Crossway Christian History Collection (7 vols.)

by Roger Skepple; Reddit Andrews III; Thabiti M. Anyabwile; Anthony B. Bradley

and

13 more

Publisher:

Crossway

, 1990–2014

Overview

This collection approaches Christian history from several perspectives that give modern scholars and pastors a clear perspective on ancient truths. Questions about our ability to validate Christian accounts of history found within scripture are presented, and balanced by an exploration of the various methods of Scripture interpretation. Gerald Bray continues this careful examination with his confident assertion of God’s guiding the development of theology and interpretation throughout the history of the church. Readers will also benefit from later biographical examinations of prominent Christian teachers like Calvin and George Whitefield.

Theologians and students alike will appreciate two careful studies of theology, one based on historical documents and the other based upon the influence of reformed faith on several African-American pastors. The lessons contained in this collection refresh and inspire sermons and personal devotion with their frank discussion of the role of faith and theology throughout Christian history.

Key Features

• Covers Christian church history from a variety of perspectives
• Engages questions of epistemology and answers questions about the reliability of Scripture
• Assists modern pastors and teachers in engaging with the writings of historically prominent Christian teachers and preachers

Product Details

• Title: Crossway Christian History Collection
• Publisher: Crossway
• Volumes: 7
• Pages: 5,395
• Christian Group: Evangelical
• Resource Type: Histories
• Topic: Church History

Histories and Fallacies: Problems Faced in the Writing of History

• Author: Carl R. Trueman
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2010
• Pages: 192

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How do we know the stories told by historians are true? To what extent can we rely on their interpretations of the past? Histories and Fallacies is a primer on the conceptual and methodological problems in the discipline of history. Historian Carl Trueman presents a series of classic historical problems as a way to examine what history is, what it means, and how it can be told and understood. Each chapter gives an account of a particular problem, examines classic examples of that problem, and then suggests a solution or approach that will bear fruit for the writer or reader of history.

Readers who follow Trueman’s deft writing will not just be learning theory but will already be practicing fruitful approaches to history. Histories and Fallacies guides both readers and writers of history away from dead ends and methodological mistakes, and into a fresh confidence in the productive nature of the historical task.

This is a very good book, full of historiographical wisdom. I recommend it strongly as a sure and encouraging guide to budding historians befuddled by the so-called ‘history wars,’ and to anyone who is interested in the challenges attending those who represent the history of Christian thought.

—Douglas A. Sweeney, professor of church history, director of the Jonathan Edwards Center, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Carl Trueman’s cogent and engaging approach to historiography provides significant examples of problems faced by historians and the kinds of fallacies frequently encountered in historical argumentation. Trueman steers a clear path between problematic and overdrawn conclusions on the one hand and claims of utter objectivity on the other. His illustrations, covering several centuries of Western history, are telling. He offers a combination of careful historical analysis coupled with an understanding of the logical and argumentative pitfalls to which historians are liable that is a service to the field and should provide a useful guide to beginning researchers. A must for courses on research methodology.

—Richard A. Muller, P.J. Zondervan Professor of Historical Theology, Calvin Theological Seminary

Because the past shapes the present, a just understanding of the past is important for any individual, society, or church. Here is wise and practical advice for those wanting to write history for others about how to do it well. Follow this guidance and avoid the pitfalls!

—David Bebbington, professor of history, University of Stirling

Carl R. Trueman is the Paul Woolley Professor of Church History at Westminster Theological Seminary and pastor of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Ambler, Pennsylvania. He was editor of Themelios for nine years, has authored or edited more than a dozen books, and has contributed to multiple publications including The Real Scandal of the Evangelical Mind.

God Has Spoken: A History of Christian Theology

• Author: Gerald Bray
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2014
• Pages: 1264

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In this groundbreaking resource, professor Gerald Bray traces the history of Christian theology from the early church to the modern era. Structured to parallel the order in which orthodoxy gradually matured in response to challenges from both inside and outside the church, this volume outlines how Christians have struggled to understand, confess, and worship the triune God through the centuries.

A remarkably learned, wise, and substantial study of the history of Christian doctrine. Written by an Anglican who is also an evangelical, this volume interacts with the entire scope of Christian theology in all of its major ecclesial trajectories. This book will stand the test of time—in the best tradition of Newman, Harnack, and Pelikan.

