Two Kingdoms: The Church and Culture Through the Ages

I love church history. I've studied a lot of church history formally and informally. I like to talk about church history and teach church history. It's amazing to me how few even dedicated Christians know about their own history. But the problem comes in the fact it's hard to find a very solid, thorough and readable church history book that is useful as an introduction in an academic setting and useful to those who just want a basic overview for their own benefit. Two Kingdoms is among the very few books that fits this. I first read it as an assigned book in Mark Nolls church history class as an undergraduate. Since then this has been the first book I recommend to anyone who doesn't have a foundation in church history and wants to know more. There are more thorough books, to be sure, but none that would be as accessible. It's a great book. Very balanced in its views, even as it's certainly not comprehensive. The blend of church history and surrounding history makes for a very great understanding of the events and contexts of the last 2000 years.

I found this book to be most beneficial on church history that I have read. It is compulsory reading at the seminary I attended and for good reason. Its wide arc'ing coverage is second to none. Previous reviewers have obviously bought the book expecting to find the authors to have written from the readers own world view. This is not how historical books are written, before writing a review know the subject being dealt with.