--- product_id: 2388557 title: "The Story of Christianity: Volume 1: A Study of the Early History of Christianity" price: "151.89 DT" currency: TND in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.tn/products/2388557-the-story-of-christianity-volume-1-a-study-of-early store_origin: TN region: Tunisia --- # Covers 1500 years of Christianity's evolution 528 pages of deep historical insight 2nd edition, updated and refined The Story of Christianity: Volume 1: A Study of the Early History of Christianity **Price:** 151.89 DT **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 📖 Unlock the epic saga of faith, power, and history that shaped the modern world. ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Story of Christianity: Volume 1: A Study of the Early History of Christianity - **How much does it cost?** 151.89 DT with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.tn](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/2388557-the-story-of-christianity-volume-1-a-study-of-early) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Epic Historical Scope:** Journey through 1500 years of Christianity’s transformative story, from Roman persecution to medieval power. - • **Masterful Storytelling:** Justo L. González brings complex theological debates and iconic figures to life with clarity and engaging narrative. - • **Award-Winning Bestseller:** Ranked top 20 in Religion & Philosophy with 4.7 stars from over 1,700 reviews—join the community of informed readers. - • **Contextual Understanding:** Gain a nuanced perspective on how Christianity shaped Western civilization and global history—essential knowledge for today’s thought leaders. - • **Scholarly Yet Accessible:** A well-researched, readable volume that balances academic rigor with captivating storytelling for the curious professional. ## Overview The Story of Christianity: Volume 1 by Justo L. González is a comprehensive 528-page paperback that chronicles the first 1500 years of Christianity. This 2nd edition, published by HarperOne in 2010, offers a detailed, engaging narrative covering early church history, theological debates, key figures, and the faith’s expansion from a persecuted sect to a dominant global force. Highly rated and widely acclaimed, it’s a must-read for anyone seeking deep historical context on Christianity’s profound impact. ## Description From its very beginning, the Christian message was grafted onto human history. But how did a persecuted sect from a forgotten corner of the Roman Empire become one of the most powerful forces in the world? In this masterful first volume of The Story of Christianity , acclaimed historian Justo L. González tells the epic story of the faith's first fifteen hundred years. This engaging work of Christian history makes the past come alive with insight and clarity. Dr. González skillfully navigates the pivotal events, charismatic figures, and theological debates that shaped the early and medieval church. From the days of the apostles and the church fathers to the rise of the papacy, readers will journey through the fires of Roman persecution, witness the monumental conversion of Constantine, and understand the crucial doctrinal battles of the Council of Nicea and the Arian controversy. This narrative history brings figures like the great theologian Augustine of Hippo, the defiant bishop Ambrose of Milan, and the desert monks to life, not as distant saints, but as complex people whose struggles and triumphs defined an era. How did a small Jewish sect grow to become the defining faith of Western civilization? This volume uncovers the people, controversies, and historical forces that shaped the first fifteen hundred years of the church: The Early Church and Roman Persecution: Follow the spread of the faith from Jerusalem into the vast Roman Empire, and witness the courage of early martyrs like Ignatius and Polycarp who faced down imperial power. Constantine and the Imperial Church: Explore the dramatic shift after the conversion of Constantine, the explosive debates of the Arian Controversy, and the pivotal decisions of the Council of Nicea. The Great Church Fathers: Encounter the brilliant minds and pastoral hearts of figures like Athanasius, the staunch defender of orthodoxy; Ambrose, the bishop who defied emperors; and Augustine of Hippo, whose thought would define Western theology for centuries. Medieval Christianity: Chart the rise of the papacy and monasticism as forces of order in a fractured Europe, and delve into the epic conflicts of the Crusades that pitted Christendom against the Islamic world. The Dawn of a New World: Discover the beginnings of colonial Christianity as the Spanish and Portuguese empires expand, carrying the faith to the Americas, Africa, and the East. Review: Everything you wanted to know about early Christianity...and a lot more! - I'm not sure I'd call this "crisp," as one reviewer termed it, because it is a very detailed, 500-page blow-by-blow account of just about every detail of early Christianity from heretics to monks, all the popes (and anti-popes), ecumenical councils, the first atheists, Gnostics, church architects, the Crusades (in excruciating detail), origin of the word "pagan"...whew! I actually picked this up as a library discard somewhere thinking it would be a great way to study up on the Council of Nicaea and other early councils which determined the