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Water from a Deep Well: Christian Spirituality from Early Martyrs to Modern Missionaries
In Rome in A.D. 165, two men named Carpus and Papylus stood before the proconsul of Pergamum, charged with the crime of being Christians. Not even torture could make them deny Christ, so they were burned alive. Is my faithfulness as strong? In the fifth century, Melania the Younger and her husband, Pinian, distributed their enormous wealth to the poor and intentionally practiced the discipline of renunciation. Could living more simply deepen my trust in God? In the sixteen hundreds, Philipp Jakob Spener's love for the Word of God and his desire to help people apply the Bible to their life moved him to start "Colleges of Piety," or small groups. In what ways could commitment to community make me more like Christ?
The history of the church has shaped what our faith and practice are like today. It's tempting to think that the way we do things now is best, but history also has much to teach us about what we've forgotten. In Water from a Deep Well, Gerald Sittser opens to us the rich history of spirituality, letting us gaze at the practices and stories of believers from the past who had the same thirst for God that we do today. As we see their deep faith through his vibrant narratives, we may discover that old ways can bring new life to our own spirituality.
The history of the church has shaped what our faith and practice are like today. It's tempting to think that the way we do things now is best, but history also has much to teach us about what we've forgotten. In Water from a Deep Well, Gerald Sittser opens to us the rich history of spirituality, letting us gaze at the practices and stories of believers from the past who had the same thirst for God that we do today. As we see their deep faith through his vibrant narratives, we may discover that old ways can bring new life to our own spirituality.
364 pages, Hardcover
First published November 7, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
September 19, 2023
I had the great privilege of taking several classes from Jerry in college, including a month-long Christian spirituality retreat in the Cascade mountains where we learned about the history covered in this book. Jerry is one of the best storytellers I've ever met and a good, wise, and humble man. Highly recommend!
December 8, 2021
Sittser’s best idea, and the premise of the entire book, is that our faith would be enriched if we understood the long history of the spiritual practice of our faith ancestors. “When I take my place in a few each Sunday morning with my local congregation, the people I don’t see far outnumber of the people I do see, this ‘cloud of witnesses’ that provides much-needed depth and texture and companionship as I follow Jesus.” (p.9) This idea seems crucial. We imagine ourselves unique in our problems and theological controversies. Even a brief summary of Christian history shows how shallow and misinformed this feeling is. We are part of a continuous heritage shaped by people, ideas, and practices many of us are only vaguely aware of.
As crucial as Sittser’s premise is for healthy discipleship, I was continually frustrated with the narrative of this book, which verged on hagiography at times. It was only in his final chapter that he revealed his viewpoint: “None of these traditions are without fault. I could just as easily have written a book about their weaknesses...Every person, movement, and tradition I have introduced has left an ambiguous legacy. I have chosen to dwell on the good part of the story, though I could’ve done the opposite. But I believe that failures and abuses do not nullify the value of these traditions.“ (p.281-282)
I wish that Sittser had included that paragraph in his introduction! Understanding this editorial viewpoint would have allowed me to hear what he had to say more clearly. Even more, I wish that Sittser had not taken this position at all. His intentional choice to curate this story with an eye toward the “good parts” undermines the value of the premise. While I agree with him that “abuses and failures do not nullify the value of these traditions,” I believe that understanding the weaknesses and failures of our heritage are an essential part of learning from our past. The spiritual resource our forebears provide with us is not just a menu of practices like Lectio Divina and the Ignatian Examen, but also (and perhaps more importantly) a roster of ways we Christians have leveraged our faith for self-justification and to attain power at the expense of others.
Sittser wrote: “Every generation of believers faces the risk of becoming a prisoner to its own myopic vision of the Christian faith, assuming that how it understands and practices faith is always the best.” (p.18). Not only does this include the myopia of our practices, but also the myopia of our certainty that we are right. Seeing how our heroes of faith and spiritual ancestors failed is an essential part of learning from their legacy so that we can be better equipped to live as salt and light in the world following the other-centered co-suffering way of Jesus.
