• The Global Church - The First Eight Centuries

  • From Pentecost Through the Rise of Islam
  • By: Donald Fairbairn
  • Narrated by: Adam Barr
  • Length: 14 hrs and 37 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (17 ratings)

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The Global Church - The First Eight Centuries

By: Donald Fairbairn
Narrated by: Adam Barr
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Publisher's summary

Discover the diversity and unity of the early church

The Christian church of the early centuries spread throughout much of Asia, Africa, and Europe, spoke many languages, was situated within diverse cultural settings, and had varied worship practices; yet it maintained a vital unity on core teachings. In The Global Church - The First Eight Centuries: From Pentecost through the Rise of Islam, author Donald Fairbairn helps listeners understand both the diversity and unity of the church in this pivotal era by:

  • Re-centering the story of the church in its early centuries, paying greater attention to Africa, Turkey, and Syria, where most of the church's intellectual energy was nurtured
  • Highlighting Christian communities outside the Roman Empire, as far afield as Persia and India, alongside those within it
  • Identifying key events by their global, not merely Western, significance and taking into account early Christian interactions with other religions, particularly Islam

The Global Church - The First Eight Centuries is an ideal introduction to the patristic era that broadens the narrative often recounted and places it more firmly in its various cultural contexts. Students of the early church, formal and informal alike, will appreciate the fresh approach and depth of insight it provides.

Accompanying figures and bibliography are available in the audiobook companion PDF download.

©2021 Donald Fairbairn (P)2021 Zondervan Academic

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Excellent resource

The author did an excellent job at presenting historical truth in the early movements of the Christian church. Praise God for this wonderful work.

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essential listening for theological history.

loved this so much. Barr did an amazing job narrating this difficult topic. while it did get thick at times, this was definitely worth finishing to connect to modern day.

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The Best Summary of First Millennial Christianity

The Global Church is the most readable account of First Millennial Christianity I’ve read. Fairbairn speaks to Protestants who have been influenced by false Christian historical narratives, discrediting the value of the post apostolic Church until the Reformation. He aims to show the treasures of the Great Tradition, the priceless contributions of not only the West, but the expansion of the Church in the East, so often minimized.

I would recommend this book to anyone as an introductory text for better understanding the patristic period.

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Truly a global history of Christianity

This author takes sources from far beyond the typical Latin / western focused European histories to better construct a truly global view of Christian history. The book is readable and yet technically detailed. By walking all the way to the expansion of Islam, the details of how the separation of some parts of Christian history have been less accessible to Protestant Christians.

This book enriches our understanding of the movement of Christian thought and the relationships between forces that influenced it; religious, cultural, and political.

Great read. Highly recommend.

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