Introducing Early Christianity: A Topical Survey of Its Life, Beliefs and Practices [Hardcover]

Laurie Guy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 4, 2004

The life and times of the early church were every bit as exciting as our own. But the living pulse of early Christian life, worship and controversy is too often submerged beneath the text of standard introductions to early Christian history. Here from Laurie Guy is an introduction to Christianity of the first four centuries that is readable but not lightweight, interesting but not superficial, informative but not technical. It is a welcome supplement to chronological histories of the early church, a vantage point from which readers may sit aloft and view the broad patterns in the historical terrain. From the apostolic fathers to the great ecumenical councils, we see the church undergoing persecution and martyrdom and then rising to favor under Constantine, shaping its ministry and order while worshiping and developing its understanding of doctrine. Baptism and Eucharist, asceticism and monasticism, and the developing roles of women unfold in this thematic account of the rise of Great Tradition Christianity. Richly illustrated and filled out with maps, charts and close-up windows on related topics, Introducing Early Christianity will inform the curious and enliven courses in early church history.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Presenting an accessible, well-organized and crisply written summary of life and thought in the early patristic period, Laurie Guy's Introducing Early Christianity has done what should have been done a long time ago. The discussion is easy to understand without being simplistic, scholarly without being obscure. If there's a book to put into the hands of those entering this fascinating era for the first time, this is the one." (Nicholas Perrin, Wheaton College )

"Laurie Guy has written an informative, accessible and interesting introduction to the world of the early Christian community. The blossoming evangelical hunger for deeper grounding in the history, beliefs, traditions and practices of the ancient church will find much needed nourishment here." (Christopher Hall, Eastern University )

About the Author

Laurie Guy is lecturer in church history and New Testament at Carey Baptist College, Auckland, New Zealand.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 310 pages
• Publisher: IVP Academic (November 4, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 083082698X
• ISBN-13: 978-0830826988
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,039,044 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Laurie Guy (1947- ) has a rich and varied background: farming boy, young lawyer, pastor, missionary in Papua New Guinea, and now lecturer at Carey Baptist College at Auckland since 1990. His writing is also rich and varied, including gay history (his PhD thesis), biblical studies (a book on Revelation) and the early church. However,what grips him most in research and writing is the interface of church and society in New Zealand history.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Beliefs and Practices, January 27, 2011

By 

D. Young "D. Young M.S. Ed" (Colorado) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Introducing Early Christianity: A Topical Survey of Its Life, Beliefs and Practices (Hardcover)

What I got out of this book was a good look at the beliefs and practices of the early church in a way that I haven't found before. Laurie Guy has done a good job describing how practices, culture and doctrines developed in the early years of the church. Even though procedures of the preparation for baptism, communion, and reconciliation for backsliders became very complicated, I was impressed by the intensity and seriousness of church about their beliefs. It helped me to understand Christianity much better and to realize the deep faith of the early believers. It showed me the strong foundation the orthodoxy was built upon.

10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Reads like stereo instructions, only not as exciting., October 15, 2007

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Nachtjager (Baton Rouge, LA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Introducing Early Christianity: A Topical Survey of Its Life, Beliefs and Practices (Hardcover)

I wouldn't have thought it possible, but this book takes an extraordinarily fascinating subject and makes it extremely boring. There's a lot of data in here and it was obviously well researched, but wow, is this thing dry! I've had it a month and I'm barely through half of it, primarily because I can't read more than five or ten pages before I get frustrated or fall asleep. Impresses me as a book that was written with the sole purpose of impressing seminary professors, because it's very technical and the use of very complicated words and difficult phrases is prolific.

There needs to be a seriously profound work on the early Christian church and the early church fathers, but this isn't it. Useful only in getting some information that you can then research in a more user friendly format either on the web or in other books. Sad really, this is a gross failure to communicate the information it contains.

If you enjoyed reading the instruction manual for your new camcorder, then this book's for you.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars There are better books out there, November 9, 2008

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E. Finnerty "smellyhiker" (army wife & mother) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Introducing Early Christianity: A Topical Survey of Its Life, Beliefs and Practices (Hardcover)

For some reason, I can't seem to enjoy reading this as I have with other books of the time. I'm reading this with Eusebius and they pair well to get a better feeling of the time. This seems like history on the light side. However, the price isn't bad, the font is a good size, the page color is nice and readable. The page thickness allows for re-reading without concern for the pages tearing.