Church History in Plain Language

Themes

Follow one thread through two thousand years. Each list is in chronological order, so you can read a theme from start to finish.

Doctrine and creeds

How Christians worked out — and fought over — what they believe.

  1. Era 0 · c. 1000 BC – 4 BCAncient Israel
  2. Era 0 · c. 1000 BC – 4 BCJudaism in the Time of Jesus
  3. Era 1 · 4 BC – AD 70Jesus of Nazareth
  4. Era 1 · 4 BC – AD 70Paul and the Gentiles
  5. Era 1 · 4 BC – AD 70Writing the New Testament
  6. Era 2 · 70 – 312Gnostics, Marcion and the Rise of Orthodoxy
  7. Era 2 · 70 – 312Forming the Bible
  8. Era 2 · 70 – 312Apologists and Thinkers
  9. Era 3 · 312 – 590Arius and the Council of Nicaea
  10. Era 3 · 312 – 590Who Is Christ? Ephesus and Chalcedon
  11. Era 3 · 312 – 590Augustine of Hippo
  12. Era 3 · 312 – 590Churches Beyond Chalcedon
  13. Era 4 · 590 – 1517The Great Schism of 1054
  14. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Martin Luther
  15. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Zwingli, Calvin and the Reformed
  16. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648The Radical Reformation
  17. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Catholic Reformation and Renewal
  18. Era 6 · 1648 – 1789John Wesley and the Methodists
  19. Era 7 · 1789 – 1914Faith, Science and Liberal Theology
  20. Era 7 · 1789 – 1914Rome Against the Modern World
  21. Era 8 · 1914 – presentWorld Wars and the Confessing Church
  22. Era 8 · 1914 – presentThe Ecumenical Movement
  23. Era 8 · 1914 – presentThe Second Vatican Council

Church and state

Emperors, kings, popes and parliaments: who rules whom?

  1. Era 0 · c. 1000 BC – 4 BCRome and Its Empire
  2. Era 0 · c. 1000 BC – 4 BCJudaism in the Time of Jesus
  3. Era 1 · 4 BC – AD 70The Fall of Jerusalem and the Parting of the Ways
  4. Era 2 · 70 – 312Persecution and Martyrs
  5. Era 3 · 312 – 590Constantine
  6. Era 3 · 312 – 590Arius and the Council of Nicaea
  7. Era 3 · 312 – 590Who Is Christ? Ephesus and Chalcedon
  8. Era 3 · 312 – 590Augustine of Hippo
  9. Era 3 · 312 – 590Rome Falls, the Papacy Rises
  10. Era 4 · 590 – 1517The Challenge of Islam
  11. Era 4 · 590 – 1517Byzantium and the Icons
  12. Era 4 · 590 – 1517Charlemagne and Christendom
  13. Era 4 · 590 – 1517Popes Against Kings
  14. Era 4 · 590 – 1517The Crusades
  15. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Martin Luther
  16. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Zwingli, Calvin and the Reformed
  17. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648The Radical Reformation
  18. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Britain's Reformations
  19. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648The Reformation Goes Global
  20. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Wars of Religion and Westphalia
  21. Era 6 · 1648 – 1789Puritans, Baptists and Quakers
  22. Era 6 · 1648 – 1789The Enlightenment
  23. Era 6 · 1648 – 1789The Great Awakening in America
  24. Era 6 · 1648 – 1789Orthodoxy in Russia and the Ottoman World
  25. Era 7 · 1789 – 1914Revolution and the Church
  26. Era 7 · 1789 – 1914The Great Century of Missions
  27. Era 7 · 1789 – 1914Rome Against the Modern World
  28. Era 7 · 1789 – 1914Saving Souls and Society
  29. Era 8 · 1914 – presentWorld Wars and the Confessing Church
  30. Era 8 · 1914 – presentChristianity Under Communism
  31. Era 8 · 1914 – presentEvangelicals and Fundamentalists
  32. Era 8 · 1914 – presentThe Global South
  33. Era 8 · 1914 – presentChristianity Today and Tomorrow

Worship, sacraments and liturgy

How Christians pray, baptize, and share bread and wine.

