SPCK Publishing

How did a group of scared peasants from a backwater of the Roman empire – followers of an executed criminal – form the largest religion on the planet?

The story of Christianity, its transformation from an illegal sect to the religion of emperors, kings and presidents, and its spread across the globe, is an endlessly fascinating one. 

The History of Christianity gives readers an overview of these extraordinary 2,000 years. It is a history not only of how Christianity has changed the world, but also of how the world has changed Christianity.

The first half of this volume is arranged mostly chronologically to create a single narrative from the age of exploration to the late twentieth century.

The second half describes the history of the church in the past hundred years or so, with each chapter focusing on a different part of the world. 

Boxed features throughout the volume highlight especially important figures or themes from each of these periods. The History of Christianity:The Age of Exploration to the Modern Day will be welcomed by all those wanting a lively and engaging presentation of the people, events, places, and plain curiosities that have formed the Christian story.

For the past 200 years archaeological work has provided new information that allows us to peer into the past and open chapters of human history that have not been read for centuries, or even millennia.

In The Archaeology of the Bible James K. Hoffmeier provides the reader with an incisive account of archaeology's role in shaping our understanding of the biblical texts.

Fundamental issues addressed throughout include how archaeological discoveries relate to biblical accounts, and the compatibility of using scientific disciplines to prove or disprove a religious book such as the Bible.

This work is an ideal introduction to the societies and events of the Ancient Near East and their relation to our interpretation of the Bible.

There is a growing interest today in the context and history of Christian spirituality. In this book a team of expert authors from the East and West present a full and fascinating picture of humanity’s desire for the divine across the centuries.

Highlighting the contribution of significant figures through history, authors explore the ways in which Christians – from the earliest times onwards – have sought to express and live out the deepest truth of their faith. The Bible and the life of Jesus Christ are the starting point for the story. The reader is then guided through the development of spirituality, starting an exploration of the significance of the early church ‘fathers’, and culminating in a survey of the explosion of expressions of Christian divinity across the world in the twentieth century.

Interspersed with boxed features that provide more detail on key individuals and groups, and timelines that put events into their chronological contexts, Christian Spirituality is an ideal overview for scholars and interested readers alike.    

Explore the rich history and influence of Christian art from Antiquity to the present day.

Michelle Brown traces the rich history of Christian art, crossing boundaries to explore how art has reflected and stimulated a response to the teachings of Christ, and to Christian thought and experience across the ages.

Embracing much of the history of art in the West and parts of the Middle East, Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australasia, Michelle considers art of the earliest Christians to the modern day. Featuring articles by invited contributors on subjects including Icons; Renaissance Florence; Rubens and the Counter-Reformation; Religious Folk Art; Jewish Artists; Christian Themes; Making the St John’s Bible, and Christianity and Contemporary Art in North America, Christian Art is an ideal survey of the subject for all those interested in the world’s artistic heritage. 

•⊂ Comprehensive and authoritative text from the Early Christian period to the modern day
•⊂ Wide international coverage
•⊂ Feature articles on special subjects by a team of experts from around the world

Hailed as a “classic reference book” by The Right Reverend James Jones, former Bishop of Liverpool, The Old Testament Guide provides readers with a complete all-in-one journey through the books of the Old Testament.

Easy to read and navigate, this volume explores, explains, and brings to life the history, stories, cultures, and messages of each book. The accessibility of Andrew Knowles’ writing demystifies and contextualises many aspects of the Scriptures, and deepens our understanding of their principles, doctrine, and messages for us today.

Interspersed with boxed features that highlight key events, places, people and biblical passages, The Old Testament Guide is an ideal introduction for new scholars and interested readers alike who have little or no grounding in the subject.

This is an accessible two-part introduction to Christianity's expansion.

The Expansion of Christianity

Christianity developed from its beginnings as a persecuted sect in an outpost of the Roman empire to become the largest religion on earth. This narrative focuses on missionary pioneers, and also examines individual continents to assess how Christian mission has moved forward despite many periods of retreat. Timothy Yates's account provides a rich and enlightening introduction to the development of this major worldwide faith.

