The History of Christianity: From the Disciples to the Dawn of the Reformation

By: Luke Timothy Johnson, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Luke Timothy Johnson

Length: 17 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

How did a persecuted sect in 1st-century Palestine rise to command such a massive influence on human culture, imagination, and spirit? How did Christianity weather the first critical stages of its historical development and attain its fundamental and enduring cultural role?

Speaking incisively to all of this and more, these 36 enthralling lectures tell the phenomenal story of Christianity's first 1,500 years, in all its remarkable diversity and complex dimension. In the company of Professor Johnson of Emory University, you'll follow the dramatic trajectory of Christianity from its beginnings as a "cult of Jesus" to its rise as a fervent religious movement; from its emergence as an unstoppable force within the Roman Empire to its critical role as an imperial religion; from its remarkable growth, amid divisive disputes and rivalries, to the ultimate schism between Eastern Orthodoxy and Western Catholicism; and from its spread throughout the Western world to its flowering as a culture that shaped Europe for 800 years.

Throughout this series, you'll look deeply into the nature and role of faith, the ethos of our civilization, and the core conceptions of identity and ethics that underlie the Western worldview. This is history in the most vivid and meaningful sense of the word: an inquiry into the past that opens a compelling awareness of our present-of our living origins, our ultimate horizons, our deeper selves.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2012 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2012 The Great Courses

An Overview of the First Half of Christian History

Any additional comments?

This lecture series (the great courses are a lecture series rather than a strict audiobook) was a good overview of the first half of Christian history going from the world of Christ to the reformers and reform movements just before the time of the Protestant Reformation. The lecturer as a Christian himself, a biblical scholar, and a capable historian has a fairer perspective on the events than some more purely academic religious scholars might. Anyone who is interested in the subject will benefit from the content in this book. As someone who has read widely on Christian history, I did have a few small disappointments. The content did not seem as thorough or capturing as some of the books I had read previously on the subject. I also found the lecturers voice and style to be a little boring at times. I should also note that those interested in learning about some of the "outside" groups in Christianity (Coptic Church, Ethiopian church, oriental church, etc.) will find these groups mentioned, but not expounded on in great detail. In summary this is an interesting and fair introduction, but I do think you can find better books for those new to this subject or interested in learning more. If this had been my first book on Christian history, I don't think I would have been as eager for a second... but I am sure those who are interested will enjoy the read and scholarship it represents.

Outstanding historian; well-rounded history

This is an excellent, well-rounded course in Christian history I would recommend to any and all of my friends. Speaking as a professing and practicing Christian, a Catholic convert from Evangelicalism, and one with a graduate degree in history, I can say that Luke Timothy Johnson presents a well-rounded and well-balanced account of the history of the faith that should be palatable and beneficial to any Christian, covering with wide breath and remarkable depth both the Eastern and Western traditions. Dr. Johnson is an engaging and eloquent speaker who gives a nearly flawless delivery. By far the greatest strength of the course is the clarity and vividness Dr. Johnson brings to the complex and sometimes arcane landscape of early Christian Christological and Trinitarian heresies: what they were really about and why they mattered. He speaks from a western, Catholic background, but is no Catholic apologist. Catholics will find their general conception of the Church and its worldview validated, but Dr. Johnson takes to task many developments over the course of Christian history that removed the focus and practice of the Church from the pure message of Christ: persecutions over theological difference that eventually resulted in the Inquisition -- not the bloody myth of Protestant polemic, but nonetheless, in his view, a shameful exercise of intolerance; the Crusades, the making of war in the name of Christ; and liturgical accretions that increasingly removed the practice of the faith from the laypeople. Catholics will find their faith in their own institutions examined critically: not everything in the Church today is as it always has been, and not every development was for the better. Protestants will find some of the claims of the early Reformers validated, but perhaps their polemics against the origins and history of the Catholic Church challenged. Personally, the course brought me renewed compassion for my Protestant brethren and for the Reformation: reform was badly needed, as much as we may deplore the way it was carried out and the fragmented state of Christianity today.