As crucial as Sittser’s premise is for healthy discipleship, I was continually frustrated with the narrative of this book, which verged on hagiography at times. It was only in his final chapter that he revealed his viewpoint: “None of these traditions are without fault. I could just as easily have written a book about their weaknesses...Every person, movement, and tradition I have introduced has left an ambiguous legacy. I have chosen to dwell on the good part of the story, though I could’ve done the opposite. But I believe that failures and abuses do not nullify the value of these traditions.“ (p.281-282)
I wish that Sittser had included that paragraph in his introduction! Understanding this editorial viewpoint would have allowed me to hear what he had to say more clearly. Even more, I wish that Sittser had not taken this position at all. His intentional choice to curate this story with an eye toward the “good parts” undermines the value of the premise. While I agree with him that “abuses and failures do not nullify the value of these traditions,” I believe that understanding the weaknesses and failures of our heritage are an essential part of learning from our past. The spiritual resource our forebears provide with us is not just a menu of practices like Lectio Divina and the Ignatian Examen, but also (and perhaps more importantly) a roster of ways we Christians have leveraged our faith for self-justification and to attain power at the expense of others.
Sittser wrote: “Every generation of believers faces the risk of becoming a prisoner to its own myopic vision of the Christian faith, assuming that how it understands and practices faith is always the best.” (p.18). Not only does this include the myopia of our practices, but also the myopia of our certainty that we are right. Seeing how our heroes of faith and spiritual ancestors failed is an essential part of learning from their legacy so that we can be better equipped to live as salt and light in the world following the other-centered co-suffering way of Jesus.
January 8, 2025
This book ended up being exactly what I hoped it would be. Sittser discusses many of the movements or organizations throughout church history and addresses the question, "how did they connect with God?" As someone who weaseled their way out of the church history class at Harding, I learned a ton and got really excited about groups like the desert saints (who were sometimes a little too good at asceticism but have a ton to teach the US American church) and the Moravian church (who blessed the Lord and the world with worship 24/7 for ONE HUNDRED AND TEN YEARS!! AND sent out an insane percentage of their population to the nations).
I really liked this book. It was written very well and its mission was important. I was reminded 1) how worthy the Bride of Christ is of our respect and 2) how rich and valuable it's history is.
Shout out to Taylor Hill's dad and Luke Lefevre for recommending it.
I really liked this book. It was written very well and its mission was important. I was reminded 1) how worthy the Bride of Christ is of our respect and 2) how rich and valuable it's history is.
Shout out to Taylor Hill's dad and Luke Lefevre for recommending it.
May 30, 2022
So good. A beautiful quick overview of church history in different periods. Felt like a tiny step into a huge ocean of spirituality that I haven’t spent time in. I can’t wait to dive into some of the recommended readings he offers
December 9, 2024
This was a wonderful book that I read for spiritual formation. It’s a great read for anyone interested in the spiritual disciplines or just Christian history. Sittser writes a very accessible survey of the different “movements” of Christian spirituality throughout history. He tries and succeeds in showcasing the great well of Christian spirituality we have to draw from. It is also great for helping understand where certain Protestant denominations got their specific spirituality.
February 17, 2026
A stellar, ecumenical history of Christian spirituality that, while written by an evangelical Presbyterian, is appreciative of the Church's various traditions, movements, denominations, and practices. Surprised to hear there is a second edition (out soon) as I think the original version is already quite solid. I have to admit, I did listen to a large portion of this as an audiobook so I was not as attentive as I normally am while going through this book.
March 6, 2021
I was assigned this book for a seminary class, and I fell in love with it. I all ready lean into books that look at historical models of spirituality, especially the models of the monastics, but have always wondered how the flow of history moved these models in and out of one another. Sittser does an amazing job of honoring these models while not gilding the lily.
highlights abounded.
It is one of those books that after you read it, makes you pause in thankfulness.
highlights abounded.
