2,000 Years of Christ's Power, Part Four: The Age of Religious Conflict

2,000 Years of Christ's Power #4

by Nick R. Needham

The Renaissance and Reformation were exciting times of learning and discovery – they pushed the boundaries of accepted thought. The repercussions of this, however, were that they left in their wake a period of universal uncertainty. The centuries–old status quo had been turned on its head. Nothing was stable anymore. Conflict ensued.

The fourth volume of 2,000 Years of Christ’s Power spans from the 16th to the 18th century. It presents a time from which English Protestantism, Scottish Presbyterianism, and French Catholicism, to name only a few, were birthed and refined. Perhaps few eras have had such a direct impact on the characteristics of our own period of history.

Genres: Church History, History, Christian, Theology, Religion, Nonfiction, Christianity

686 pages, Hardcover

First published October 7, 2016

About the author

Dr. Nick Needham is senior minister of Inverness Reformed Baptist Church and tutor in church history at Highland Theological College in Dingwall, Scotland.

Dr. Needham is a Londoner by birth and upbringing. He studied theology at New College, Edinburgh University, where he specialized in Church History. He also taught a course at New College on the life and works of the Swiss Reformer Ulrich Zwingli, at the same time completing his PhD thesis on the nineteenth-century Scottish theologian Thomas Erskine of Linlathen. He then taught Systematic Theology at the Scottish Baptist College in Glasgow for several years before spending a semester at the Samuel Bill Theological College, where he taught Church History. After a period as assistant pastor in a church in north London, he moved to the Highland Theological College, Dingwall, where he teaches Church History.

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Old Review:
I re-read this too, on the heels of the first book, and it's very encouraging because it's very discouraging. Let me explain why that is and why this book is better than most histories. Most histories like Bruce Shelley's Church History in Plain Language or Hannula's Trial and Triumph are helpful, but you don't get either what's different about them or what's the same. Usually a book will pick out individuals from the middle ages like Augustine and Anselm and Wycliffe without explaining how they were still a part of their time, and so when we get to the Reformation we suddenly get these hagiographies and the (very) false impression that things suddenly got magically better everywhere.

To quote James Jordan. This is
simply
not
true.
The middle ages really were awful, but there were good people working all the time, despite the doctrinal confusions. Missionary activity even happened for several centuries and only began to stop because of Islam and the ocean. More importantly, there is a LOT of darkness in this book. The best part of it is the history of the English Civil War. There were, in my opinion, a lot of regenerate people on both sides of that quarrel and they still slaughtered each other for no good reason. The idea that the Puritans were this super perfect movement is destroyed. The idea that the covenanters were super perfect is destroyed. More importantly the idea that you can have a visible church that will always be right is destroyed (good thing too, since that's a Protestant principle). I hope to write more about this soon in other places, because it's so important and messes with our Protestant mythology. And as a dedicated Protestant who wants to celebrate it vigorously and wants that view to be the new cool, I have a vested interest in helping destroy what I think are lame tropes.

Anyway, we are messed up in America. We aren't killing each other, and thank God for that (btw do you really think Christians are LESS divided today than they used to be?), but we are not holding the fort on basic sexual orthodoxy or even on doctrinal orthodoxy, for that matter (vide, Social Trinitarianism). And that's how it's always been. There's always been people doing the right thing. There've always been Jim Wilsons and Joel Osteens in the church, and there have always been Christians fighting each other for no good reason and hurting the cause of Christ. So don't freak out, and remember that people who freak out are the problem, not the solution. Don't just be nice. Don't just be about fighting for the truth. Be the best human being you can be. Fear God. Honor the King. And hope that you don't get a Charles I.

Favorite Line: "I beseech you by the bowels of Christ to consider the possibility that you might be wrong."

New Review:
It has been a long wait, but I am so glad I read Needham last year; a longer wait would have been painful. Needham has also re-released the first three books and maybe when Volume 5 comes out, I will take a look at them, or better yet teach them in a school. Thankfully, this book is just as good as all the others .