official canon. But as it happens, I just kept reading on through this (mostly) fascinating 500-page academic treatise that runs through the Spanish and Portuguese colonizations in the 1500s. Although this seems to have a Catholic slant seeing as how it ends at the dawn of the Reformation (the author is Methodist), the book is fair-minded throughout in its treatment of everything from heresies to New World slavery abominations. Fascinating high points: The original atheists? Since Christians worshiped an invisible God, pagans often declared them to be atheists (47). “Death to the atheists!” (54). Meanwhile, the word ‘martyr’ originally meant “witness.” Most conversions were made by anonymous Christians whose “witness” led others to their faith, with the most dramatic form being suffering unto death (115-16). Widows. The term, within the church, came to refer not only to a woman whose husband had died but any unmarried woman supported by the community (114). Roles of women. “In many Gnostic circles women had a prominence they did not have in society at large. It is quite possible that it was partly in response to this feature in Gnosticism that orthodox Christianity began restricting the role of women in the church, for it is clear that first-century woman had roles that the 2nd century began to deny them” (73) Pagan (paganus) originally had nothing to do with religion but was used to refer to an uncouth, rural person. (117) — just as later OE ‘heathen’ originally referred to someone who was a "dweller on the heath”; one inhabiting uncultivated, untilled or desolate land. The fish was one of the earliest Christian symbols, based on the Greek word ICHTHYS—an acrostic for the initial letters of ‘Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior’ as well as representing the miraculous feeding of the multitudes. (117) Persecution. The last and worst persecution broke out in the early 300s (303-311 CE) under emperor Diocletian (121-124) Monasticism. Although there were early monastics throughout the Roman Empire, it was the deserts—esp. the Egyptian deserts—that provided the most fertile soil for the growth of monasticism. The word ‘monk’ is derived from the Greek monachos, “solitary.” The word ‘anchorite’ (a solitary monk) originally meant withdrawn or even fugitive” (164). In some areas of Egypt, there were twice as many women monastics as men (166). Clerical celibacy (Leo IX 1049-1054 CE). While celibacy had been practiced for centuries by many, “fired by monastic example, reformers made this one of the pillars of their program” (331) Crusades (1090's-1270). Under the leadership of Saladin, Sultan of Egypt, the Muslims took Jerusalem in 1187, leading to the 3rd Crusade led by three sovereigns: Richard the Lionhearted (Eng.), Frederich Barbarossa (Holy Roman Emp), and Phillip II Augustus (Fr)…which failed miserably, as did the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th (pp 350-351). Romanesque vs Gothic architecture (381) “The earliest Christians did not consider themselves followers of a new religion. All their lives they had been Jews and they still were.” Thus, not a denial of Judaism but a conviction that the messianic age had finally arrived. (27) With Paul we have the Hellenistic Jewish Christians serving as a bridge to the gentile world, who were joining in such numbers that they soon overshadowed the earlier Jewish/Christian community. (27) Humble folk: The vast majority of Christians during the first three centuries belonged to the lower echelons of society, or at least did not fit well in the higher ranks. They were considered ignorant folk in the kitchens, shops and tanneries (per Celsus, 2nd-century Greek philosopher and opponent of early Christianity.) That is, a despicable rabble (105) or “humble folk” (117). “False martyrs” (aka the “spontaneous”) — those who ran forward and offered themselves for martyrdom (55). Martyrdom was supposed to be something for which you were chosen by God (150) Did you know there were once 3 popes! (instead of just 2). At the council of Pisa in 1409 the cardinals of both “parties” (Rome and Avignon) were weary of the current 2 popes’ refusal to negotiate. Rather than trying to determine the rightful pope, the council declared both unworthy and they were deposed, at which point they elected Alexander V. But the other 2 refused to acknowledge and so there were 3 popes. A year later Alex died and the cardinals elected John XXIII (who was later deposed and declared to be an “antipope” (408, 417) Two John XXIIIs, the first in 1409 CE. He was ruled illegitimate, thus leaving the way open for a second XXIII (1958-1963) (p 408)...though one wonders why a 20th century pope would want the name of a deposed, non-Roman resident. Barbarians, Vandals, Byzantines, Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Burgundians & Franks (400s-700s). Arians (aka the Burgundians) rejected the essential and eternal divinity of Jesus (269f) Private (“auricular”) confession to a priest originally developed in Ireland (274) English becomes the language of the Courts in 1362, and then the primary language of elementary schools (412) “burnings of vanities,” 1490s: Savonarola’s program of reformation reaches a high point. Great bonfires came to take the place of the pre-Lent carnival. A great wooden pyramid was built in the main square—people then placed their “vanities” on the steps: “dresses, jewelry, wigs, ostentatious furniture and the like” (423). Also known as the “Bonfire of the Vanities” in 1497 Florence, this is the origin of 1987 satirical novel by Tom Wolfe. Overall: this is well-written, well-sourced and quite readable -- full of fascinating historical details, though you'll have to wade through a lot of very detailed material on nearly every aspect of Christendom to get through. Review: A book of context - how we got to where we are today - This book is not a theological treatise, but a history, told in story form, of Christianity. And while I do not identify with the Christian church, I am a very old student of life and the world and there can be little argument that Christianity has, since its beginning, been one of the most powerful institutional influences on the world. Understand how it evolved and you might have a better understanding how we, as a global humanity, got to where we are today. Mission accomplished. Justo Gonzalez’ incredibly well researched narrative, told in a matter of fact, neutral voice (or as close to neutral as one can get given the subject), was entertaining to read and enlightening to process. (And I will be processing it for a long time to come.) If you are interested in the theological side of the story I believe you would find it equally informative, although it will take an open mind. Gonzalez covers all sides of the story, warts and all. I daresay that the history of Christianity is one of the least studied histories outside of a narrow segment of the theological community. (Gonzalez is a retired professor of historical theology.) Non-Christians, perhaps, see it as strictly a theological story while Christians, perhaps, are inclined to see the study of theologies outside of that which they have been taught as somehow irrelevant or, at least, compromising. Having read the book, however, I am inclined to believe this is a book we should all read, regardless of religious identity. For starters, it’s fascinating. I am, above all else, a philosopher and found myself marveling at the philosophical implications of the story at every turn. (And there were more turns than you can imagine.) What were they thinking and how did they get to the point of such extreme conviction that they would lead impoverished, lonely lives in the desert? The writing is very good and the author clearly knows his subject. The names of people and places are not familiar to most of us. The timeline (i.e., 1500 years) is expansive for a 500-page book. And it is organized into topical chapters (e.g. The New Order, Eastern Christianity, Movements of Renewal), so the book does not follow a strict timeline. The resulting back and forth introduces, and then reintroduces, several characters. Taken together, these attributes are not conducive to a “quick read” although it is not laborious in the sense that many scholarly texts can be. Nonetheless, I found it helpful to keep an electronic tablet nearby for quick access to Google when I sensed I had lost the thread. (What was Neoplatonic mysticism again?) One of the things that struck me the most about the story is that the theological debates that occurred within the early church can seem a bit tortured by today’s “popular” theological standards. How does one reconcile the trinity? How can Jesus be both divine and human at the same time? How did he get that way? And how can we answer those questions without sacrificing the incarnation, the resurrection, and his saving of humankind? They aren’t the types of questions most Christians wrestle with today, but they are at the heart of what all Christian denominations now believe and teach. A related observation was the degree to which reason and philosophy was an integral part of the story of Christianity and popularly entertained and debated. Formal reason, of course, has been largely eliminated from public discourse today, and I have to wonder if that has not contributed to both the secularization of Western culture and the increasingly polarized and emotional nature of our politics and public discourse. As is always the case, the history of Christianity is not a one-dimensional story. It is a multi-faceted story that involves political power, vast amounts of wealth, more than a little corruption and scandal, lethal oppression, and, of course, faith and theology. And it is almost impossible to sort out what facet had what influence. Those influences, moreover, ebbed and flowed in importance over time. The Buddhists refer to “dependent origination”, the idea that nothing exists in isolation. We can understand many aspects of reality but can never know it completely, meaning that all reality must be interpreted in context. That is no less true of Christianity than anything else. That context, however, is fluid, more akin to energy than matter. That is both the reason we cannot always learn from history and the reason we must study history to fully understand where we are today. This book, in the end, is a book about context. And whether you are interested in Christianity or just understanding the world around you, the context it explores is important. It’s also a fascinating story. What else can a reader ask for? ## Features - Author: Justo L. Gonzalez. - Publisher: HarperOne - Pages: 528 - Publication Date: 2010-08-10 - Edition: 2nd - Binding: Paperback - MSRP: 22.6 - ISBN13: 9780061855887 - ISBN: 006185588X - Other ISBN: 9780062364890 - Other ISBN Binding: ebook - Language: en ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #11,979 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #13 in Christmas (Books) #14 in Religion Encyclopedias #19 in Religion & Philosophy (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,779 Reviews | ## Images ![The Story of Christianity: Volume 1: A Study of the Early History of Christianity - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81n8YuK+YjL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Everything you wanted to know about early Christianity...and a lot more! *by J***R on March 10, 2022* I'm not sure I'd call this "crisp," as one reviewer termed it, because it is a very detailed, 500-page blow-by-blow account of just about every detail of early Christianity from heretics to monks, all the popes (and anti-popes), ecumenical councils, the first atheists, Gnostics, church architects, the Crusades (in excruciating detail), origin of the word "pagan"...whew! I actually picked this up as a library discard somewhere thinking it would be a great way to study up on the Council of Nicaea and other early councils which determined the official canon. But as it happens, I just kept reading on through this (mostly) fascinating 500-page academic treatise that runs through the Spanish and Portuguese colonizations in the 1500s. Although this seems to have a Catholic slant seeing as how it ends at the dawn of the Reformation (the author is Methodist), the book is fair-minded throughout in its treatment of everything from heresies to New World slavery abominations. Fascinating high points: The original atheists? Since Christians worshiped an invisible God, pagans often declared them to be atheists (47). “Death to the atheists!” (54). Meanwhile, the word ‘martyr’ originally meant “witness.” Most conversions were made by anonymous Christians whose “witness” led others to their faith, with the most dramatic form being suffering unto death (115-16). Widows. The term, within the church, came to refer not only to a woman whose husband had died but any unmarried woman supported by the community (114). Roles of women. “In many Gnostic circles women had a prominence they did not have in society at large. It is quite possible that it was partly in response to this feature in Gnosticism that orthodox Christianity began restricting the role of women in the church, for it is clear that first-century woman had roles that the 2nd century began to deny them” (73) Pagan (paganus) originally had nothing to do with religion but was used to refer to an uncouth, rural person. (117) — just as later OE ‘heathen’ originally referred to someone who was a "dweller on the heath”; one inhabiting uncultivated, untilled or desolate land. The fish was one of the earliest Christian symbols, based on the Greek word ICHTHYS—an acrostic for the initial letters of ‘Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior’ as well as representing the miraculous feeding of the multitudes. (117) Persecution. The last and worst persecution broke out in the early 300s (303-311 CE) under emperor Diocletian (121-124) Monasticism. Although there were early monastics throughout the Roman Empire, it was the deserts—esp. the Egyptian deserts—that provided the most fertile soil for the growth of monasticism. The word ‘monk’ is derived from the Greek monachos, “solitary.” The word ‘anchorite’ (a solitary monk) originally meant withdrawn or even fugitive” (164). In some areas of Egypt, there were twice as many women monastics as men (166). Clerical celibacy (Leo IX 1049-1054 CE). While celibacy had been practiced for centuries by many, “fired by monastic example, reformers made this one of the pillars of their program” (331) Crusades (1090's-1270). Under the leadership of Saladin, Sultan of Egypt, the Muslims took Jerusalem in 1187, leading to the 3rd Crusade led by three sovereigns: Richard the Lionhearted (Eng.), Frederich Barbarossa (Holy Roman Emp), and Phillip II Augustus (Fr)…which failed miserably, as did the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th (pp 350-351). Romanesque vs Gothic architecture (381) “The earliest Christians did not consider themselves followers of a new religion. All their lives they had been Jews and they still were.” Thus, not a denial of Judaism but a conviction that the messianic age had finally arrived. (27) With Paul we have the Hellenistic Jewish Christians serving as a bridge to the gentile world, who were joining in such numbers that they soon overshadowed the earlier Jewish/Christian community. (27) Humble folk: The vast majority of Christians during the first three centuries belonged to the lower echelons of society, or at least did not fit well in the higher ranks. They were considered ignorant folk in the kitchens, shops and tanneries (per Celsus, 2nd-century Greek philosopher and opponent of early Christianity.) That is, a despicable rabble (105) or “humble folk” (117). “False martyrs” (aka the “spontaneous”) — those who ran forward and offered themselves for martyrdom (55). Martyrdom was supposed to be something for which you were chosen by God (150) Did you know there were once 3 popes! (instead of just 2). At the council of Pisa in 1409 the cardinals of both “parties” (Rome and Avignon) were weary of the current 2 popes’ refusal to negotiate. Rather than trying to determine