Christianity and the Celts

In recent years the term 'Celt' has become synonymous with mystery and the 'other-worldly'. Ted Olsen digs beneath the layers of romanticization to introduce readers to the world of the Celts and its key figures. The author focuses on the principal characters from Ireland and beyond, highlighting their missionary fervour and monastic ideals. In bringing a distant period of history vividly to life, this account is an engaging portrait of men and women whose ability to intrigue and fascinate is as strong as it ever was.

How did Christianity come to have such an extraordinary influence upon Europe? Gillian R. Evans' The History of Christian Europe offers a fascinating portrayal of the development and spread of Christianity in the context of over 2,000 years of European history.

Beginning with the transmission of Jesus' teaching throughout the Roman world, Evans shows how Christianity transformed not only the thinking but also the structures of society, in a Christendom that was, until relatively modern times, essentially a 'European' phenomenon. She traces Christianity's influence across the centuries, from its earliest days, through the East / West schism, the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, to its development in the scientific age of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and its place in the modern world. The narrative is complemented by boxed features highlighting key events and concepts such as monastic life, icons, Darwin's The Origin of Species, prophecy, the slave trade, and the influence of psychology.

Gillian R. Evans draws on her expertise in the fields of medieval theology, ecumenism and intellectual history to create an engaging and accessible account of an important subject in European history. The History of Christian Europe will appeal to scholars of religion and history who are seeking a fuller understanding of how Christianity helped shape and define Europe and, consequently, the wider world.

Continuously in print for over 30 years, and available in many different languages, John Drane's Introducing the New Testament has long been recognized as an authoritative and accessible survey of the subject.

This new edition has been fully revised and updated with fresh material on the many political contexts in which the early church flourished, along with new insights into the writing and reception of written texts in what was essentially an oral culture. Specific issues that will be of particular interest to students are highlighted in special boxed feature sections, along with an extensive glossary of technical terms and key maps and diagrams.

This book is the ideal starting point for readers who wish to explore the New Testament and its world in the light of recent scholarship, and its relevance to life in the twenty-first century.

Hailed as a “classic reference book” by The Right Reverend James Jones, former Bishop of Liverpool, The New Testament Guide provides readers with a complete all-in-one journey through the books of the New Testament.

Easy to read and navigate, this volume explores, explains, and brings to life the history, stories, cultures, and messages of each book. The accessibility of Andrew Knowles’ writing demystifies many aspects of the scriptures, and deepens our understanding of their principles, doctrine, and messages for us today.

Interspersed with boxed features that highlight key events, places, people and biblical passages, The New Testament Guide is an ideal introduction for new scholars and interested readers alike who have little or no grounding in the subject.

Continuously in print for over 30 years, and available in many different languages, John Drane's Introducing the Old Testament has long been recognized as an authoritative and accessible survey of the subject.

This new edition has been fully revised and updated with fresh material on a range of topics, especially the political and cultural context that influenced the compilation of its books and the development of the faith of ancient Israel and Judah. Specific issues that will be of particular interest to students are highlighted in special boxed feature sections, along with an extensive glossary of technical terms and key maps and diagrams.

This book is the ideal starting point for readers who wish to explore the Old Testament and its world in the light of recent scholarship, and its relevance to life in the twenty-first century.

In this highly accessible guide a team of expert contributors provide an authoritative and comprehensive survey of Christian belief.

After an initial historical overview, six major chapters on Faith, God, Jesus, Salvation, the Church and Christian Hope assess in detail the breadth of Christian teaching and doctrine. Each chapter is interspersed with user-friendly boxed features that focus on key subjects such as Jesus and women and Christian ethics. Culminating with an anthology of extracts from major Christian thinkers, this book provides an ideal overview for scholars at all levels of study seeking to become acquainted with the sweep of Christian teaching.

In the first decades after Christ a small movement from the Middle East rapidly grew to become an empire-wide phenomenon. Soon there were established Christian communities spreading from Jerusalem to Rome, all grappling with the same issue: how to live their new-found faith?