I was nervous at first because so much of the first chapters about Lutheranism sounded like the Calvinist International. This is good insofar as I now have a resource on my shelf that will help me better know the histories of the Reformed and Lutheran branches of the church and how exactly we got a bunch of Lutherans who did not agree with Luther. However, it is a bit disappointing, given that volumes 1-3 had a much broader appeal than just to theology. Hopefully, the fifth book will give the missionary movement the attention and critical analysis it deserves.

However, when he hits England, it is clear the master storyteller is back. These stories are not just about theologians, but about kings and ministers and fascinating anecdotes. At the same time, He makes all the right distinctions and demythologizations on Richard Hooker, Puritanism, James I, and the various parties of the “Anglican” Church: "To set “Puritan” against “Anglican”, therefore, as some modern interpreters do, makes a nonsense of how the people of that era understood matters. It acquires some kind of sense only after 1662, when Anglicanism no longer tolerated any clergy who did not overtly renounce all Puritan aspirations …. Even the term “Anglicanism” is dubious; it was a 19th century invention." I also think that, after reading this, that Milton's hierarchical theme was put in place because of Cromwell. This section of the book really justifies the rest and is full of interesting trivia. (For instance, the words of the doxology were written by Thomas Ken, a nonjur Anglican who felt when most Anglicans broke their oaths to Catholic James II, it made the Anglican church apostate. There were truly a lot of options back then!)

The Scots are portrayed favorably, but anyone familiar with R2K theology knows that Andrew Melville plucking James by the sleeve and telling him that king rules over the earthly kingdom and the church over the spiritual kingdom is a reversion to Papist conceptions of the church. Needham thinks it was unlawful to strip Melville of his office; I beg to differ. Needham, nonetheless, gets at all the messy details, pointing out that Rutherford wrote AGAINST liberty of conscience in 1649, and the picture of the Scots during the civil war is anything but positive: what a bunch of bloody hotheads! Many did as much evil as James or either of the Charles in their treachery against one another. Still, I am glad that he gave Rutherford a good long bit of praise. However, it is Robert Leighton who looks really good. Protestant, but influenced by Jansenists, he realizes the dangers of political ministers: "If all of my brethren preach to the times, may not one poor brother be suffered to preach on eternity."

I remember hearing about Bishop Sharp's death; I had not heard about the weeping daughter or the repentant leader of the covenanters. This is truly an operatic history, and Shakespeare clearly knew what he was doing. Richard Cameron does not look at all good; though his faith was no doubt strong, this is hardly a virtue when majoring on minors. And THEN, just when the Presbyterians finally got their church, the other Scottish Episcopalians became Jacobites! Good grief. Somebody needed to translate Richard Hooker into Scottish. Wish I had a time-traveling device.

I was dreading the section on Catholicism, but wonder of wonders: the lampstand was not removed! I won't give too much away, but I am now a huge fan of the Jansenists and Pascal and their influence did not wane until the French revolution itself! Quietism terrifies me though, especially Molinos. Basically Buddhism posturing as Christianity.

Needham does his most interesting exercise in interpretation when it comes to Cyril Lucaris. He points to a "fourth way," which basically is something like Leithart's End of Protestantism without the polemical side. Basically, Cyril saw useful allies in Protestants and tried to find affinities with them and talked as if the differences were not that big, though he remained theologically committed to Eastern tradition. Prokopovich comes across even better! I hope he wasn't a Peter the Great stooge, because he had some great theology.

There were somewhere between two to five years between the first three volumes of Needham's series. There were over ten years between this and volume 3. One can only hope that Needham's next book will not be published in 2026. However, come when it comes, it will be worth every dollar and, wonder of wonders, I would not be upset with a sixth volume. How many series can you say that of?

New review: I re-read this series again. I suppose this makes the third time round. A helpful reminder that the church is always full of troubles and yet God works through the trials of the saints. The English civil war loooms large for me because I have sympathies with both sides, but the Jansenist controversy was much more moving: imagine it, Augustinian Catholics loosing a conflict at the same time as the Reformation and right before the French revolution. Maybe these things are connected.

[Christopher Desruisseau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written. This book covers a violent time in history, showing why state and church should not combine as the state always corrupts the church.

[Devin Geiger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Needham continues to do an amazing job recounting church history in this fourth volume. While most people dread the thought of reading a four-volume series on any kind of history, Needham takes the smallest inkling of someone’s interest in church history and runs with it in a fun, yet accurate, manner. Looking forward to the next volume!