  1. Era 1 · 4 BC – AD 70The Church in Jerusalem
  2. Era 2 · 70 – 312Bishops and Church Order
  3. Era 2 · 70 – 312Worship and Daily Life
  4. Era 4 · 590 – 1517Byzantium and the Icons
  5. Era 4 · 590 – 1517Cathedrals, Universities and Scholastics
  6. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Christianity on the Eve of Reform
  7. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Martin Luther
  8. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Zwingli, Calvin and the Reformed
  9. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Britain's Reformations
  10. Era 6 · 1648 – 1789Pietists and Moravians
  11. Era 6 · 1648 – 1789John Wesley and the Methodists
  12. Era 7 · 1789 – 1914Rome Against the Modern World
  13. Era 7 · 1789 – 1914Christianity in America
  14. Era 8 · 1914 – presentThe Second Vatican Council
  15. Era 8 · 1914 – presentPentecostals and Charismatics

Monasticism and spirituality

Hermits, monks, friars, mystics and the inner life.

  1. Era 3 · 312 – 590The Desert and the Monastery
  2. Era 4 · 590 – 1517Gregory the Great and the Conversion of Europe
  3. Era 4 · 590 – 1517Monks and Friars
  4. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Catholic Reformation and Renewal
  5. Era 6 · 1648 – 1789Pietists and Moravians
  6. Era 6 · 1648 – 1789Orthodoxy in Russia and the Ottoman World

Papacy and church government

Bishops, popes, councils, presbyteries and congregations.

  1. Era 2 · 70 – 312Gnostics, Marcion and the Rise of Orthodoxy
  2. Era 2 · 70 – 312Bishops and Church Order
  3. Era 3 · 312 – 590Who Is Christ? Ephesus and Chalcedon
  4. Era 3 · 312 – 590Rome Falls, the Papacy Rises
  5. Era 4 · 590 – 1517Gregory the Great and the Conversion of Europe
  6. Era 4 · 590 – 1517Charlemagne and Christendom
  7. Era 4 · 590 – 1517The Great Schism of 1054
  8. Era 4 · 590 – 1517Popes Against Kings
  9. Era 4 · 590 – 1517The Crusades
  10. Era 4 · 590 – 1517The Late Medieval Crisis
  11. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Catholic Reformation and Renewal
  12. Era 7 · 1789 – 1914Revolution and the Church
  13. Era 7 · 1789 – 1914Rome Against the Modern World
  14. Era 8 · 1914 – presentThe Second Vatican Council

Eastern and Oriental churches

Orthodox, Coptic, Syriac, Armenian, Ethiopian and the Church of the East.

  1. Era 2 · 70 – 312Countries of the Sunrise
  2. Era 3 · 312 – 590Who Is Christ? Ephesus and Chalcedon
  3. Era 3 · 312 – 590Churches Beyond Chalcedon
  4. Era 4 · 590 – 1517The Challenge of Islam
  5. Era 4 · 590 – 1517Byzantium and the Icons
  6. Era 4 · 590 – 1517The Great Schism of 1054
  7. Era 4 · 590 – 1517The Crusades
  8. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648The Reformation Goes Global
  9. Era 6 · 1648 – 1789Orthodoxy in Russia and the Ottoman World
  10. Era 8 · 1914 – presentChristianity Under Communism
  11. Era 8 · 1914 – presentThe Ecumenical Movement
  12. Era 8 · 1914 – presentThe Second Vatican Council
  13. Era 8 · 1914 – presentThe Global South

Reform and renewal movements

Every age produced people who tried to purify the church.

  1. Era 3 · 312 – 590The Desert and the Monastery
  2. Era 3 · 312 – 590Augustine of Hippo
  3. Era 4 · 590 – 1517Popes Against Kings
  4. Era 4 · 590 – 1517Monks and Friars
  5. Era 4 · 590 – 1517The Late Medieval Crisis
  6. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Christianity on the Eve of Reform
  7. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Martin Luther
  8. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Zwingli, Calvin and the Reformed
  9. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648The Radical Reformation
  10. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Britain's Reformations
  11. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Catholic Reformation and Renewal
  12. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Reformation Legacies
  13. Era 6 · 1648 – 1789Puritans, Baptists and Quakers
  14. Era 6 · 1648 – 1789Pietists and Moravians
  15. Era 6 · 1648 – 1789John Wesley and the Methodists
  16. Era 6 · 1648 – 1789The Great Awakening in America
  17. Era 7 · 1789 – 1914Saving Souls and Society
  18. Era 7 · 1789 – 1914Christianity in America
  19. Era 8 · 1914 – presentThe Ecumenical Movement
  20. Era 8 · 1914 – presentThe Second Vatican Council
  21. Era 8 · 1914 – presentPentecostals and Charismatics
  22. Era 8 · 1914 – presentEvangelicals and Fundamentalists
  23. Era 8 · 1914 – presentThe Global South
  24. Era 8 · 1914 – presentChristianity Today and Tomorrow

Missions and global spread

How a Jewish sect became a worldwide faith.