A Social History of the Early Church seeks to answer this question by exploring what life was actually like for the first Christians. Through detailed analyses of archaeological evidence and contemporary accounts, Simon Jones addresses topics such as the role of pagan religion, people's sources of entertainment, the nature of family life, how societies were structured and the changing role of women.

This book is a fascinating survey that brings this period vividly to life for scholars at all levels of study.

Millions of people across the world have heard of Jesus Christ, but how many are truly acquainted with the key locations he frequented?

In the second edition of this established text, Peter Walker shares the fruits of his lifetime s research and expert knowledge to present a rich and engaging guide to the historical aspects of Jesus world. Following the chronology of Jesus life and ministry and drawing especially on the Gospel of Luke, we move from Bethlehem to Nazareth to the desert, and then follow him on his final journey from Galilee to Jerusalem. 

In each chapter particular attention is given to what Jesus did in that location, placing his ministry within its original historical and geographical context, and raising questions of archaeology, authenticity and the recorded evidence of later pilgrims and historians. This new edition takes into account the archaeological discoveries of the last 15 years to provide an up-to-date guide to the Holy Land of today. Using maps, timelines and boxed features that highlight and analyse key topics, In the Steps of Jesus is a rich and absorbing text that presents scholars at all levels of study with a unique insight into Jesus world.

This is an accessible two-part introduction to key periods of Christian history.

Faith in the Byzantine World

For many people the Byzantine world is an intriguing mystery. Here, Mary Cunningham presents readers with an ideal guide to this most fascinating of empires. Covering the period between 330 and 1453, the author begins by providing an outline of the history of the Byzantine Church, and then looks at key aspects of its outward expression, including the solitary ideal; holy places and holy people; service to the community; the nature of belief; and art, architecture and icons.

Faith in the Medieval World

The medieval period constituted a turbulent stage in religious history. Gillian R. Evans begins her immersive account by providing an overview of the development of Christianity in the West in the Middle Ages, before looking at key aspects of medieval faith: the Bible and belief; popular piety and devotion; the Crusades and the idea of 'holy war'; politics and the Church; rebellion against authority; and the road to Reformation. This analysis is a must for all those keen to understand one of the most enthralling periods of history.

Have you ever wanted accessible introductions to the key figures of Christian history? In this book two expert authors draw on biblical scholarship to bring Jesus and Paul and their worlds vividly to life.

Jesus and His World

Jesus Christ is probably the single most influential figure in world history, but who was this preacher from Nazareth? Can we be sure he existed? And if he did, what was the world like in which he lived?
Placing Jesus firmly in the Jewish world of 1st-century Palestine, Peter Walker explores the religious and social background to his life, the Jewish expectations of a messiah, Jesus' ministry and teaching, and helps readers interpret Jesus' radical mission and the way he related to the world around him.

Paul and His World
We know little about Paul, yet he has had a greater impact on the development of Christianity than any other person except Christ. For some, his influence has been largely negative. For others, he is simply the greatest mind in Christian history.
Stephen Tomkins argues that Paul would have been quite at home with such a mixed reception. Despite enjoying a degree of hero worship in his lifetime, he was also more reviled than any other Christian, and his Christian life was a constant arduous missionary journey of shipwrecks, prison, mob violence and the depressing politics of church life. This is a lively and lucid portrayal of the man behind the controversy and the drama.

In the first decades after Christ a small movement from the Middle East rapidly grew to become an empire-wide phenomenon. Soon there were established Christian communities spreading from Jerusalem to Rome, all grappling with the same issue: how to live their new-found faith?

A Social History of the Early Church seeks to answer this question by exploring what life was actually like for the first Christians. Through detailed analyses of archaeological evidence and contemporary accounts, Simon Jones addresses topics such as the role of pagan religion, people's sources of entertainment, the nature of family life, how societies were structured and the changing role of women.

This book is a fascinating survey that brings this period vividly to life for scholars at all levels of study.