[Christian Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Needham continues to do a fantastic job of telling the story of Christianity in these books. Volume 4 covers 16th to 18th century, and specifically looks at many of the conflicts that took place between the different sects of Christianity from Protestants to Roman Catholics to the Greek Orthodox. There is some overlap in the beginning chapters with the third volume, but that is to be expected as it works through the turn of the Reformation. The included primary sources make this a worthwhile resource. The inclusion of Roman Catholic and Orthodox history makes this resource worthwhile as many in the Protestant tradition do not know the rich history of Christendom at this time.

[Leandro Dutra · Rating 5 out of 5]

As expected, as clear and interesting as the previous volumes, full of insights and primary source extracts. Probably the best introduction to church history, preparing the reader for Jean-Marc Berthoud’s Histoire alliancelle de l’église dans le monde.

[Matt Pitts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could convey how much I love this series of books. I was not particularly interested in this period of history, but I could hardly put this volume down. Perhaps most interesting to me besides the chapters on the English church were the section on Roman Catholic missions (which Protestants don’t often think much about) and the chapter on the Orthodox Church.

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Less captivating than volume three. I chalk this up to the structure: less chronological and much broader-reaching, and therefore harder to follow. Still full of good info, though not enough of those things I found myself interested in.

[Sean McGowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great

[Richard Klueg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series continues to inform and impress. I'm hoping the final volume is pubished soon!

[Ronnie Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can highly recommend this series and this volume to you. Mr. Needham gives a thorough and detailed account of the the history of the Reformation era in church and world history and highlights almost all the notable figures, councils, and events that made this era what it was. Great stuff! I knew when I started this series that my understanding of church history left much to be desired, and I can tell you that my eyes have been opened to so many things I had no idea played a role in the development of body of Christ. I deeply enjoyed the articles, letters, poetry and prose included at the end of each chapter written by the subjects discussed. Looking forward to diving in to Volume 5 when it comes out and learning more.

[Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love church history. As such, this four volume set covering the start of the church in Acts 2 and going up through the 18th century, was a great read for me. Having said that, there was also this internal struggle I had as I read each of the volumes in this series. The struggle was because, quite frankly, the title, "2000 Years of Christ's Power" doesn't seem to fit. The series would be more appropriately titled something like, "1800 Years of Massive Corruption of the Apostate Church Mixed With Flashes of Light." Okay, so I speak with tongue in cheek when I say that, but personally, much of what is exposed in this four volume set, merely provides the reader an opportunity to see how corrupt the "supposed church" has been throughout its history. As I stated in a previous book review, the books provide a glimpse of the brilliance of the founders of the USA when they established in our constitution a very specific directive that communicates that government needs to stay out of the religion business. Over and over, page after page in the series one can read about all that happens when government and religion are in the proverbial bed together. And the story line is not pretty.
In Volume 4 of this series, the author writes about the history of the Lutheran faith, the controversies within the Lutheran church, the dawn of the Protestant missionary movement, the reformed faith and subsequent controversies related to Arminianism. The author gives some space to the Puritans (although I wish there was more given to this group), the battles in England as corrupt kings/queens battle corrupt church leaders for power. The author gives attention to the battle of Presbyterianism in relation to the government's lust for power. The last three chapters help the reader understand more about the Roman Catholic church in the 16th to 18th century and some of the internal battles of the Roman Catholic church. And he ends with a section on Eastern Orthodoxy.
In Matthew 16, Jesus Christ tells us that "...He will build His church." Make no mistake about it, throughout the pages of church history, Jesus Christ has been building His church. Interwoven through the discourse of these four volumes, the reader is reminded that the narrow road that leads to life truly has few who find that road. But also, through these four volumes, one is reminded over and over, that perhaps the broad road that leads to destruction, is perhaps, cluttered with many who believe that it is their religion that saves them. Reading about the history of the church was actually a grievous endeavor and it saddened me greatly to think how the church that began in such a wonderful condition (Acts 2-5) actually lost its bearings and became a force of corruption. It was a reminder to me that Christ and His Word are always being attacked, often, from within the walls of the very organization that claims to be His church.
This four volume set, as a whole, is an excellent read and could serve well, perhaps in a homeschool setting (for 17-18 year olds) or for any adult who enjoys reading about history. I think it is fair to warn the reader that if you love Jesus Christ, you'll be saddened, frustrated, perhaps even repulsed by what you read about the history of the church. But perhaps reading these volumes will help the reader work hard to help the church avoid repeating history.