—Timothy George, founding dean, Beeson Divinity School

Despite its breadth, one that covers the centuries, God Has Spoken also plumbs the depths of numerous doctrines throughout the church’s last two thousand years. This volume is an excellent resource for students, pastors, and scholars, and for anyone who wants to study the organic development of the church’s theology. This will prove to be an invaluable resource for generations to come.

—J.V. Fesko, academic dean and professor of systematic and historical theology, Westminster Seminary California

Under Gerald Bray’s able pen, the history of Christian thought comes to life. Bray’s Trinitarian way of framing the story of Christian doctrine is a creative and helpful contribution to the discipline. His familiarity with the sources from every branch of the Christian tree is refreshing—and enviable! His evenhanded narrative—mixed with periodic personal commentary that is often witty, always insightful, and occasionally provocative—makes this book a delight to read. God Has Spoken will be essential reading for scholars and students for years to come. Highly recommended.

—Nathan A. Finn, dean, The School of Theology and Missions, Union University

Gerald Bray is research professor at Beeson Divinity School and director of research for the Latimer Trust. He is a prolific writer and has authored or edited numerous books, including The Church: A Theological and Historical Account, God Has Spoken: A History of Christian Theology, Biblical Interpretation: Past and Present, and The Doctrine of God.

Do Historical Matters Matter to Faith?: A Critical Appraisal of Modern and Postmodern Approaches to Scripture

• Editors: James K. Hoffmeier and Dennis R. Magary
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2012
• Pages: 544

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Is historical accuracy an indispensable part of the Bible’s storyline, or is Scripture only concerned with theological truths? As progressive evangelicals threaten to reduce the Bible’s jurisdiction by undermining its historical claims, every Christian who cares about the integrity of Scripture must be prepared to answer this question.

Do Historical Matters Matter to Faith? offers a firm defense of Scripture’s legitimacy and the theological implications of modern and postmodern approaches that teach otherwise. In this timely and timeless collection of essays, scholars from diverse areas of expertise lend strong arguments in support of the doctrine of inerrancy. Contributors explore how the specific challenges of history, authenticity, and authority are answered in the text of the Old and New Testaments as well as how the Bible is corroborated by philosophy and archaeology.

With contributions from respected scholars—including, Craig Blomberg, Graham Cole, Michael Haykin, Robert Yarbrough, and Darrell Bock, and distinguished historian James K. Hoffmeier—Do Historical Matters Matter to Faith? arms Christians with fresh insight, arguments, and language with which to defend Scripture’s historical accuracy against a culture and academy skeptical of those claims.

Whether in a university open forum or in the church, I am consistently asked about the trustworthiness and authority of Scripture. I am therefore delighted that the authors have engaged the critics’ challenge as well as the Bible afresh and met the arguments head-on with insightful scholarship and the historicity of Scripture. I commend this unique and timely volume and believe it will be an important work for decades to come.

—Ravi Zacharias, founder and president, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries

Standing athwart the tide of strident voices currently demanding that we abandon confidence in the truthfulness and reliability of the Bible, the chapters in this volume constitute a defense of historic Christian confessionalism on the nature of Scripture. Mercifully, however, they are not mere regurgitations of past positions. Rather, they are informed, competent, and sometimes creative contributions that urgently deserve the widest circulation. In months and years to come, I shall repeatedly refer students and pastors to this collection.

—D.A. Carson, research professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; cofounder, The Gospel Coalition

James K. Hoffmeier, who has taught at the undergraduate and graduate levels for more than thirty years, is now professor of Old Testament and Near Eastern archaeology at Trinity International University. Born and raised in Egypt, he has been a refugee from war and an alien in two different countries, making him sensitive to immigration issues. He is the author of several influential books on biblical era history, including Ancient Israel in Sinai: The Evidence for the Authenticity of the Wilderness Tradition, Akhenaten and the Origins of Monotheism and Israel in Egypt: The Evidence for the Authenticity of the Exodus Tradition.