It is one of those books that after you read it, makes you pause in thankfulness.
November 10, 2023
This is such a lovely and deep book showing church history and introductions to awesome Christians from the past. Hope and truth in this book both convict and inspire me to live for God wherever I am and with whatever I'm doing.
I am very encouraged and thankful to have read it. Alas, I do have a paper for class on this book so I might return to add to the review if anything jumps out to me.
Well worth the read.
I am very encouraged and thankful to have read it. Alas, I do have a paper for class on this book so I might return to add to the review if anything jumps out to me.
Well worth the read.
May 8, 2025
This book was well rounded and insightful! So much of my faith and experience has been grounded in my Western culture and experience.
It was so refreshing and encouraging to see the history of Christian spirituality through movements and people. I really appreciated how the author used individual stories of famous and not-so-famous saints as archetypes for the general movement and spiritual atmosphere of specific eras.
I grew in a lot of sympathy and understanding and am excited to exercise more practices which grow from millennia of spiritual discipline and relationship with God!
It was so refreshing and encouraging to see the history of Christian spirituality through movements and people. I really appreciated how the author used individual stories of famous and not-so-famous saints as archetypes for the general movement and spiritual atmosphere of specific eras.
I grew in a lot of sympathy and understanding and am excited to exercise more practices which grow from millennia of spiritual discipline and relationship with God!
September 19, 2025
I would gladly recommend this to anyone curious about church history. Sittser generously seeks to glean from each of the Christian movements referenced in his book the beautiful ways in which they were inclined to relate to the Lord. Each of these groups has wonderful strengths that we can learn so much from. It is such a wonderful privilege to be reminded that we, believers, are in the community of all saints through space and time, and Sittser does a great job at reminding his reader of this beautiful truth.
January 28, 2025
I read this for class and found it fascinating and refreshing. It stretched me in a good way and had depth. I learned a lot!
May 8, 2025
Beautiful and informative book I read for a class.
November 11, 2021
This was a great read! It’s an overview of Christian spirituality starting from the early church to the missionary movement. I was encouraged by the lives and witness of the saints throughout different time periods and am filled with thankfulness for the rich history of the Church! This book has been a springboard to dig deeper and to learn more from “the great cloud of witnesses”.
"We are on a relay team. We have a heritage, a richly composted family history. We need to know these members of our family who lived lives so similar to what we are living and lived them well. As we get to know them we are less isolated, less alone. We are not orphans. We are not misfits”
“The martyrs call us to proclaim Jesus as Lord and the desert saints to fight against the world, the flesh and the devil. The early church challenges us to create a community of belonging for broken, displaced, disconnected people. Medieval monks invite us to abide by healthy rhythms, mendicants to imitate the life of Christ and mystics to seek union with God. The Reformers urge us to listen to the Word of God, evangelicals to surrender our lives to it and missionaries to proclaim it to the world. The stories of these saints are at our disposal to enlarge, enrich and warn us."There is more!" they tell us. "So much more."”
"We are on a relay team. We have a heritage, a richly composted family history. We need to know these members of our family who lived lives so similar to what we are living and lived them well. As we get to know them we are less isolated, less alone. We are not orphans. We are not misfits”
“The martyrs call us to proclaim Jesus as Lord and the desert saints to fight against the world, the flesh and the devil. The early church challenges us to create a community of belonging for broken, displaced, disconnected people. Medieval monks invite us to abide by healthy rhythms, mendicants to imitate the life of Christ and mystics to seek union with God. The Reformers urge us to listen to the Word of God, evangelicals to surrender our lives to it and missionaries to proclaim it to the world. The stories of these saints are at our disposal to enlarge, enrich and warn us."There is more!" they tell us. "So much more."”
September 14, 2024
I don’t give five stars lightly. If you want to be encouraged by spirituality and inspiring stories of justice in the last 2000 years then this book is for you!