[Matt Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The final edition of Needham's as yet unfinished Church history series, covering from about 1560 to 1740. The structure of the book has changed subtley to reflect the much more diverse nature of the Church in comparison to the earlier volumes.

In this volume, the Lutheran Church is considered in its own chater, followed by the Continental Reformed faith, then two chapters on the Puritans (mostly in England), one on the Scottich Covenanters, two on the enduring Roman Catholic Church, and then the final chapter on the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Given such diversity within the 16th and 17th century post - Reformation Churches, the structure allows the reader to only focus on one tradition at a time, which makes it most helpful to follow.

Much as the last volumes, the writing is excellent and engaging, the biographical portrayals lively, the respective movements considered are all well defined (where possible!), and the source texts at the end of the chapter are, as always, most illuminating. Some particular highlights include:


- The explanation of the origins of the Thirty Years' War was, at least from a religious point of view, clearly explained. This is personally a conflict that I hadn't had much prior knowledge of, so I found this particularly useful.

- The discussion of Moise Amyraut was fascinating. He is such an enigmatic character. Indeed, the whole issues of some potentially Amyraldian influences in the Westminster Assembly was interesting to consider and the effects of hypothetical universalism on the final draft of the Westminster Confession of Faith.

- The English civil war was explained in a nuanced light that I appreciated. Too often, the definition of the term 'Puritan' is made in such a way that makes the English civil war too simplistic (and, of course, the Puritans are the 'bad guys') . Indeed, the whole definition of the term 'Puritan' is so nuanced, as Needham shows. He takes the stance that before the civil war, a Puritan was, broadly, an Anglican who sought further reformation of the Church of England. During the civil war and Cromwellian eras, Needham uses the term Puritan to mean those who wished to self - consciously advance Protestant ideals under in a national church context. After this time (the ejections of the Purtians from the national church in 1662), the term 'Puritan' is abandoned in favour of 'Nonconformist' (or if they left voluntarily before 1662 as 'Separatist'). I very much welcomed the rigorous methodology in defining such a key term of 17th century English Church history.
- Moreover, the Covenanters of Scotland were given significant space in the book and I personally found their coverage particularly well written. I expected to be 'bogged down' in covering the Scottish Church but I was pleasantly surprised!

Needham goes to great lengths never to wholly demean, nor hero - worship, any one particular individual or group/tradition in the Church. In fact, it is a most refreshingly balanced read that gives credit, concessions, and charitable readings where they are dew. Most notable, Needham's coverage of Cyril Lucaris was particularly excellent.

The only major things I found slighlty disappointing were:


1. The continued lack of information regarding textual transmission or textual criticism. Needham openly states he believes it to be beyond the scope of the series, but I did leave me a little disappointed.

2. I found the section on Roman Catholic Gallicanism was a little laborious. This is probably due to my lower interest in the topic as opposed to, say, the Puritan era. The danger with such a broad overview of Church history is those areas of particular traditions that you care little about. This can hardly be helped, but I felt it slightly tedious all the same.

It must be said that I thoroughly enjoyed each and every volume in the series so far, and I eagerly anticipate Volume 5. I will be among the first to order it, I am sure!

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. I think this and the second volume were my favorite of this set (currently 4 volumes)--they are also the two that covered the most unfamiliar material to me. I do hope Needham will produce a 5th volume to round out the titular 2,000 years.

Almost all of this volume was less familiar to me. In my own tradition, attention is typically only paid to the Puritans, Anglicans, and English Separatists covered in this volume. Greatly neglected have been the Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran and Scottish histories. Needham covers each with great skill.

Two lessons, repeated over and over, caught my attention from this volume, both predicated on the messy spectacle of engaging civil government in church affairs.

First, the history of the church in this time is a history of coalitions, often of apparent enemies (Cardinal Richelieu and international Protestantism). Rarely were there two clear-cut sides, diametrically opposed.