Dennis R. Magary is chair of the department and associate professor of Old Testament and Semitic languages at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

The Theology of the Westminster Standards: Historical Context and Theological Insights

• Author: J.V. Fesko
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2014
• Pages: 448

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For centuries, countless Christians have turned to the Westminster Standards for insights into the Christian faith. These renowned documents—first published in the middle of the 17th century—are widely regarded as some of the most beautifully written summaries of the Bible’s teaching ever produced.

Church historian John Fesko walks readers through the background and theology of the Westminster Confession, the Larger Catechism, and the Shorter Catechism, helpfully situating them within their original context. Organized according to the major categories of systematic theology, this book utilizes quotations from other key works from the same time period to shed light on the history and significance of these influential documents.

One of the ways of demonstrating the abiding relevance of our confessions is to understand the conversations and debates from which they emerged. John Fesko has done precisely this. Digging around each plant in the Westminster garden, Fesko exposes the rich soil that still nourishes our faith and practice. I picked up this book expecting to find a resource to be consulted, but found myself reading the whole work through with rapt attention. There is gold in these hills!

—Michael Horton, J. Gresham Machen professor of systematic theology and apologetics, Westminster Seminary

Finally we have a solid analysis and an expert portrayal of the theology of the Westminster Standards in which the time of its writing and its direct influence are also described. John Fesko has gathered an enormous amount of information that makes this book a sourcebook par excellence. He does the church and its theology a great favor with this overview, helping us to understand the Westminster Confession and catechisms not only in their theological context, but also in their relevance for today.

—Herman Selderhuis, professor of church history, Theological University of Apeldoorn

Drawing upon a significant body of recent research, John Fesko has written an admirably clear and accessible study of the teaching of the Westminster Confession. By situating the successive chapters in their original seventeenth-century setting, he provides an informed exposition of their content and significance. This study will be immensely useful not only for theological students, but for all who require a better understanding of the most important Reformed confession in the English-speaking world.

—David Fergusson, professor of divinity and principal, New College University of Edinburgh

J. V. Fesko is academic dean and associate professor of systematic and historical theology at Westminster Seminary California. In addition to serving as an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, he is the author of a number of books related to the Reformation, including Christ and the Desert Tabernacle, The Fruit of the Spirit Is . . ., and Word, Water, and Spirit: A Reformed Perspective on Baptism.

John Calvin: Pilgrim and Pastor

• Author: W. Robert Godfrey
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2009
• Pages: 208

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John Calvin: Pilgrim and Pastor provides readers with an introduction to the life and ministry of John Calvin, a reformer whose ministry was marked by careful theological reasoning, but also pastoring and sojourning on the earth as a pilgrim. Countless Christians celebrate him as the principal theologian of Reformed Christianity and his impact upon the church is unmistakable. Calvin’s prolific writings have allowed him to be a primary developer of western civilization whose life and work has deeply affected five centuries’ worth of pastors, scholars, and individuals. This helpful edition will explain his life and ministry in a way that readers can readily grasp and will prove to be entertaining and inspiring for Christians of every theological persuasion.

This book is a masterful treatment of John Calvin by a masterful church historian. We see Calvin the theologian, Calvin the reformer, Calvin the man. His mind and heart are laid bare by Dr. Godfrey’s work. A must read.

—R.C. Sproul, president, Ligonier Ministries

John Calvin: Pilgrim and Pastor will surely rank among the best introductions to the life and thought of one of the church’s greatest theologians. It offers a rich tapestry woven from both Calvin’s life-story and his profound biblical theology. Here we meet the real Calvin-strikingly apostolic in his constant preaching, his lecturing, his authorship of many erudite volumes and a vast correspondence, and his deep care for the many needs of his flock-while himself in constant physical sickness. It is a remarkable story. Dr. Robert Godfrey’s mature scholarship, enthusiasm for his subject, and easy style bring Calvin to life for the twenty-first-century reader. Here is a rare work indeed, making it easy to see why the great Genevan Reformer was such an inspiration to those who knew and loved him.

—Sinclair B. Ferguson, professor of systematic theology, Redeemer Seminary, Dallas, Texas

There are good books on Calvin’s doctrine, his life, his piety, and his influence in the modern world. However, this book stands out as a marvelous integration of all three. More than accessible, this book is interesting even for those who know nothing about Calvin or his significant labors. It would be dishonest to deny that this book is written by an admirer of Calvin, but as a veteran church historian, Professor Godfrey places the reformer in his context and does not hide his blemishes. I owe a great deal of my own formative understanding of Calvin to Robert Godfrey and hope for a wide readership of this important book.

