A good old classic even if severely outdated covering the first 100 years of Christianity, which covers the time from Jesus to the Apostles. The 1st ed. is dated 1858; the revised, which I have that was printed in 1985, has a new preface dated 1890).

In any case, Shaff expounds historically upon all the NT. He offers a pretty good resource to see the different schools of theological thought during his era that maybe gives a hint of understanding as to how we've arrived into the various schools of thought in our own time.

Schaff has some observations regarding Jesus' ministry (p.104-105) as, for example, "He taught the purest doctrine, as a direct revelation of his heavenly Father, from his own intuition and experience..."; and, "The miracles or signs which accompanied his teachings are supernatural, but not unnatural, exhibitions of his power over man and nature; no violation of law, but manifestations of a higher law..."

Leaving the best for last, Schaff's discussion on the Apocalypse was for me, I can only say, exciting.

I'm sure there are more modern thorough histories of the Christian church, yet, however outdated, it was an enlightening read. ( )

Apostolic Christianity A.D. 1 - 100