The Church History courses I took while creating this timeline were taught by Dr. David Calhoun (author of History of Princeton Seminary) and the text was The Story of Christianity by Justo Gonzalez.
Dictionary of the Christian Church is a reference I used and found helpful while creating the timeline.
Other books on this list are mentioned in the timeline, or the authors are in the timeline, or I thought they looked interesting.
The Church History ABCs
By Stephen J. Nichols & Ned Bustard / Crossway Books & Bibles
A slave-trader-turned-abolitionist becomes a hymn writer. A church father is martyred for teaching about Christ's incarnation. A priest is captured by pirates---and then baptizes thousands of pagans. Show your youngsters that church history is anything but boring with this heroes-of-the-faith parade through the 26 letters of the alphabet! 32 pages, 9" x 12" whimsically illustrated hardcover from Crossway.
Confessions of St. Augustine
By St. Augustine / Moody Publishers
Underscoring the pivotal role that classic literature plays in the shaping of our lives, Moody Press has introduced Moody Classic Series, celebrating Christian writing which has stood the test of time.
St. Augustine's Confessions is one of the classics in this series, featured here with fine art cover design; edited by Rosalie DeRosset. 304 pages; with notes.
The City of God
By Saint Augustine / Random House, Inc
A cornerstone of Western thought! Written to refute pagan claims that Christianity brought about Rome's downfall, Augustine's classic work is a veritable charter for a Christian future. Chronicling human events as an age-old struggle between good and evil, he casts them in light of a cosmic march toward eternity. Discover why many read Western history as mere "footnotes" to Augustine. 892 pages, hardcover from Random House.
Selected Writings: Thomas Aquinas
By Translated by Ralph McInerny / Penguin Putnam Inc.
Although a controversial figure in his own day, St. Thomas Aquinas (c. 1225-74) forged a unique synthesis of faith and reason, of ancient philosophy and sacred scripture, which decisively influenced Dante and the whole subsequent Catholic tradition.
Intensely interested in Aristotle, as well as Plato, Paul, and Augustine, Thomas believed that unaided human thought can take us a long way towards wisdom and truth, although it must always be supplemented by the central mystery of revelation. His writings contain many classic statements of doctrine about angels, the Incarnation, Trinity, sacraments and the soul and also penetrating discussions on choice, creation and conscience, law, logic and the purpose of life.
In this superb selection, arranged chronologically, Ralph McInerny brings together sermons, commentaries, responses to criticism and substantial extracts from one of Christianity's supreme masterpieces, the Summa theologiae. For anyone concerned to find ways of reconciling science and dogma, reason and religion, Thomas has always been a major source of inspiration. This volumes reveals both the development and the sheer scope of his work.
The Imitation of Christ
By Thomas a Kempis / Hendrickson Publishers
Next to the Bible, this book is the most-published--and most deeply cherished--book in any language. For nearly 600 years, these thoughtful meditations on Jesus' life and teachings offer practical guidance on the central task of the Christian life: learning day by day to live like Jesus. This modern translation is direct and concise, yet retains a deep devotional flavor.
The Practice of the Presence of God
By Brother Lawrence / Baker
For three centuries the writings of Brother Lawrence have taught Christians that God is as present in the kitchen as in the cathedral and as accessible in the living room as He is around the Lord's table. This simple, yet profound teaching will empower you to seek the joy of God's presence in the midst of every moment and circumstance.
Pensées
By Blaise Pascal / Penguin Putnam Inc.
Updated edition of the famous Krailsheimer translation, the first to follow the order of notes as Pascal left them. This unfinished apology for Christianity was meant to confound the followers of Descartes by emphasizing the inadequacy of reason. 368 pages, softcover.
Jonathan Edwards: A New Biography
By Iain H. Murray / Banner Of Truth
This book gives us Murray's view of both the first and second great awakenings. He was a mighty theologian and a great evangelist at the same time. No thinking person who loves theology and experience, revival and evangelism should pass over this masterful work.
For More, see: Major Works of Jonathan Edwards and Edwards Studies
The Treasury of David, 3 Volumes
By Charles Spurgeon / Hendrickson Publishers
The classic commentary on the Psalms is a treasure for preachers and devotional readers alike! Each verse includes Spurgeon's commentary, as well as illuminating quotes from Spurgeon's contemporaries and great Puritan expositors of the 17th and 18th centuries. Each psalm closes with a short section of "Hints to Preachers." 2833 pages total, three hardcovers from Hendrickson.
Find other books by C.H. Spurgeon...
Lectures on Calvinism
By Abraham Kuyper / Eerdmans Publishing Co.
How does a person relate to God, to other people, and to the world around? This classic expression of the Reformed faith offers six lectures on Calvinism. Abraham Kuyper introduces Calvinism as a life-system, discusses its relationship to religion, politics, science, and art. Though these lecture were delivered at Princeton in 1898, what Kuyper says is not of historical interest alone; it has relevance for today.
A Testament to Freedom: The Essential Writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
By Dietrich Bonhoeffer / Harpercollins Publishing
“Focusing variously on Bonhoeffer as teacher, pastor, friend, and follower of Christ, this contains the essential pieces of the Bonhoeffer corpus,” - Christian Century. 579 pages, softcover.
Phantastes,
By George MacDonald / Eerdmans Publishing Co.
This is the story of the narrator’s adventures in fairyland, where he confronts tree-spirits, sojourns to the palace of the fairy queen. A book of unparalleled charm and creativity that C.S. Lewis said baptized his imagination.
Orthodoxy
By G.K. Chesterton / Hendrickson Publishers
“There has never been a more articulate champion of classic Christian orthodoxy, virtue, and decency than this rotund jouster whose words were his weapons,” - Christianity Today. One of the most influential works of apologetics in the 20th century, it turns on their heads a number of conventional assumptions. 200 pages, hardcover. Hendrickson.
The Chronicles of Narnia, 7 Volumes: Full-Color Collector's Edition
By C.S. Lewis / HarperTrophy
Once your children have followed Lucy through the back of a magic wardrobe - and met Aslan, the Christlike lion - they'll never be the same! Kids adore these classics for their imaginative story lines and adults appreciate the rich Christian symbolism. This high-quality, softcover set would make either a memorable gift or noteworthy addition to your library.
This commemorative set of softcover books features the original cover artwork and full-color illustrations of Pauline Baynes, the first illustrator of this beloved series. The individual books measure 5.25" by 8" and the set includes an attractive slipcase in which the books can be safely stored and attractively displayed.
Christ and Culture
By H. Richard Niebuhr / Harpercollins Publishing
Niebuhr chose to develop five types to describe how Christians in the past had interacted with their respective cultures, and how Christians are interacting with their cultures in the present. Fifty years after Niebuhr developed his five types, they are still just as relevant. Niebuhr's five types are: Christ against culture, the Christ of culture, Christ above culture, Christ and culture in paradox, and Christ the transformer of culture.
The Complete Works of Francis Schaeffer, 5 Volumes
By Francis Schaeffer / Crossway Books
Dr. Schaeffer was one of the 20th century’s champions of reasoned faith. This affordable set contains all 22 of Schaeffer’s books, including his popular Trilogy (The God Who Is There, Escape from Reason, and He Is There and He Is Not Silent). Five indexed 6" x 9" softcovers, from Crossway Books.
For More, see: Church History page from Christianbook.com
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