New Book: The Story of Christianity

Granted Ministries now carries The Story of Christianity (one-volume edition), by Justo L. Gonzalez. Its retail price is $55.00, but you can purchase it here for only $18.00. Here is our review: 

Most Christians experience a dilemma regarding the study of church history. On the one hand, they personally find the study of history to be painfully boring. They recall their time in school, memorizing endless names and dates for tests which they did not hope to pass. So they expect church history to be just as tedious and unhelpful. But on the other hand, so many pastors and teachers recommend the study of church history as valuable—and it certainly is. More than anything, it tells a story which glorifies God, showing how the salvation of Christ has spread from an insignificant Roman province to penetrate most of the earth’s nations. Studying church history also answers such basic questions as, “Why are there so many different Christian groups?” and “Why does my church do the things it does?” We often do not know the full answers to these questions until we have studied the matter historically. Finally, studying church history grants a sense of perspective. We often assume that all we believe and do is correct, but for no other reason than that we were taught those things growing up. Studying church history—and encountering the various, divergent forms of Christianity which have existed over two millennia—challenges us to think more biblically about our beliefs and practices.

As helpful as church history is, we need a source for our study of it which teaches us what we need to know, but in a way more agreeable to us than a high school lecture. In The Story of Christianity, Justo Gonzalez has provided this. Formerly available in two, paperback volumes, this edition contains both volumes in a single, hardback book. It will take you from the days of the New Testament church into the present time, fully surveying Christian history. And yet, Gonzalez’s style of writing is easy to read and enjoyable. Many who normally do not like reading history do indeed find it much easier to read this book. This makes The Story of Christianity the ideal text for those just beginning to read about church history. Granted, Gonzalez is just one historian out of many, and sometimes they disagree with each other on precisely what happened and why. Therefore, the serious student of history will seek out other authors and will weigh the evidence as well as he can. But when it comes to a first church history book, few if any are better than Gonzalez’s. We gladly recommend this book.