How did a group of scared peasants from a backwater of the Roman empire – followers of an executed criminal – form the largest religion on the planet?

The story of Christianity, its transformation from an illegal sect to the religion of emperors, kings and presidents, and its spread across the globe, is an endlessly fascinating one. 

The History of Christianity gives readers an overview of these extraordinary 2,000 years. It is a history not only of how Christianity has changed the world, but also of how the world has changed Christianity.

The first half of this volume is arranged mostly chronologically to create a single narrative from the age of exploration to the late twentieth century.

The second half describes the history of the church in the past hundred years or so, with each chapter focusing on a different part of the world. 

Boxed features throughout the volume highlight especially important figures or themes from each of these periods. The History of Christianity:The Age of Exploration to the Modern Day will be welcomed by all those wanting a lively and engaging presentation of the people, events, places, and plain curiosities that have formed the Christian story.

Have you ever wanted accessible introductions to key figures and periods of Christian history?

Augustine and His World

Augustine is one of the giants of the Christian church. From his birth in North Africa and his days as a relatively permissive young man, through his midlife conversion to Christianity and career as bishop of Hippo, his story has intrigued and inspired every generation for over 1,600 years.

As a thinker, teacher, writer and debater, Augustine's greatness lay in his ability to relate the philosophies of Ancient Greece and Rome to the precepts of the Christian faith. Augustine also saved the church itself from disintegrating into rival factions by forging sound doctrine in the fires of controversy. This immersive account of Augustine's life helps readers understand the world he came from and the enormous contribution he made to the church, both of his day and of the future.

Francis of Assisi and His World

Francis of Assisi is one of the world's most popular religious figures, and also one of the most misrepresented.

In this lively and engaging account of Francis's story - from his hedonistic youth to his emergence as a Christian leader of great charisma and intensity - Mark Galli attempts to strip away the modern gloss in order to discover the real man and the world in which he lived. The saint revealed here is not the romantic free spirit of popular imagination, but a contentious figure who combined a deep mysticism with radical commitment and, above all, sought to glorify God, the creator.

This is an accessible two-part introduction to key periods of Christian history.

Faith in the Byzantine World

For many people the Byzantine world is an intriguing mystery.

Here, Mary Cunningham presents readers with an ideal guide to this most fascinating of empires. Covering the period between 330 and 1453, the author begins by providing an outline of the history of the Byzantine Church, and then looks at key aspects of its outward expression, including the solitary ideal; holy places and holy people; service to the community; the nature of belief; and art, architecture and icons.

Faith in the Medieval World

The medieval period constituted a turbulent stage in religious history.

Gillian R. Evans begins her immersive account by providing an overview of the development of Christianity in the West in the Middle Ages, before looking at key aspects of medieval faith: the Bible and belief; popular piety and devotion; the Crusades and the idea of 'holy war'; politics and the Church; rebellion against authority; and the road to Reformation. This analysis is a must for all those keen to understand one of the most enthralling periods of history.

Millions of people across the world have heard of Jesus Christ, but how many are truly familiar with the key locations he frequented?

Following the chronology of Jesus' life and ministry, and drawing especially on the Gospel of Luke, Peter Walker takes us from Bethlehem to Nazareth to the desert as we follow Jesus on his final journey from Galilee to Jerusalem.

In each chapter particular attention is given to what Jesus did in that location, and to the authenticity of archaeological and recorded evidence of later pilgrims and historians.

Building on the success of the first edition, this updated and expanded edition takes into account the most recent archaeological discoveries.

Richly illustrated, and using maps, timelines, and feature boxes to highlight important themes, this is a rich and absorbing guide that provides a unique insight into Jesus' world - an ideal companion for travellers to the Holy land or for scholars and pastors around the world.

Explore the rich history and influence of Christian art from Antiquity to the present day.

Michelle Brown traces the rich history of Christian art, crossing boundaries to explore how art has reflected and stimulated a response to the teachings of Christ, and to Christian thought and experience across the ages.

