Church History in Plain Language, Fifth Edition: The Story of the Church for Today's Readers by Bruce Shelley

Over 330,000 copies sold. This is the story of the church for today's readers. Bruce Shelley's classic history of the church brings the story of global Christianity into the twenty-first century. Like a skilled screenwriter, Shelley begins each chapter with three elements: characters, setting, plot. Taking readers from the early centuries of the church up through the modern era he tells his readers a story of actual people, in a particular situation, taking action or being acted upon, provides a window into the circumstances and historical context, and from there develops the story of a major period or theme of Christian history. Covering recent events, this book also: Details the rapid growth of evangelical and Pentecostal Christianity in the southern hemisphere Addresses the decline in traditional mainline denominations Examines the influence of technology on the spread of the gospel Discusses how Christianity intersects with other religions in countries all over the world For this fifth edition, Marshall Shelley brought together a team of historians, historical theologians, and editors to revise and update this father's classic text. The new edition adds important stories of the development of Christianity in Asia, India, and Africa, both in the early church as well as in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. It also highlights the stories of women and non-Europeans who significantly influenced the development of Christianity but whose contributions are often overlooked in previous overviews of church history. Read more

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From the Publisher What's being said about the fifth edition of Church History in Plain Language: "Church History in Plain Language is just plain good. No, make that great—accessible, reader friendly, and interesting. A superb overview of the church’s story. Especially with the addition of recent historical developments, it’s the first book I recommend to those newly curious about the history of our faith." —MARK GALLI, former editor in chief, Christianity Today; author of biographies on Francis of Assisi and Karl Barth "By focusing on overlooked storylines and highlighting forgotten figures, Marshall Shelley updates and enriches this already classic text, making it particularly poignant for our age." —THE REV. DR. GLENN PACKIAM, associate senior pastor, New Life Church, Colorado Springs "Now we are blessed to have this new edition that records the ongoing development, influence, and expansion of the church over two millennia. If you want a stimulating journey through the rich history of Christianity, this is the one book you must read." —SCOTT WENIG, professor of applied theology, Denver Seminary "Ample illustrations bring history to life, brief profiles introduce readers to their brothers and sisters in faith, and suggested reading lists point out avenues for further research. Christian history needs to belong to everybody. This book will help it do just that." —THE REV. DR. JENNIFER WOODRUFF TAIT, editor, Christian History magazine Why a Fifth Edition? For almost 40 years, Church History in Plain Language has been perhaps the best one-volume introduction to the story of the Christian movement from its inception to the present. But because the flow of history is a never-ending stream, it needs updating. This 5th edition highlights the development of Christianity from the earliest centuries in Asia, India, and Africa, includes the profiles of 55 notable women and non-Europeans who made significant contributions along the way, and summarizes recent developments such as the growth and influence of Christianity in the Global South and the effects of technology on the life of the church. Pictured: Marshall Shelley, Revision Editor