the rightful pope, the council declared both unworthy and they were deposed, at which point they elected Alexander V. But the other 2 refused to acknowledge and so there were 3 popes. A year later Alex died and the cardinals elected John XXIII (who was later deposed and declared to be an “antipope” (408, 417) Two John XXIIIs, the first in 1409 CE. He was ruled illegitimate, thus leaving the way open for a second XXIII (1958-1963) (p 408)...though one wonders why a 20th century pope would want the name of a deposed, non-Roman resident. Barbarians, Vandals, Byzantines, Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Burgundians & Franks (400s-700s). Arians (aka the Burgundians) rejected the essential and eternal divinity of Jesus (269f) Private (“auricular”) confession to a priest originally developed in Ireland (274) English becomes the language of the Courts in 1362, and then the primary language of elementary schools (412) “burnings of vanities,” 1490s: Savonarola’s program of reformation reaches a high point. Great bonfires came to take the place of the pre-Lent carnival. A great wooden pyramid was built in the main square—people then placed their “vanities” on the steps: “dresses, jewelry, wigs, ostentatious furniture and the like” (423). Also known as the “Bonfire of the Vanities” in 1497 Florence, this is the origin of 1987 satirical novel by Tom Wolfe. Overall: this is well-written, well-sourced and quite readable -- full of fascinating historical details, though you'll have to wade through a lot of very detailed material on nearly every aspect of Christendom to get through. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A book of context - how we got to where we are today *by G***R on October 6, 2018* This book is not a theological treatise, but a history, told in story form, of Christianity. And while I do not identify with the Christian church, I am a very old student of life and the world and there can be little argument that Christianity has, since its beginning, been one of the most powerful institutional influences on the world. Understand how it evolved and you might have a better understanding how we, as a global humanity, got to where we are today. Mission accomplished. Justo Gonzalez’ incredibly well researched narrative, told in a matter of fact, neutral voice (or as close to neutral as one can get given the subject), was entertaining to read and enlightening to process. (And I will be processing it for a long time to come.) If you are interested in the theological side of the story I believe you would find it equally informative, although it will take an open mind. Gonzalez covers all sides of the story, warts and all. I daresay that the history of Christianity is one of the least studied histories outside of a narrow segment of the theological community. (Gonzalez is a retired professor of historical theology.) Non-Christians, perhaps, see it as strictly a theological story while Christians, perhaps, are inclined to see the study of theologies outside of that which they have been taught as somehow irrelevant or, at least, compromising. Having read the book, however, I am inclined to believe this is a book we should all read, regardless of religious identity. For starters, it’s fascinating. I am, above all else, a philosopher and found myself marveling at the philosophical implications of the story at every turn. (And there were more turns than you can imagine.) What were they thinking and how did they get to the point of such extreme conviction that they would lead impoverished, lonely lives in the desert? The writing is very good and the author clearly knows his subject. The names of people and places are not familiar to most of us. The timeline (i.e., 1500 years) is expansive for a 500-page book. And it is organized into topical chapters (e.g. The New Order, Eastern Christianity, Movements of Renewal), so the book does not follow a strict timeline. The resulting back and forth introduces, and then reintroduces, several characters. Taken together, these attributes are not conducive to a “quick read” although it is not laborious in the sense that many scholarly texts can be. Nonetheless, I found it helpful to keep an electronic tablet nearby for quick access to Google when I sensed I had lost the thread. (What was Neoplatonic mysticism again?) One of the things that struck me the most about the story is that the theological debates that occurred within the early church can seem a bit tortured by today’s “popular” theological standards. How does one reconcile the trinity? How can Jesus be both divine and human at the same time? How did he get that way? And how can we answer those questions without sacrificing the incarnation, the resurrection, and his saving of humankind? They aren’t the types of questions most Christians wrestle with today, but they are at the heart of what all Christian denominations now believe and teach. A related observation was the degree to which reason and philosophy was an integral part of the story of Christianity and popularly entertained and debated. Formal reason, of course, has been largely eliminated from public discourse today, and I have to wonder if that has not contributed to both the secularization of Western culture and the increasingly polarized and emotional nature of our politics and public discourse. As is always the case, the history of Christianity