History (Indiana University Press, 1990).]
D. L. Moody's Contribution to Christian Publishing
He was the catalyst for two of America's largest religious book publishers.
Allan Fisher is editor, academic and reference books, for Baker Book House in Grand Rapids, Michigan
From the Archives: The New Birth
Excerpts from a sermon that Moody preached at least 183 times.
D. L. Moody: Recommended Resources
(Resources listed alphabetically, by title, within each category. with asterisks denote those still in print.)
The Faith Behind the Famous: Florence Nightingale: Christian History Sampler
She singlehandedly revolutionized the field of nursing, a mission that began with a call to God's service at age 17.
Mary Lewis Coakley is the author of twelve books and resides in Wyncote, Pennsylvania.
A Forceful Faith
Excerpts from Florence Nightingale's letters and diaries [Sources: Lonely Crusader by Cecil Woodham-Smith New York: McGraw-Hill, 1951). "Soldiers' Heroine Florence Nightingale" by W.C. Wilson in Apollo in Pygmyland and Other True Stories (London: Edinburgh House Press, 1946). God's Servant at the Battlefield: Florence Nightingale by David R. Collins (Milford, Michigan: Mott Media, 1985).]
Events in the Life of Florence Nightingale
Why Study Church History?
Surprising answers from a variety of writers
Browse More ChristianHistory.net
Home | Browse by Topic | Browse by Period | The Past in the Present | Books & Resources
| |
|
