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The History of the Church from Christ to Constantine (Classics)

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This book is truly unique since it offers the reader what many consider the earliest recorded history of the early Christian Church. Simply put there is no equivalent to Eusebius when it comes to early Church history. He lived in the 4th century and wrote 10 books describing the first three centuries of the Church after Christ's ascension into heaven.

The greatest value of this book is the insight it offers. I learned several interesting things such as how much doctrine was debated, how awful the persecution was for early believers, and how much the early Church fathers wrote. It is amazing to think all of the books that we do not have a copy of from this era.

I really think that every Christian should read some of this book to get a sense of how difficult it was to practice the Christian faith in ancient Roman civilization. The list of those who gave their life for Christ is very long, and the persecution lasted for centuries. We truly are blessed to live in a time, and country in which we can worship freely.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in early Christian history. Hopefully it will open your eyes (like it did mine) to what life was like for the first Christians. A word of warning about Eusebius' writing - some of it is pretty dry and factual, but there are plenty of golden nuggest sprinkled throughout the text.

Eusebius was the Bishop of Caesarea from 314 to 340, having survived horrible waves of Christian persecutions, until the rise of Constantine. This 400 page translation by G. A. Williamson, was engaging not only in the words of Eusebius, but also in the footnotes of Williamson with his occasional jabs at the modern claims of Catholicism.

Eusebius references so many other works and commentaries and essays by the great early leaders of the church, which he had copies of in his possession, that he leaves me jealous for his luxury of time and resources. There is so much more that I want to read, stimulated by the extended quotes Eusebius makes of these great apologists and teachers of the young church.

Several things stuck out to me in this history.
It doesn't take long for screwed up people to screw up theology.
Some of the screw ups do it for money or sex or fame.
Some things never change.
Some bishops were great, some just were, some turned out to be screw ups.
There were so many brilliant teachers back then. I think we are in a time of poverty compared to these guys.
It's amazing how God preserved the church through the genocidal attacks it went through. Eusebius does not shy away from the cruelty invented by the Romans for the purpose of forcing Christians to recant, usually unsuccessfully.
God is always glorified.
Miracles and spiritual gifts came and went.
The church was serious about studying.
The church today stands on the shoulders of giants.