Christian History, Volume 1: From the Apostolic Fathers to the Eve of the Reformation

by Steven A. McKinion, Benjamin T. Quinn

Christian History, Volume 1: From the Apostolic Fathers to the Eve of the Reformation by Steven A. McKinion and Benjamin T. Quinn tells the story of the Christian church from its beginnings up to the eve of the Protestant Reformation. The authors situate the telling of church history within the orthodox beliefs and practices of the Great Tradition, expounding upon its four distinctives: scriptural, Christological, liturgical, and moral/ethical. Readers of Christian History, Volume 1 will learn about the ecumenical councils and the formation of the early Christian creeds, the rise of the imperial church, major theological shapers and political figures, the great schism between the west and the east, the origins of monasticism, and much more.

448 pages, Hardcover

Published March 15, 2026

Reviews

[Jacob Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good resource with helpful further reading. Some conclusions they draw are very different than other source material, so definitely have some quibbles. But overall a help!

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will have to give this 2.5 stars, rounding up to 3. If you had no other church history book, you would not be led astray, and this work would give you a reasonable start in your studies. That said, it is a very uneven text, and there are better church history books (Needham’s 1000 Years of Christ’s Power, Shelley’s Church History in Plain Language, or Gonzalez’s The Story of Christianity all come to mind).

I appreciated the approach of the book in aiming to evaluate church history based upon the Great Tradition of Christianity. The scope seemed largely proper to me, and I was glad to see that the Medieval period was presented as a time that Protestants can learn from and not just a throwaway period in the church’s history. I also appreciated that some of the chapters actually provided footnotes for quotations and sources; they provide more confidence in the content, as well as provide a more specific direction for further research.

However, there is a great disparity in quality between chapters. I strongly suspect that this is the result of the book having two authors. Some of the chapters were delightful to read (the chapters on Monasticism and Scholasticism come to mind), but others were of quite a different quality and approach. From a basic methodological standpoint, many of the chapters had little to no footnotes; the same approach to footnoting should have been used. But those same chapters were also both rhetorically weak and overly general. They felt greatly in need of an editor. I’m not sure if the fault is in the NetGalley copy I read (perhaps it was an earlier draft?), but the writing quality, I am sorry to say, felt like that of a student far too often. Overuse of parallelism, uninspired wording, unnecessary repetition, and redundant concluding statements peppered the text. These chapters had far too many general statements as well, ultimately failing to put words to maximum use.

Just as one example, this is a sample of the rhetorical style that is common in these chapters (note the excessive use of parallelism, as well as the overly general presentation):

“Bishops, abbots, and theologians, [sic] provided spiritual guidance to rulers and advised them on matters of governance and justice. The church’s teachings on morality, justice, and the common good often influenced imperial policy decisions, shaping law, regulations, and social norms. The church played a central role in the administration of justice within the Holy Roman Empire, operating its legal system alongside secular courts. Bishops and canon lawyers presided over ecclesiastical courts that adjudicated disputes involving church law, morality, and sacraments. The church’s legal authority extended to marriage, inheritance, and heresy, where ecclesiastical courts often held jurisdiction over secular authorities.

The church also provided social welfare and charitable assistance to the poor, sick, and marginalized members of society. Monasteries, convents, and religious orders operated hospitals, orphanages, and almshouses, offering food, shelter, and medical care to those in need. The church’s commitment to charitable works and Christian charity helped alleviate poverty, alleviate suffering, and promote the dignity and well-being of all members of society.” (p. 320).

This could have been a solid church history textbook, but unfortunately, the uneven nature of the book greatly diminishes its quality. It seems to me that it needed far more editing before it was brought forward for publication. If the rough edges were to be smoothed out in a future edition, I would feel better about recommending this as a resource.

[J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a time when many Christians are unfamiliar with church history and often deterred by dry, dense textbooks, Steve McKinion and Benjamin Quinn have produced this highly readable alternative.

Their work goes beyond a simple recounting of past events, providing a thoughtful synthesis of theological themes and historical insights from the first century onward. By engaging directly with primary sources and illuminating lesser-known eras, the authors vividly illustrate how God's people have historically read Scripture, confessed Christ, and interacted with broader culture.

This spiritually enriching resource serves as an excellent educational tool designed to connect contemporary believers with the Great Tradition and rekindle a deep love for Christ’s church.

[Cin (cinsnextchapter) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christian History, Volume 1: From the Apostolic Fathers to the Eve of the Reformation by Steven A. McKinion and Benjamin T. Quinn is a rich and accessible overview of the early centuries of the Church, tracing its development through councils, creeds, key theological figures, and major historical turning points. I recently converted from Protestantism to Eastern Orthodoxy and have been eager to deepen my understanding of early Christianity, and this book was a meaningful part of that journey. It’s densely packed with information, which led me down plenty of fascinating research rabbit holes along the way. I especially appreciated reading it during the Lenten and Paschal seasons, and I would highly recommend it to any Christian or inquirer interested in church history.

[Meagan | The Chapter House · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic resource! I'm excited to get my hands on a physical copy (not just the eARC)--I know it will be even better.

Of course, not everything can be covered in all the detail everyone wants, but what *is* covered is done very well here. It's engaging, approachable for laypeople, and has nice tables/pictures included. And, being me, I especially loved the recommended reading--that was the biggest draw for me so I could target future reading on topics of special interest.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging and well-written.
Applicable.

Reading level:
Middle school to college freshman

*An excellent choice if you've never read any church history before