July 15, 2026
Gerald L. Sittser’s Water from a Deep Well: Christian Spirituality from Early Martyrs to Modern Missionaries is an engaging introduction to the history of Christian spirituality. The author presents the lives and teachings of many influential Christians from the early Church to the modern era, encouraging readers to learn from their witness and deepen their own relationship with God.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its readable style. Sittser makes church history accessible and introduces many important Christian figures in a way that is interesting and inspiring. His appreciation for the spiritual richness of the early Church and many Catholic saints is refreshing, especially coming from an evangelical background. The book also encourages readers to see Christianity as a living tradition that extends across the centuries.
However, from a Catholic perspective, the book has significant limitations. Although Sittser frequently draws on Catholic writers and saints, he interprets them through an evangelical lens. As a result, distinctly Catholic teachings—such as the role of the sacraments, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the communion of saints, the authority of the Church, and the importance of Sacred Tradition—are either minimized or presented only briefly. Readers unfamiliar with Catholic theology may therefore receive an incomplete picture of Catholic spirituality.
In addition, the book sometimes places all Christian traditions on roughly the same level without addressing the theological differences that separate them. While this approach promotes appreciation and dialogue, it can overlook important doctrinal questions that are central to the Catholic faith.
Overall, Water from a Deep Well is an enjoyable and thought-provoking introduction to Christian spirituality, but it should not be considered a comprehensive presentation of Catholic spiritual theology. Catholic readers can certainly benefit from the historical overview and the author’s appreciation of many saints and spiritual writers, but they will likely want to complement it with works by Catholic authors that present the Church’s teachings in greater depth.
*Thank you NetGalley for providing a free e-copy of this book! This review nevertheless contains my honest opinion.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its readable style. Sittser makes church history accessible and introduces many important Christian figures in a way that is interesting and inspiring. His appreciation for the spiritual richness of the early Church and many Catholic saints is refreshing, especially coming from an evangelical background. The book also encourages readers to see Christianity as a living tradition that extends across the centuries.
However, from a Catholic perspective, the book has significant limitations. Although Sittser frequently draws on Catholic writers and saints, he interprets them through an evangelical lens. As a result, distinctly Catholic teachings—such as the role of the sacraments, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the communion of saints, the authority of the Church, and the importance of Sacred Tradition—are either minimized or presented only briefly. Readers unfamiliar with Catholic theology may therefore receive an incomplete picture of Catholic spirituality.
In addition, the book sometimes places all Christian traditions on roughly the same level without addressing the theological differences that separate them. While this approach promotes appreciation and dialogue, it can overlook important doctrinal questions that are central to the Catholic faith.
Overall, Water from a Deep Well is an enjoyable and thought-provoking introduction to Christian spirituality, but it should not be considered a comprehensive presentation of Catholic spiritual theology. Catholic readers can certainly benefit from the historical overview and the author’s appreciation of many saints and spiritual writers, but they will likely want to complement it with works by Catholic authors that present the Church’s teachings in greater depth.
*Thank you NetGalley for providing a free e-copy of this book! This review nevertheless contains my honest opinion.
December 23, 2024
I enjoyed this book as Sittser laid out the history of the Church and explored God moving since Acts. It’s rich with stories that challenge my current world view and inspire me to live with greater faith. If you are looking for a book to awaken a basic overview of different periods of church history, then this is a great place to begin. There is a take away in each chapter as the reader is encouraged to put into practice what is explored.
September 9, 2022
Fantastic read. Sittser provides a succinct summary of different themes within Christian spirituality throughout history. He, to his own admission, doesn’t address much of the negative within these themes. However, he does a phenomenal job drawing out the beauty behind each one. To read about different forms of devotion to Christ was inspiring. I’ll be back for a reread soon!