-Michael Horton, J. Gresham Machen professor of systematic theology and apologetics, Westminster Seminary California; author, Calvin on the Christian Life

W. Robert Godfrey is president of Westminster Seminary California and a long time professor of church history whose many speaking engagements have included conferences sponsored by the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization, Ligonier Ministries, and the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology. Godfrey is a minister in the United Reformed Churches and the author of other books and numerous articles.

George Whitefield: God’s Anointed Servant in the Great Revival of the Eighteenth Century

• Author: Arnold A. Dallimore
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2010
• Pages: 224

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In this volume, modern Christians will learn of God’s numerous accomplishments through George Whitefield, virtually unparalleled to this day. In an era when many ministers were timid and apologetic in their preaching, he preached the gospel with zeal and undaunted courage. In the wake of his fearless preaching, revival swept across the British Isles, and the Great Awakening transformed the American colonies.

The previous two-volume work George Whitefield: The Life and Times of the Great Evangelist of the Eighteenth-Century Revival is now condensed into this single volume, filled with primary-source quotations from the eighteenth century, not only from Whitefield but also from prominent figures such as John and Charles Wesley, Benjamin Franklin, and William Cowper. The powerful lessons from the life of this saint will enrich personal devotion and embolden individuals to do greater things for God.

Arnold A. Dallimore was a Baptist pastor for thirty-eight years and a successful biographer of Christian leaders. His books include A Heart Set Free: The Life of Charles Wesley and Spurgeon: A New Biography.

Glory Road: The Journeys of 10 African-Americans into Reformed Christianity

• Editor: Anthony J. Carter
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2009
• Pages: 192

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The authors explain the story of ten African-American leaders in the church, telling their stories of how they embraced Reformed theology, and highlighting the effect it has had on their lives and ministries.Glory Road provides a powerful focus on God’s work in their lives, using personal accounts and tracing their conversion to Christianity. Specifically highlighted is their introduction to and embrace of Reformed theology and its effect on their lives and ministries. Ultimately, Glory Road is about the glory of God in providentially bringing men and women to the truths of salvation, and includes contributions from such notable pastors as Thabiti Anyabwile, Ken Jones, Michael Leach, and Eric Redmond.

This book is a wonderful encouragement to those who love the doctrines of grace. The ten men described are African Americans-but quite frankly, what their ethnicity is does not matter nearly as much as their common delight in Christ and his gospel. Their stories are sufficiently diverse that they cannot be reduced to a simplistic mold; they have enough similarity that together they bring us back to God’s sovereign goodness in the cross of his Son. Read this book and rejoice.

—D.A. Carson, research professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Here we have readable, compelling personal histories that, at the same time, teach us more about God, Christ, and the Bible and give accounts of these men coming to Christ. I love reading people’s testimonies of conversion! What more do we want in a book? To be encouraged, instructed, and edified, read these stories.

—Mark Dever, senior pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington DC

A reading of Glory Road is a journey of sober rejoicing. The joy is in the taste of future glory where men and women from every tribe and language and people and nation will together worship the Lamb. We rejoice in the first fruits of that glory evident in the testimonies of these gifted African-Americans now in Reformed churches. We also weep that their testimonies are so few due to these churches’ long blindness to gospel priorities despite their historic commitment to doctrinal orthodoxy. May Glory Road lead to a new dawn, greeted with tears but leading to songs of joy before the day is done.

—Bryan Chapell, president emeritus, Covenant Theological Seminary

Anthony J. Carter serves as the assistant pastor of Southwest Christian Fellowship in Atlanta. The author of two books, the Non Nobis Domine blog, and numerous magazine and journal articles, Carter frequently travels as a conference speaker and guest lecturer. He is also an organizing member of the Council of Reforming Churches.Carter has written several books, including Black and Reformed: Seeing God’s Sovereignty in the African-American Christian Experience, Blood Work, and What is the Gospel?: Life’s Most Important Question.