The Oxford Illustrated History of Christianity

I have not read the entire book, but it does contain all the information I expected.

Religion, particularly Christianity, is one hair Oxford loves to split in as many ways as they can find. This overview of Christian history is well written and thorough. There may be other books of greater importance in specific areas of study, but this book is a good beginning. Church libraries may consider this book just because it covers a lot of ground in a single volume. It covers the basics, the persecutions, the rise of Roman acceptance of Chrisitanity, the middle ages, and the Reformation. It carries the story to the present offering the reader a good understanding of the subject matter. It has illustrations throughout, but most are black and white. In an era when color printing is not really cost prohibitive any longer, this is kind of a shame. But the text is top-notch andthe reader will learn much from this volume.

Gives me a review of ancient history, along with years of Christianity.I use this book mainily in a class I take at church. Its called "Education for Ministry". Its a four year course. I find it interesting just to review in my mind all the history that has gone before me. Good book,

The Oxford folks have produced a very good overview of the Christian world from the death of Christ to the present time. This book gives a good accounting of the major doctrinal and organizational challenges facing Christendom over the last two centuries as well as detailing its growth from a band of Jewish reformers to the world wide force it is today. I would have liked a little more on the early rise and struggle of the church to find its place both doctrinally and in the Roman world, but this is a very solid book for someone wanting to explore the breadth of Christianity's two millennia.