May 2, 2024
3.5 stars
Prolly the most academic book I’ve read in a while. Just straight history. Thought it would have a lil more on the discipline of solitude and silence but still very insightful and challenging writing
Prolly the most academic book I’ve read in a while. Just straight history. Thought it would have a lil more on the discipline of solitude and silence but still very insightful and challenging writing
December 14, 2024
This books was so fantastic. It was a really accessible start to learning and understanding the deep history of Christian traditions. At the same time it is both extremely practical (with an application section at the end of every paragraph) and academic. I finished the book with a greater appreciation of where my faith tradition and practice today has come from, as well as motivation to apply aspects of that history to my current practice of faith.
October 26, 2025
There are some quotes you hear that you immediately wish you almost hadn’t heard. Something that challenges you to the core, where you might chalk it up to extremism or an impossiblity in today’s standards, yet it still pushes you and brings you face to face to what you hold onto, something you now get to see if you can or should loosen your grip on.
There were many quotes in this book that made me feel this way.
There were many quotes in this book that made me feel this way.
November 21, 2019
I learned a lot and enjoyed the journey through time.
December 16, 2023
Wonderful exploration of Christian spirituality! I especially enjoyed his exploration of the Desert Saints and Monasticism, so much we can learn from the saints who have gone before us.
September 17, 2024
Great overview of the history of Christian Spirituality. I especially appreciated his chapters on monasticism and on saints and icons.
July 9, 2025
Great read on the history of Christian spirituality- I especially enjoyed the chapters on mission and the Conclusion that included some excellent insights on vocational theology
September 9, 2016
This is an excellent, highly readable, introduction to the history of Christian Spirituality. Gerald Sittser surveys the best contributions that Christians have made in living out their faith over the centuries since Jesus walked the earth. Chapters are arranged chronologically. Each one focuses on the dominant expression of faith during a particular period of history, drawing from the lives of well selected representatives, and ends with a very good discussion of how present day Christians may benefit from the examples set by their spiritual forebears. The author is well aware of the excesses and errors which also characterized each period, but he doesn't dwell on them. This book is written to help Christians see what is valuable from each tradition. "Abusus non tollit usus." Failures and abuses do not nullify the value of these traditions, says the author. This is a fresh and inspiring look a the legacy others have left us. I highly recommend it.
June 23, 2026
This is the second time I've read this book and I'm now sure that I really like this book by Gerald Sittser. Though there can be a few inaccuracies, he's done his research. This book is a good combination of church history and spirituality. Could you call it a history of Christian spirituality? Maybe/maybe not. However, he examines different traditions throughout the church from an evangelical perspective and tries to find something valuable in it for today. Some of my favorite chapters are the ones on the Desert Fathers and Monasticism.
I think this would be a great book to give a layperson to expose them from bits of church history and to help them appreciate traditions that differ from those evangelical Protestants are used to.
I think this would be a great book to give a layperson to expose them from bits of church history and to help them appreciate traditions that differ from those evangelical Protestants are used to.
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February 21, 2012Definitely an interesting read. Sittser does a good job covering church history. The book is structured so that each period of church history has a specific theme or focus of spirituality. He then pulls in different writings and stories that support that theme. It is a cross between a historical scholarly book and a topical study. I am not sure if I liked that mix, but I did enjoy the topical points that were made as things that I often never thought of before. The book includes "practices" that are meant for the reader to get a step further in understanding the spiritual theme. It also has discussion questions at the end for groups.
November 30, 2015
An overview of the expression of faith Christianity has assumed the past two thousand years. Very accessible to all readers, Siitser includes discussion questions, Scripture and projects to further our experience in Christian spirituality. Though he acknowledges the weaknesses inherent in each phase of Christianity, his goal is to show the strengths and, thereby, broaden our receptivity to the various streams offered through the Desert Fathers, the monastics, the evangelicals, the Mystics, the Reformation, the missionaries, and the early church. I particularly enjoyed the many brief bio sketches included in each chapter.
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January 12, 2011Currently reading and let me Maria take a peek at the book. She liked it so much that she stole it.
February 15, 2024
This book was good, just very slow and a little dry for me. Does a nice overview of the church throughout the centuries.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews