The Two Swords of Christ: Five Centuries of War between Islam and the Warrior Monks of Christendom

by Raymond Ibrahim

The definitive account of the warrior-monks who stood as Christendom's shield against centuries of relentless Islamic aggression, and a superlative example of Muscular Christianity for an era marred by effete and effeminized forms of the faith.

In this magisterial history, Raymond Ibrahim chronicles the long and brutal conflict between Islam and the West through the eyes and lives of Christendom's original commando forces: the knights of the Temple and Hospital. These warrior monks, whose unprecedented fusion of piety and militancy remains unmatched to this day, played a pivotal—though overlooked if not suppressed—role in defending Christian civilization against the onslaught of Islamic forces during the Crusades and beyond.

Drawing on an exhaustive study of primary sources, and infused with his signature blend of rigorous scholarship and compelling storytelling, Ibrahim's groundbreaking work far transcends the typical constraints of modern academic retellings, debunks widely held myths (such as the persistent claim that the Templars evolved into the Freemasons), and uncovers the theological foundation that gave rise to and provided justification for these military orders. In line with Christ's now ignored directive that "two swords" are "enough" (Luke 22:38), these two brotherhoods wielded both spiritual and martial power to safeguard the faith.

WARNING: Brimming with epic battles, stunning heroism, and self-sacrificial martyrdom against the savage hordes of Islam, The Two Swords of Christ—the third installment of Ibrahim's trilogy (following Sword and Scimitar and Defenders of the West)—stands as his fiercest and most violent narrative to date.

Genres: History, Religion, Islam, Military Fiction, Christianity, Nonfiction, Medieval History

575 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 25, 2025

About the author

RAYMOND IBRAHIM is a widely published author, public speaker, and Middle East and Islam expert. His books include Crucified Again: Exposing Islam’s New War on Christians (2013) and The Al Qaeda Reader (2007). His writings, translations, and observations have appeared in a variety of publications, including Fox News, Financial Times, Jerusalem Post, Los Angeles Times, New York Times Syndicate, United Press International, USA Today, Washington Post, Washington Times, and Weekly Standard; scholarly journals, including the Almanac of Islamism, Chronicle of Higher Education, Jane’s Islamic Affairs Analyst, Middle East Quarterly, and Middle East Review of International Affairs; and popular websites, such as American Thinker, the Blaze, Bloomberg, Christian Post, FrontPage Magazine, Gatestone Institute, the Inquisitr, Jihad Watch, NewsMax, National Review Online, PJ Media, VDH’s Private Papers, and World Magazine. He has contributed chapters to several anthologies and been translated into various languages.

Ibrahim guest lectures at universities, including the National Defense Intelligence College, briefs governmental agencies, such as U.S. Strategic Command and the Defense Intelligence Agency, provides expert testimony for Islam-related lawsuits, and has testified before Congress regarding the conceptual failures that dominate American discourse concerning Islam and the worsening plight of Egypt’s Christian Copts. Among other media, he has appeared on MSNBC, Fox News, C-SPAN, PBS, Reuters, Al-Jazeera, Blaze TV, CBN, NPR, and dozens of radio interviews.

Ibrahim’s dual-background—born and raised in the U.S. by Coptic Egyptian parents born and raised in the Middle East—has provided him with unique advantages, from equal fluency in English and Arabic, to an equal understanding of the Western and Middle Eastern mindsets, positioning him to explain the latter to the former. His interest in Islamic civilization was first piqued when he began visiting the Middle East as a child in the 1970s. Interacting and conversing with the locals throughout the decades has provided him with an intimate appreciation for that part of the world, complementing his academic training.

Raymond received his B.A. and M.A. (both in History, focusing on the ancient and medieval Near East, with dual-minors in Philosophy and Literature) from California State University. There he studied closely with noted military-historian Victor Davis Hanson. He also took graduate courses at Georgetown University’s Center for Contemporary Arab Studies—including classes on the history, politics, and economics of the Arab world—and studied Medieval Islam and Semitic languages at Catholic University of America. His M.A. thesis examined an early military encounter between Islam and Byzantium based on arcane Arabic and Greek texts.

Ibrahim’s resume includes serving as Associate Director of the Middle East Forum and working as a Reference Assistant at the Near East Section of the Library of Congress, where he was often contacted by, and provided information to, defense and intelligence personnel involved in the fields of terrorism and area studies, as well as the Congressional Research Service.

He resigned from both positions in order to focus exclusively on researching and writing and is currently a Shillman Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center, an associate fellow at the Middle East Forum, a Hoover Institution Media Fellow (2013), and a CBN News contributor.

Reviews

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third volume in Raymond Ibrahim's trilogy on the wars and warriors of Christendom versus the armies of Islam. The title of this book refers to the Bible verse in the book of Luke in which Jesus says, "he that hath no sword, let him buy one" and when He was told, "here are two swords," Jesus said, "It is enough." Ibrahim says this is representative of "muscular Christianity," a belief that in addition to a sword symbolically wielded in spiritual warfare against the enemies of Christ, a true sword for the physical warfare against enemies was considered just as essential. The enemies in this volume were the Muslim countries of the Middle East, with brief mention of the battles against the Muslims in Spain and the pagans of the Baltic region. The principal orders of warrior monks in this region were the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, aka The Templars, and the Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, aka the Hospitallers, who are the primary subjects of the book. The many battles of the Orders are presented in as much detail as can be gleaned from the many original histories and accounts. To say that the Orders were constantly combating against overwhelming odds is an understatement. Although supposedly able to call on help from the Christian countries of Europe, those kings seldom had time to spare from their regional conflicts to ever lend much help. The knights of the Orders were ever in the front line of the battle against Islam, able to save Europe from even greater depredations and conquests than what did occur. For instance, I was unaware of the significant naval battles the Orders fought against the Muslim slave traders who pillaged the Christian nations throughout the Mediterranean, and even as far as Iceland and Denmark. This was a very enlightening book, and now has me determined to read some of the many translations of the original sources.

[Jesse Beauford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book on the crusaders, their enemies, along with stated goals and motives. As the title says, it’s the military orders that he’s focusing on. He gives the historical account with context along with great triumphs and defeats. He discusses criticisms of their contemporaries and also the modern criticism and dismissal.
The portion on the Templars fall is especially interesting as he tries to understand the situation and uncover the truth.
Then there’s the Knights of Saint John, what a story! The detailed eyewitness accounts of the battles, especially those of Rhodes and Malta are some of the most stirring of that I’ve ever heard, reminiscent of the David and his mighty men, Sparta, and that of some of the Samurai Daimyo of the Sengoku Jidai in Japan.
Heavily documented with quotes from letters, documents, and official sources from both sides, it gives an intense snapshot into the history of Christian/Muslim relations. And since I don’t have the time or resources to track down and read all of it, I will say, if one quarter of it is true, we have been lied to for far too long.

Thoroughly enjoyed it, and it is going into the growing list of books that will form part of my son’s education.

[Michael Betrus · Rating 4 out of 5]

A refreshing approach to history. The narrative drags on a little bit too much in the second half of the book following the end of the Knights Templar, but the defenses of Rhodes and Malta are nonetheless great stories and told well. This is a book that both covers centuries of history and also tells narratives in intricate, personal detail. Looking forward to reading Ibrahim’s other works.

[Peter Sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most important and thought-provoking book I've read this year.

[Kevin T · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book on the untold or glossed over history of Muslim aggression. War is an ugly and terrible thing but the Muslim conquerors were/are especially deranged.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for every Christian! You may have nightmares for the rest of your life but what is more important is to know the truth, however dark and horrible it may be!

[J Landon Light · Rating 5 out of 5]

A riveting page turner that completes Ibrahim's trilogy on the wars between Christendom and Dar al-Islam, this time focused on the two great military orders of Christendom, the Knights Templar and Hospitaller. The book is packed with historical information alongside many play by play accounts of pivotal battles. Ibrahim tells the truth about the events and people involved, without any of the modern sugar-coating of Islam most other authors would bring to the project. If you read any history book this year, make it this one. Even if you know how it ends, you will still find yourself emotionally invested in the action. May this book stir up in us the same zeal for Christ's glory and people that animated the warrior monks of old.

[Carole Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Centuries of War between Islam and the Warrior Monks of Christendom by Raymond Ibrahim is a gripping, meticulously researched history of the knights of the Temple and Hospital. Blending scholarship with vivid storytelling, Ibrahim highlights the bravery, strategy, and unwavering faith of these warrior monks as they defended Christendom against centuries of Islamic conflict.

[Christian Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another smash hit for Raymond Ibrahim.

Once again, Ibrahim outdoes himself in order to write the wrongs of popular, anti-Christian belief (and islamophilia). Those countless knights who died or were maimed fighting a truly altruistic fight against nigh-insurmountable odds receive their due praise in this book.

This is a must-read.

[Jim Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I knew the Templars and Hospitallers. I didn't really.

An impressive and informative history. Well written and honest. I learned so much unknown to me before. A page turner. Raymond Ibrahim does it again. Highly recommended.

[Ben Sibley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite good, probably the least of the trilogy.

[TradLord · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant piece on history of the templars and hospitallers. Fuels my urge to crusade and fight for Christ.

[Gavin Herman Ritz · Rating 5 out of 5]

interesting readings

Well written history I did not know. Good to read after the Sword and Scimitar. I highly recommend this book

[Mario · Rating 5 out of 5]

Primary sources galore! Wonderfully written and truly inspiring!

[Nicolin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting history book on the particpation of warrior monks in the cruzades and the seige of Rhodes / Malta

[Thomas Beachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rated this five stars simply off of the education value this book provided. It is quite eye opening and overturned some things I was taught growing up.

[Daryl Mather]

So far this book is a very strong source for crusader era history. I am really enjoying it.

[Danielle Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Muscular Christianity".