Church History in Plain Language

With more than 315,000 copies sold, this is the story of the church for today's readers. The fourth edition of Shelley's classic one-volume history of the church brings the story of Christianity into the twenty-first century. This latest edition of the book takes a close look at 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, and discusses how Christianity intersects with other religions in countries all over the world. This concise book provides an easy-to-read guide to church history with intellectual substance. The new edition of Church History in Plain Language promises to be the new standard for readable church history.

Features include:

Includes contemporary developments related to the spread of the gospel Discusses how technology has an impact on how the church worships and grows Covers the explosion of Christianity in the southern hemisphere

Shelley (Ph.D., University of Iowa) is senior professor of church history at Denver Seminary.

Church History in Plain Language makes church history clear, memorable, and accessible to every reader. Dr. Bruce Shelley makes church history come alive in this classic book that has become not only the first choice of many laypeople and church leaders but the standard text in many college classrooms.Church History in Plain Language treats history as the story of people--their motivations, the issues they grapple with, the decisions they make--and the result is that history reads like a story, almost as dramatic and moving as a novel. This fourth edition, revised by R.L. Hatchett, brings the story of Christianity into the twenty-first century, with detailed information on: Theology of the early church and Reformation Gnosticism and its ongoing relevance The rapid global extension and transformation of Christianity since 1900 The decline in traditional mainline denominations The influence of technology on the spread of the gospel How Christianity intersects with other religions in countries all over the world Church History in Plain Language makes history easy to follow and retain by dividing the Christian story into the great ages of the church. Its clarity, organization, and historical accuracy are part of what make this book a go-to resource for today's readers.

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