  1. Era 1 · 4 BC – AD 70Paul and the Gentiles
  2. Era 2 · 70 – 312Countries of the Sunrise
  3. Era 3 · 312 – 590Rome Falls, the Papacy Rises
  4. Era 3 · 312 – 590Churches Beyond Chalcedon
  5. Era 4 · 590 – 1517Gregory the Great and the Conversion of Europe
  6. Era 4 · 590 – 1517The Challenge of Islam
  7. Era 4 · 590 – 1517Byzantium and the Icons
  8. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648The Reformation Goes Global
  9. Era 6 · 1648 – 1789Puritans, Baptists and Quakers
  10. Era 6 · 1648 – 1789Pietists and Moravians
  11. Era 6 · 1648 – 1789John Wesley and the Methodists
  12. Era 6 · 1648 – 1789The Great Awakening in America
  13. Era 7 · 1789 – 1914The Great Century of Missions
  14. Era 7 · 1789 – 1914Saving Souls and Society
  15. Era 7 · 1789 – 1914Christianity in America
  16. Era 8 · 1914 – presentThe Ecumenical Movement
  17. Era 8 · 1914 – presentPentecostals and Charismatics
  18. Era 8 · 1914 – presentEvangelicals and Fundamentalists
  19. Era 8 · 1914 – presentThe Global South
  20. Era 8 · 1914 – presentChristianity Today and Tomorrow

Persecution and martyrdom

Suffering for faith — and, too often, making others suffer.

  1. Era 0 · c. 1000 BC – 4 BCRome and Its Empire
  2. Era 1 · 4 BC – AD 70The Church in Jerusalem
  3. Era 1 · 4 BC – AD 70The Fall of Jerusalem and the Parting of the Ways
  4. Era 2 · 70 – 312Persecution and Martyrs
  5. Era 3 · 312 – 590Constantine
  6. Era 4 · 590 – 1517The Crusades
  7. Era 4 · 590 – 1517The Late Medieval Crisis
  8. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648The Radical Reformation
  9. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Britain's Reformations
  10. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648The Reformation Goes Global
  11. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Wars of Religion and Westphalia
  12. Era 6 · 1648 – 1789Puritans, Baptists and Quakers
  13. Era 6 · 1648 – 1789Orthodoxy in Russia and the Ottoman World
  14. Era 7 · 1789 – 1914Revolution and the Church
  15. Era 8 · 1914 – presentWorld Wars and the Confessing Church
  16. Era 8 · 1914 – presentChristianity Under Communism
  17. Era 8 · 1914 – presentChristianity Today and Tomorrow

Women in the church

Martyrs, abbesses, mystics, reformers, missionaries and preachers.

  1. Era 1 · 4 BC – AD 70The Church in Jerusalem
  2. Era 2 · 70 – 312Persecution and Martyrs
  3. Era 2 · 70 – 312Bishops and Church Order
  4. Era 2 · 70 – 312Worship and Daily Life
  5. Era 3 · 312 – 590The Desert and the Monastery
  6. Era 4 · 590 – 1517Gregory the Great and the Conversion of Europe
  7. Era 4 · 590 – 1517Monks and Friars
  8. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Catholic Reformation and Renewal
  9. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Reformation Legacies
  10. Era 6 · 1648 – 1789John Wesley and the Methodists
  11. Era 6 · 1648 – 1789The Great Awakening in America
  12. Era 7 · 1789 – 1914The Great Century of Missions
  13. Era 7 · 1789 – 1914Saving Souls and Society
  14. Era 7 · 1789 – 1914Christianity in America
  15. Era 8 · 1914 – presentPentecostals and Charismatics
  16. Era 8 · 1914 – presentThe Global South
  17. Era 8 · 1914 – presentChristianity Today and Tomorrow

Art, architecture and music

Icons, cathedrals, hymns and the visual imagination of faith.

  1. Era 2 · 70 – 312Worship and Daily Life
  2. Era 3 · 312 – 590Constantine
  3. Era 4 · 590 – 1517Byzantium and the Icons
  4. Era 4 · 590 – 1517Charlemagne and Christendom
  5. Era 4 · 590 – 1517Monks and Friars
  6. Era 4 · 590 – 1517Cathedrals, Universities and Scholastics
  7. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Zwingli, Calvin and the Reformed
  8. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Catholic Reformation and Renewal
  9. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Reformation Legacies

Scripture and its translation

Forming, copying, translating and interpreting the Bible.

  1. Era 0 · c. 1000 BC – 4 BCThe Greek Mind
  2. Era 0 · c. 1000 BC – 4 BCAncient Israel
  3. Era 0 · c. 1000 BC – 4 BCJudaism in the Time of Jesus
  4. Era 1 · 4 BC – AD 70Jesus of Nazareth
  5. Era 1 · 4 BC – AD 70Paul and the Gentiles
  6. Era 1 · 4 BC – AD 70Writing the New Testament
  7. Era 2 · 70 – 312Gnostics, Marcion and the Rise of Orthodoxy
  8. Era 2 · 70 – 312Forming the Bible
  9. Era 2 · 70 – 312Apologists and Thinkers
  10. Era 2 · 70 – 312Countries of the Sunrise
  11. Era 4 · 590 – 1517Charlemagne and Christendom
  12. Era 4 · 590 – 1517The Late Medieval Crisis
  13. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Christianity on the Eve of Reform
  14. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Martin Luther
  15. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Britain's Reformations
  16. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Reformation Legacies
  17. Era 6 · 1648 – 1789The Enlightenment
  18. Era 7 · 1789 – 1914The Great Century of Missions
  19. Era 7 · 1789 – 1914Faith, Science and Liberal Theology
  20. Era 8 · 1914 – presentEvangelicals and Fundamentalists

Christianity and science/philosophy

Faith in conversation with Greek philosophy, reason and science.

  1. Era 0 · c. 1000 BC – 4 BCThe Greek Mind
  2. Era 2 · 70 – 312Apologists and Thinkers
  3. Era 3 · 312 – 590Arius and the Council of Nicaea
  4. Era 3 · 312 – 590Augustine of Hippo
  5. Era 4 · 590 – 1517The Challenge of Islam
  6. Era 4 · 590 – 1517Cathedrals, Universities and Scholastics
  7. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Christianity on the Eve of Reform
  8. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Reformation Legacies
  9. Era 6 · 1648 – 1789The Enlightenment
  10. Era 7 · 1789 – 1914Faith, Science and Liberal Theology
  11. Era 8 · 1914 – presentWorld Wars and the Confessing Church

Protestant history

The Protestant story from its medieval forerunners to today's evangelicals and Pentecostals. See also the Protestant path page.

  1. Era 4 · 590 – 1517The Late Medieval Crisis
  2. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Christianity on the Eve of Reform
  3. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Martin Luther
  4. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Zwingli, Calvin and the Reformed
  5. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648The Radical Reformation
  6. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Britain's Reformations
  7. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Wars of Religion and Westphalia
  8. Era 5 · 1517 – 1648Reformation Legacies
  9. Era 6 · 1648 – 1789Puritans, Baptists and Quakers
  10. Era 6 · 1648 – 1789Pietists and Moravians
  11. Era 6 · 1648 – 1789The Enlightenment
  12. Era 6 · 1648 – 1789John Wesley and the Methodists
  13. Era 6 · 1648 – 1789The Great Awakening in America
  14. Era 7 · 1789 – 1914The Great Century of Missions
  15. Era 7 · 1789 – 1914Faith, Science and Liberal Theology
  16. Era 7 · 1789 – 1914Saving Souls and Society
  17. Era 7 · 1789 – 1914Christianity in America
  18. Era 8 · 1914 – presentWorld Wars and the Confessing Church
  19. Era 8 · 1914 – presentThe Ecumenical Movement
  20. Era 8 · 1914 – presentPentecostals and Charismatics
  21. Era 8 · 1914 – presentEvangelicals and Fundamentalists
  22. Era 8 · 1914 – presentThe Global South