Should be called “the criticism of Christianity”

When talking about the very first century, the author insisted he could only go by what the Romans documented, not what the Christians said about themselves. He claimed therefore there was not much information. Interesting that he barely mentioned a famous historian named Eusebius who lived in a 4th century, who wrote extensive historical accounts on Christianity of the 1st century. Eusebius collected numerous surviving documents to conduct his historical research, which makes him one of the most reliable sources on what we know about the development of early Christianity. But again, the author fails to include him in his speech. The author also barely mentioned the persecutions of Christians, claiming there weren’t really that many. Which is extremely incorrect. Christians were hunted down, tortured and brutally murdered FOR CENTURIES! It was literally illegal to be a Christian. They were forced to hide in places such as catacombs in order to survive, which the author mentions but barely and again misinformed. For example, he says Christians sometimes used the catacombs as a place of worship. Insert *facepalm* emoji here. The author also constantly makes odd claims that Christians grew in number not by evangelization, but by breeding... Ridiculous statement, considering that all Christians did in the first three centuries was trying to avoid death, trying to survive while confessing their love for Christ. By the beginning of 4th centuries there were well over 6 million Christians, an impressive number for an ancient world alone, and even more impressive considering they were literally being killed off. Roman emperors tried everything they could to destroy Christianity. Yet Christians grew in numbers regardless of persecution because their faith and courage was a testimony for Christ! But the author fails to give them that credit. He fails to mention that Christians suffered brutality and death for a very long time. That they were sometimes manipulated out of hiding by some emperors pretending to be gracious, just to undergo more persecution again. We have actual historical documents to support this. Yet the author shies away from this subject, suppressing it and instead, for some odd reason, focuses on the persecution of Jews! Perhaps attempting to appeal to modern liberalism? It is also ironic that when talking about the gnostic heretical groups, he makes this contradictory statement: “what better way to learn about gnostics but not by what they say about themselves”. Wait a minute! Only a while ago you were saying you can’t rely on what the Christians said about themselves. Anyway. He then goes on in great details on gnostic beliefs yet fails to add that gnostics were also extremely immoral. He also spends a considerate amount of time discussing apocryphal books. But the reason I gave this book only one star is because his entire approach to the holy history of Christianity is unnecessarily critical and dry. The author doesn’t mind referring to the Christian religion as a cult, which is really just very offensive. He claims to have been a Catholic monk in the past. I don’t know his personal story, but he does not sound like he prophesies Jesus.

Catholic theologian recounts Christian history

Luke Timothy Johnson is a professor at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta. He is a former Benedictine monk and priest before going back for his PhD. Since 1976 he has taught at several Catholic institutions as well as Indiana University, Yale and now Emory.

I have been interested in several of his books for a while, but I haven’t gotten around to reading them. So as is standard when I am interesting in an author I picked up books that go on sale, which often are books that are targeted toward a general audience.

The first book of Johnson’s I read was A Very Short Introduction to the New Testament. I thought it was a helpful introduction, primarily focusing on the content of the New Testament and not the scholarship around the New Testament as is common for the Oxford Press series.

I have read a number of History of Christianity surveys. Part of what is interesting in reading a number of survey’s of Christian history is the decisions that get made on what to include and what not to include. The big subjects will pretty much always get included (in this case, the councils, Constantine, the fall of Rome, the split between the East and West, etc.)

But Johnson is Catholic and so there are some issues he approaches differently than many Protestants. And that is helpful. He is clear from the beginning that he is approaching this as a Christian telling the story of the early Christians.

My impression was that Johnson is on the Liberal side of the Catholic world. However, he seems to be pretty standard in his faith statements. He grounds the early sections on Jesus, the apostles and New Testament. He is for the mostly traditional assumptions about the authorship of the New Testament.

As with any subject where this is the fifth or sixth time approaching the subject, there was little that was new here. A few nuggets here and there, but a fairly traditional presentation.

I am not a huge fan of Johnson’s voice and this is a series of lectures. It isn’t bad enough that I won’t listen to him again. It just isn’t my favorite. He reminds me of Richard Rohr’s overly emphatic style.

Good story; Trying narration.

What did you like best about The History of Christianity: From the Disciples to the Dawn of the Reformation? What did you like least?

Good research, interesting perspectives, unique points of view, mostly spoiled by pompous, self-absorbed narration.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Saul Paulus of Tarsus

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Narration often crippled the subject matter.