Second, a government's overpowering victories over rebellious religious uprisings were often the seeds of its downfall, as they disaffected the sympathies of the population. Mercilessly slaughtering religious opponents, even when they engage in wrongful and violent revolt, had a tendency to create martyrs.

[Kyleigh Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is detailed, thorough, and engaging. It was almost TOO detailed, dizzying at times with the amount of information. It can also be pretty choppy when it's just little blurbs on various people or events. But there are also a lot of great stories and I love that he doesn't just focus on one stream but goes back to the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches as well (I'd have loved more about Africa, South America, and East Asia, but maybe in the 5th volume?). And I would like a timeline to go along with it to bring the streams together!
But I'm glad I read this series and would read it again for a long review of Church history (I sometimes referred to it as "2,000 Pages" rather than "2,000 Years.")

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've now read all four volumes. Needham is broad, charitable, informed, funny, and solidly orthodox (for a kind of Baptist). This has got to be the best historical church survey available, at least from a reformed and evangelical perspective. I hope his health enables him to write volume five.

This is ideal for older children being home schooled, but it is also perfect for students for the ministry and the layman who wants to have the historical context for the controversies over the centuries.

Loved it. Will read them all again in the next few years.

PS Of course Nick is humourous, he's an Englishman living in Scotland!

[Hank Pharis · Rating 3 out of 5]

(NOTE: I'm stingy with stars. For me 2 stars means a good book or a B. 3 stars means a very good book or a B+. 4 stars means an outstanding book or an A {only about 5% of the books I read merit 4 stars}. 5 stars means an all time favorite or an A+ {Only one of 400 or 500 books rates this!).

The great news is that I can listen to a book a day at work. The bad news is that I can’t keep up with decent reviews. So I’m going to give up for now and just rate them. I hope to come back to some of the most significant things I listen to and read them and then post a review.

This is an outstanding series. One of the top 3 "surveys" of church history along with Gonzales and Hannah.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four volumes of church history! I once nearly completed a master's degree in religion from Liberty Seminary and did not read as much as I have in these four volumes. But I daresay I learned more in these volumes than my other studies. The only downside to reading these volumes is the vast amount of books I now have to purchase due to reading excerpts contained therein. I had written off the Orthodox and Roman Catholics all as heretics but, thankfully, I have learned that the True Church always has its remnant within all bodies. Praise God!

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like the previous volumes, Needham does well in providing a 30,000 foot flyover of the periods he covers. I usually don't recommend general histories/surveys but, for the average layman wanting to get a basic overview of church history, I recommend Needham's series. I look forward to the fifth and final volume, whenever it comes out.

[David Hacker · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with the other three volumes, this one did not disappoint. He fairly represents all Christian traditions. This series should be required reading for all Christians. If we don't know how the church failed in the past and how they handled various issues, we will be doomed to repeat their mistakes. There is much to be learned from those who have gone before us.

[Joel Nadel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is the epic of Christianity

With each volume, Dr Needham proves himself a diligent and thorough researcher and investigator. His work is uncommonly objective, faithfully representing the history and doctrine of all parties in this epic of Christianity. Importantly, he is a talented writer, making this work an interesting and riveting read.

[Matthew Prydden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This continuation of what is an outstanding series working through post-New Testament church history deals mainly with the fall out of the Reformation that was the main subject of the previous volume. The whole series is excellent and a great resource for the key basics of church history.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been my least favorite read in the series so far, and it's still worth four stars!

[Andres Valencia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simplemente diré dos cosas 1) Ojala esta serie estuviera en español, se que una editorial lo tiene en proceso pero espero que las empiecen a imprimir pronto 2) Ya quiero que salga el vol 5.

[Salvador Blanco · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t recommend these four volumes enough. Christians must be acquainted with their history.

[Nicolas Barbeito · Rating 5 out of 5]

Same as his others, great read. Must have for any Christian

[Gwilym Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little series continues to impress.

[Matthew Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great

[Caleb Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definately improving on his rather weak 2nd and 3rd volumes. It is the best so far, and if the 5th improves that dramtically, it may be a five star.

[Cameron Borders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thorough yet readable. Very fine!