Christianity Through the Centuries: A History of the Christian Church

Earle E. Cairns

Zondervan, 1996 - Religion - 560 pages

The third edition of Christianity Through the Centuries brings the reader up-to-date by discussing events and developments in the church into the 1990s. This edition has been redesigned with new typography and greatly improved graphics to increase clarity, accessibility, and usefulness. - New chapters examine recent trends and developments (expanding the last section from 2 chapters to 5) - New photos. Over 100 photos in all -- more than twice the number in the previous edition - Single-column format for greater readability and a contemporary look - Improved maps (21) and charts (39) Building on the features that have made Christianity Through the Centuries an indispensable text, the author not only explains the development of doctrines, movements, and institutions, but also gives attention to 'the impact of Christianity on its times and to the mark of the times on Christianity.'

What people are saying

Review: Christianity Through the Centuries: A History of the Christian Church

User Review  - Peter B. - Goodreads

This was a helpful overview of the church history of the last two thousand years in textbook format. I appreciate the book recommendations that are scattered throughout the book for further study. The ...

Review: Christianity Through the Centuries: A History of the Christian Church

User Review  - Eddy Allen - Goodreads

Thsi respected, well-known, comprehensive resource has established itself as a classic on church history. Cairns looks for the glory of God in the total process, conveying the issues that have divided the church and also affirming that the church of Jesus Christ is basically one.

Contents

• John Calvin with four syndics 305: 13
• Charts Maps Pictures and Credits: 14
• Preface: 15
• Introduction: 17
• B C A D 590: 25
• Pauls Missionary Journeys and Trip to Rome 65: 26
• Chronology of Church History: 28
• Early and Medieval Monasticism 223: 32
• The Spread of Christianity in the Empire to 100: 39
• Mithras sacrificing a bull: 41
• On This Rock: 49
• Christs meeting with the woman at the well: 50
• Views of the End Times: 55
• To the Jew First: 59
• Also to the Greek: 64
• The Books and the Parchments: 73
• The Church Fathers: 74
• With the Bishops and the Deacons: 80
• The Struggle of the Old Catholic Imperial Church for Survival 100313: 86
• Augustus the first Roman emperor: 89
• Fables or Sound Doctrine: 95
• Church Problems 100313: 100
• Earnestly Contending for the Faith: 103
• The Church Closes Ranks: 112
• The Supremacy of the Old Catholic Imperial Church 313590: 118
• Conciliar Controversy and Creedal Development: 125
• Major Theological Issues to 451: 127
• The Golden Age of Church Fathers: 134
• The Christianity of the Cloisters: 144
• Hierarchical and Liturgical Developments: 150
• MEDIEVAL CHURCH HISTORY 590 1517 The Rise of the Empire and LatinTeutonic Christianity 590800: 157
• The First Medieval Pope: 159
• Christian Losses and Expansion: 165
• Breakup of the Roman Empire and Mass Migrations After 476: 166
• Two Evangelizations of the British Isles: 173
• The Revival of Imperialism in the West: 176
• Ebb and Flow in Relationships Between Church and State 8001054: 184
• Revival and Schism in the Church: 192
• The Zenith of Papal Power: 202
• The Medieval Church 10541305: 203
• Crusaders and Reformers: 212
• The Crusades: 214
• Medieval Learning and Worship: 226
• Schools of Scholasticism: 227
• Medieval Sunset and Modern Sunrise 13051517: 239
• Roman Catholic Decline: 245
• The Papacy Faces External Opposition: 252
• MODERN CHURCH HISTORY 1517 AND AFTER: 265
• Reformation and CounterReformation 15171648: 267
• Birth of the Modern Era 13501650: 273
• Luther and the German Reformation: 280
• The Reformation in Switzerland: 293
• The Radical Reformation 15251580: 296
• The Reformed Faith Outside Switzerland: 308
• Massacre of Huguenots at Tours: 310
• The Reformation and Puritanism in England: 320
• Thomas Cranmer: 323
• The Development of English Protestantism: 327
• CounterReformation and Evaluation: 337
• Roman Catholicism 15451563: 338
• Matteo Ricci with Chinese convert: 342
• Types of Religious Organization: 350
• Rationalism Revivalism and Denominationalism 16481789: 355
• The Heritage of the Reformation in the United States: 356
• The New England Primer cover 1737: 360
• Protestant Transatlantic Revival: 366
• Rationalism Revivalism and Roman Catholicism: 375
• Reactions to Protestant Orthodoxy: 376
• René Descartes: 378
• Revivalism Missions and Modernism 17891914: 392
• Religion and Reform in Great Britain and Europe: 398
• Protestant Transatlantic Revival 17761810: 399
• Protestant Transatlantic Revival 18131846: 406
• The Church of Scotland 15601929: 414
• Foes of the Faith: 418
• The American Church in the National Era: 426
• Global Lay Prayer Interdenominational Revival 18571895: 434
• Church and Society in Tension Since 1914: 444
• Social Political and Economic Change by Revolution or Evolution: 451
• The Decline of Liberal NeoOrthodox and Radical Theologies: 459
• Theological Trends Since 1517: 461
• The Rise of Ecumenical Organization: 468
• The Ecumenical Movement: 470
• Evangelical Unity in Diversity: 478
• Evangelical Unity in Diversity: 482
• Decline and Expansion in Church Growth: 505
• Church Growth: 506
• Regional Revivals 1945 and After: 515
• Fruits of Revival: 523
• Problems Patterns and Prospects: 528
• Notes: 535
• Index: 547

About the author

Earle E. Cairns (PhD, University of Nebraska) was professor emeritus at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. He was a member of the American Society of Church History, the American Historical Association, and the Conference on Faith and History.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Christianity Through the Centuries: A History of the Christian Church; ITC publications, ser. B, no. 36-38
• Author: Earle E. Cairns
• Edition: 3, illustrated, revised
• Publisher: Zondervan, 1996
• ISBN: 0310208122, 9780310208129
• Length: 560 pages
• Subjects: Religion / Christian Theology / General; Religion / Christianity / History