Could you see The History of Christianity: From the Disciples to the Dawn of the Reformation being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Yeah. No opinion on actors. Don't let LT Johnson narrate.

Any additional comments?

Luke Timothy Johnson should stick to research and writing, leaving narration to others.

Great job, making history fun to listen to

Would you listen to The History of Christianity: From the Disciples to the Dawn of the Reformation again? Why?

Yes, so I can retain more the info, especially the names and the did.

What other book might you compare The History of Christianity: From the Disciples to the Dawn of the Reformation to and why?

Vikings, Because both tell history like a suspense novel

What about Professor Luke Timothy Johnson’s performance did you like?

His voice and pace.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

How the rise of Christianity shaped the world.

Any additional comments?

I felted even though he is Catholic, he was honest in his dealing with their history.

Subjective view of Christianity. Very little facts and a lot of bible thumping.

Like Timothy Johnson is a Christian himself therefore he presents the course in a subjective way omitting important viewpoints from the outside. No other historical evidence is presented it mentioned. All is done based on the bible in a classic dose of a presupposition.

It's a waste of time if you're looking for a good historical info that objectively presents the rise of the cult of Christianity across the centuries.

Evidence-Based History of the Church

Fascinating history of the Church. With attention to early, Jewish narratives, eastern Orthodoxy, and Catholic Christendom.

Not for novice.

Not for novice. Much terminology used but difficult to research when just listening. Found it difficult to follow.

I'm convinced that Professor Johnson is an alien

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

I have several courses by Luke Timothy Johnson. Usually, I can get used to his bizarre delivery. For some reason, I just couldn't with this course.
I have decided that he intentionally creates new pronunciations and rolls a die to choose which syllables to accent.

Any additional comments?

The information in this course is top notch, although not overly deep, I wouldn't really expect a survey course to be loaded with groundbreaking revelations, so that's fine with me.
It's just too bad that his vocal presentation is the aural equivalent of the old movie ransom notes made from cutting and pasting words and syllables from random magazines.

At least listen to it if you are going to review

Any additional comments?

To be clear, the narrator speaks of Constantinian 'sponsorship' and it is explicitly stated that Christianity was not made the official religion of the empire until Theodosius I. The person who said otherwise clearly was not listening intently enough.

Thought provoking.

Enjoyed it. Very interesting and illuminating. It follows the history showing how Christianity went from a new life led by Jesus, to a religion an institution and another worldy religion

Fails in the first lecture

Any additional comments?

In the first lecture, the lecturer claims that Constantine made Christianity the State Religion. Wrong. Constantine made it a legal religion. It was Theodosius I some 67+ years later who made it the State Religion.

A Compelling Tour d'Horizon

An authoritative and succinct account of these turbulent times, from a learned lecturer who's always in control of the grand narrative.
Highly recommended.

Brilliant

Fabulous over view. V well done. It would be handy if the chapters had written headings. Highly recommended. Thank you.

Fantastic

The lecture is very inspiring
I recommend it to anyone interested in how Christianity evolves.

Hard to follow

I found the narrator hard to follow. It seemed like he would go off on tangents and I would forget the original topic by the time he was done. The chapters did not seem to be laid out in a logical manner. It’s more of a shotgun of information than a narrative

An excellent overview

A great way of looking at the broad sweep of the development of the European church. So many themes that seem modern such as different forms of spiritual expression, the relationship between church and state and how much a faith can adapt to culture without losing its essence are shown to go way back. Obviously taking this broad brush approach means you're conscious of skating over the surface of some big topics.

Good overview, but biased

This is very enjoyable account but perhaps should be called "A History of Catholicism in Context" (the narrator admits this bias at the start). The writer/narrator presents, at times, a very personal account and is clearly a firm devotee of Christianity which will appeal to some listeners, but perhaps not to those looking for a clinical historical analysis. It is strongest on the first 500 years of Christianity and presents an excellent overview of the complexity of early Christianity, in particular it's Jewish and Greek influences. I would have liked some more detail on non-European Christianity, but all in all there was much well presented information to take away from this overview to give the reader a good introduction to this field.of study.