Church History in Plain Language, 2nd edition

Author: Bruce L. Shelley
Publisher: Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995, 495 pages
Category: Church, Wisdom

Synopsis: Bruce Shelley is convinced that the knowledge of church history should not be the exclusive domain of Christian and not-so-Christian scholars. He has created this resource to introduce the heritage of faith that today’s Christians have as a result of their spiritual ancestors. Written to inform and inspire, this book attempts to cover 8 different historical ages in a broad manner, but also with special glimpses into the lives of various believers as they attempted to proclaim Jesus in the midst of the unique challenges of their day.

Value: Most of the assaults that have been launched against the church have been historical in nature. Opponents of Christ have tried to undermine the facts of the past, and they usually do a pretty good job; not because their information is correct, but because most Christians lack a solid understanding of history with which to confront such attacks. Shelley’s book on church history is not definitive. There are many resources to utilize, but it serves as a good place for Christian men to start tapping into their historical roots. Men who know where they came from will understand what needs to be brought into the future.