Embracing much of the history of art in the West and parts of the Middle East, Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australasia, Michelle considers art of the earliest Christians to the modern day.

Featuring articles by invited contributors on subjects including Icons; Renaissance Florence; Rubens and the Counter-Reformation; Religious Folk Art; Jewish Artists; Christian Themes; Making the St John's Bible, and Christianity and Contemporary Art in North America,

Christian Art is an ideal survey of the subject for all those interested in the world's artistic heritage.

- Comprehensive and authoritative text from the Early Christian period to the modern day

- Wide international coverage

- Feature articles on special subjects by a team of experts from around the world

How did Christianity come to have such an extraordinary influence upon Europe? Gillian R. Evans' The History of Christian Europe offers a fascinating portrayal of the development and spread of Christianity in the context of over 2,000 years of European history.

Beginning with the transmission of Jesus' teaching throughout the Roman world, Evans shows how Christianity transformed not only the thinking but also the structures of society, in a Christendom that was, until relatively modern times, essentially a 'European' phenomenon. She traces Christianity's influence across the centuries, from its earliest days, through the East / West schism, the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, to its development in the scientific age of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and its place in the modern world. The narrative is complemented by boxed features highlighting key events and concepts such as monastic life, icons, Darwin's The Origin of Species, prophecy, the slave trade, and the influence of psychology.

Gillian R. Evans draws on her expertise in the fields of medieval theology, ecumenism and intellectual history to create an engaging and accessible account of an important subject in European history. The History of Christian Europe will appeal to scholars of religion and history who are seeking a fuller understanding of how Christianity helped shape and define Europe and, consequently, the wider world.

For the past 200 years archaeological work has provided new information that allows us to peer into the past and open chapters of human history that have not been read for centuries, or even millennia.

In The Archaeology of the Bible James K. Hoffmeier provides the reader with an incisive account of archaeology's role in shaping our understanding of the biblical texts.

Fundamental issues addressed throughout include how archaeological discoveries relate to biblical accounts, and the compatibility of using scientific disciplines to prove or disprove a religious book such as the Bible.

This work is an ideal introduction to the societies and events of the Ancient Near East and their relation to our interpretation of the Bible.

Continuously in print for over 30 years, and available in many different languages, John Drane's Introducing the Old Testament has long been recognized as an authoritative and accessible survey of the subject.

This new edition has been fully revised and updated with fresh material on a range of topics, especially the political and cultural context that influenced the compilation of its books and the development of the faith of ancient Israel and Judah. Specific issues that will be of particular interest to students are highlighted in special boxed feature sections, along with an extensive glossary of technical terms and key maps and diagrams.

This book is the ideal starting point for readers who wish to explore the Old Testament and its world in the light of recent scholarship, and its relevance to life in the twenty-first century.

Continuously in print for over 30 years, and available in many different languages, John Drane's Introducing the New Testament has long been recognized as an authoritative and accessible survey of the subject.

This new edition has been fully revised and updated with fresh material on the many political contexts in which the early church flourished, along with new insights into the writing and reception of written texts in what was essentially an oral culture. Specific issues that will be of particular interest to students are highlighted in special boxed feature sections, along with an extensive glossary of technical terms and key maps and diagrams.

This book is the ideal starting point for readers who wish to explore the New Testament and its world in the light of recent scholarship, and its relevance to life in the twenty-first century.

There is a growing interest today in the context and history of Christian spirituality. In this book a team of expert authors from the East and West present a full and fascinating picture of humanity's desire for the divine across the centuries.

Highlighting the contribution of significant figures through history, authors explore the ways in which Christians - from the earliest times onwards - have sought to express and live out the deepest truth of their faith. The Bible and the life of Jesus Christ are the starting point for the story. The reader is then guided through the development of spirituality, starting an exploration of the significance of the early church 'fathers', and culminating in a survey of the explosion of expressions of Christian divinity across the world in the twentieth century.

Interspersed with boxed features that provide more detail on key individuals and groups, and timelines that put events into their chronological contexts, Christian Spirituality is an ideal overview for scholars and interested readers alike.