is not a one-dimensional story. It is a multi-faceted story that involves political power, vast amounts of wealth, more than a little corruption and scandal, lethal oppression, and, of course, faith and theology. And it is almost impossible to sort out what facet had what influence. Those influences, moreover, ebbed and flowed in importance over time. The Buddhists refer to “dependent origination”, the idea that nothing exists in isolation. We can understand many aspects of reality but can never know it completely, meaning that all reality must be interpreted in context. That is no less true of Christianity than anything else. That context, however, is fluid, more akin to energy than matter. That is both the reason we cannot always learn from history and the reason we must study history to fully understand where we are today. This book, in the end, is a book about context. And whether you are interested in Christianity or just understanding the world around you, the context it explores is important. It’s also a fascinating story. What else can a reader ask for? ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A good history of the church from a western perspective *by S***Y on November 15, 2018* All Christians owe it to themselves to become familiar with the history of the church. To this end, Dr. González's The Story of Christianity will serve well. It is written in clear-to-understand language and covers all the major turning points in church history from the end of the New Testament to the Protestant Reformation. I bought the book after a trip I took to Europe rekindled my interest in church history. I found it a fresh and candid look at the history of the church. Dr. González explains the evolution of thought and organization within the church and objectively discusses challenges the church faced, both from without and within. He also explains how episodes in the Christian story influence how we think today. For instance, he writes in the introduction... Like it or not, we are all heirs to this host of contradictory witnesses. Some of their actions we may find revolting, and others inspiring. But all of them are part of our history. All of them, those who actions we admire and those whose actions we despise, brought us to where we are now. That said, there are certain sections where the book goes into great detail and others that receive short shrift. One example is the Eastern Church. While there are chapters devoted to the church in the east, following the fall of Rome, the narrative is mostly devoted to the western (Latin) half of the church. While figures like St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Francis, John Huss, and the various Kings and Popes, are discussed at length while, other than a short nod towards St. John of Damascus, not much is said of church figures in the east such as St. Maximos the Confessor, St. Sophronius of Jerusalem, Saints Cyril and Methodius, St. Theophylact. Or, the development of orthodox spirituality ... the theology of icons, orthodox soteriology, eschatology and so forth. We are told that, after the fall of the empire in the west, the Byzantine half of the empire continued for nearly a thousand years. Yet, not much is said about those thousand years. To be clear, Dr. González’s book is the history of the church from a western perspective. Another subject that Dr. González seems to downplay is the importance of miracles in the church. One rather glaring example of this is his recounting the martyrdom on St. Polycarp where he completely omits the part of the story where Polycarp’s body is protected from the fire... The fire took the shape of a vaulted room, like a ship’s sail filled with wind and made a wall around the martyr’s body which was in the middle, not like burning flesh, but like gold and silver refined in a furnace. Indeed, we were conscious of a wonderful fragrance, like a breath of frankincense or some other costly spice. (from St. Eusebius’ History of the Church) Another occasion where Dr. Gonzalez disparages the miraculous is in his take on the so-called apocryphal gospels where he cites some of the miraculous accounts as being ridiculous. This attitude towards the miraculous seems to underpin González’s writing throughout. Whether Dr. Gonzales believes in miracles or not, is not the point. He’s entitled to believe what he wishes. However, to not give these accounts their due consideration, is to push an important aspect early Christian life to the margins. All this said, I would recommend the book. It reads very easily – not in theologian-eze. I was not having to look up a word on every other page. I would also add that, in the last section, there’s quite a lot of good information on the Catholic church in the new world during the time of the early Spanish explorers. I learned much. ## Frequently Bought Together - Story of Christianity: Volume 1, The: The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation - The Story of Christianity, Vol. 2: The Reformation to the Present Day - Documents of the Christian Church --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.tn/products/2388557-the-story-of-christianity-volume-1-a-study-of-early](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/2388557-the-story-of-christianity-volume-1-a-study-of-early) --- *Product available on Desertcart Tunisia* *Store origin: TN* *Last updated: 2026-10-08*