Written from an objective historical perspective, A New History of Christianity provides the best readable yet scholarly one-volume account of Christianity from its origins to the present day.Chapters cover Christian beginnings, the growth of the early Christian communities, the character of the medieval Church, popular religion, the Protestant Reformation, the Catholic Reformation, the early modern Church, the Church in the nineteenth century, the Church in war and peace, and the crisis of the modern Church
-------------------------------------------------------------------
An excellent book on early christian history!
March 21, 2006
Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase
Very well-researched, interesting history utilizing authenticated church records which explain clearly how the Bible was compiled, how the identity of Jesus/God was determined but never 100% agreed upon (political committee of church leaders under the direction of Constantine 325 AD), and even how the early christian records were selected bringing us the Bible we have today. For instance, the Bishop of Alexandria; Athaniaus (sp) ordered the destruction of ALL early christian records EXCEPT those which he politically approved of. Divinely inspired, the early egyptian Christian monks hid up those precious early christian records, Athaniaus had ordered to be burned. These records have now come forth, known as the Naghammadi records which include books found with the 3 separately, divinely preserved "Gospel of Mary" records. The records this Christian Bishop wanted destroyed reverse the 2,000 years of women being suppressed and show the early political corruption of religion 300 years after Christ. Read this true history book then go watch the DaVinci Code. History proves why Jesus visited Mary Magdalene before the other men apostles - who denied him & ran away in fear for their lives. Women should be preaching/leading in all religions today - men have politically suppressed women; who were/are also His apostles/disciples.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Fact or fiction?
November 22, 2008
Format: Paperback
There can be no assumption about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This argument was refuted in Paul's time. How can someone like Vivian Green, who claims to be a historian, dare to write the word `presumed' in connection with Jesus' death. And where is the mention of the resurrection? There is no Christianity without the resurrection. It seems that the core, the very essence of Christianity, has been excluded from this chronology. This at the start of the book!

1 Corinthians 15:12-14 & 17 (ESV) 12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. ... 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

Acts 1:20-23 (ESV) 20 "For it is written in the Book of Psalms, " `May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it'; and " `Let another take his office.' 21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us--one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection." 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.

1 Corinthians 15:3-7 (ESV) 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

John 20:25-29 (ESV) 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe." 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe." 28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

The book of Acts (essentially the Gospel of Luke Part II), written by Luke to Theophilus, does not state what doctrinal position James held prior to the meeting in Acts 15:1-2 (ESV) 1 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." 2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.

Acts 15:13-20 (ESV) 13 After they finished speaking, James replied, "Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, 16 " `After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, 17 that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things 18 known from of old.' 19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.

According to Vivian Green, quite simply, James as the (supposed) leader of the church, made a quick change of KEY Jewish doctrine after the speech by Peter. (However, James had previously heard this point in Acts 10:34)

Acts 15:5 (ESV) 5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses."

Was James a Pharisee? If not, then it's not recorded what his position was prior to this meeting.

The disciples were told, by Jesus himself, who to convert:
Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) 18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Page 5-6... Christ's ascension is in dispute and apparently Paul has manufactured this `myth'. Has this historian read the Bible on which this "new" account of Christianity is supposedly based? (John 20:25-29, Acts 1:6-9, 1 Corinthians 15:3-7)

If the early Christian account of a KEY doctrine can not be believed, then what other parts of the Bible can not be either? Why quote any of it or make assumptions about who said or believed what? They could all be wrong - which may be the point Vivian is actually trying to get across.

Vivian Green has disqualified himself as an accurate source of information on Christianity. If this quality of work occurs by page 6, what of the other hundreds of pages, which a reader is unable to verify?

Unfortunately the books references are not provided at the text where the controversial (as if the author was not aware) statements are located. Don't think I'll manage to read much more of this authors work.

Highly recommend these which I have read, but they don't support Vivian Green's sentiments on the resurrection:
"The Origin of the Bible" - by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Carl F. H. Henry, and Philip W. Comfort (some detail, but lots of topics)

"How We Got the Bible" - Neil Lightfoot (lots of detail on origins)

"The Apostle: A Life of Paul" - by John Pollock (a must read for all Christians. Ties in Book of Acts with Pauline letters)

"If I were God, I'd make myself clearer" - John Dickson (a case for Christianity)