The Church of Apostles and Martyrs: Volume 1

History of the Church of Christ #1

by Henri Daniel-Rops, Audrey Butler (Translator)

The Church of Apostles and Martyrs is the first installment in Henri Daniel-Rops’ magnificent and enormously popular History of the Church of Christ . This volume includes the first six chapters of that work, surveying the first years of the Church until the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70; the peerless contributions of St. Paul; the relations between imperial Rome and the fledgling Church; the persecutions and first martyrdoms; the catacombs and development of the liturgy; and the genesis of properly Christian literature. An immersion into the infancy of the Church, The Church of Apostles and Martyrs offers an outstanding overview of the spread of the Gospel and the way of life of the first Christians in their original witness to the Good News. Indeed, what Daniel-Rops writes in reference to the Acts of the Apostles and its author might well be applied to himself and The Church of Apostles and Martyrs : “This book was not written with any intention of satisfying the curiosity of the future historian, but simply in order to exalt the faith. And yet, within the limits which it voluntarily sets itself, what an incomparable witness it is! No one who reads it can remain unmoved by it.”

Genres: History, Religion, Catholic, Church History, Nonfiction, Ancient History

404 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1948

About the author

Daniel-Rops (Henri Petiot's literary pseudonym) was born in Épinal in 1901 and died in Chambéry in 1965. He was professor of history and director of Ecclesiae magazine (Paris), and became world-famous mainly for works of historiography: (1943), Jesus in his time (1945), and the ten volumes of the History of the Church of Christ (1948 - 1965). He has also authored several essays, works of children's literature and historical novels, among which are Death, where is your victory? (1934) and The Sword of Fire (1938). He was a voter for the French Academy in 1955.

Reviews

[Julie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Henri Daniel-Rops is an author you may have missed. He wrote histories of Jesus, the Old Testament, the Bible, and the Catholic Church between 1933 and his death. I really love the way he puts faith and history in context with one another. He has a way of connecting the dots and comparing those times to modern life (or back when he was writing) which is inspirational and sticks with you.

I worked my way a few pages a per day through The Church of Apostles and Martyrs which was the first in his 10-volume history of the Church. I have seen this historical series described as both inspired and engrossing. I agree. I always come away with a new insight.

Daniel-Rops was French but the translations really sing. Fun fact, some of his books were translated by Patrick O'Brian who went on to write the long-running Master and Commander series.

[Paulo Mendes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um livro inesquecível! Nesta obra Daniel Rops conta a história do nascimento do Cristianismo até o final do século IV, quando se aproximava a queda do Império Romano do Ocidente. Seu estilo é simplesmente arrebatador. Ele contextualiza o Cristianismo nos cenários político e social da época, destacando as figuras importantes e marcantes daquele período, sem deixar de mencionar os problemas que a Igreja enfrentou, os erros que cometeu e os riscos que correu nesses primeiros anos de sua história. Alguns nomes que são destacados no texto: Santo Ambrósio, cuja coragem proibiu um Imperador do grande Império Romano de entrar na Igreja até que confessasse seus pecados; Santo Atanásio, um ferrenho defensor da fé cristã contra perigosas heresias que assolaram a Igreja e que, por conta disso, foi exilado; São Martinho de Tours que propagou a doutrina cristã com estrema eficiência, particularmente no oeste da Europa à época, apenas para citar pouquíssimos exemplos entre tantos outros nomes ressaltados por Rops e que, por suas ações se transformaram em Santos. Mas ele não fica apenas nos sacerdotes. Os relatos dos mártires leigos são particularmente emocionantes, cirstãos que derramaram seu sangue defendendo a fé em Cristo. O autor também se estende sobre as importantes personalidades do mundo politico que interagiram com os cristãos, para o bem e para o mal, como os Imperadores Diocleciano, Teodósio, Constantino e sua mãe Helena, também só para citar alguns dentre tantos outros cujas personalidade e ações o ele nos revela de maneira muito clara. Além desses aspectos pontuais, e pessoais, que nos dão a conhecer as razões e motivações para os atos de tais personagens, às vezes justificados, outras nem tanto, Rops nos dá uma ampla e profunda perspectiva que preenche diversas lacunas no conhecimento comumente ensinado a respeito da história mundial e, principalmente, do Cristianismo e de sua importância para o mundo. Comecei a lê-lo com a modesta expectativa de ser apenas um livro de História, mas terminei fascinado por perceber que é um livro sobre História e Fé.

[Marcos Junior · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impressionante como Daniel-Rops narra bem e nos consegue transportar para a época dos primeiros séculos do cristianismo, tentando nos transmitir o espanto que as sociedades de então tiveram ao ter contato com o cristianismo. Começo a entender muitas coisas da Igreja de hoje a partir do momento em que as tradições vão se constituindo.

[Gabriel Reginato · Rating 5 out of 5]

After two failed attempts, finally conquered this one. So rich in details for a story that happened 2k years ago.. Also, very inspiring, and explanatory in regards to how things came to be the way they are today.

[Mauriciogarbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extraordinary and inspiring description of our first centuries when countless brothers in Faith gave their lives to bring us the message and the Church of Jesus Christ

[Sergio Maduro]

História da Igreja indicada por Guilherme Freire

[Gerald Greene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative.