Gerald Lewis Bray

Renowned evangelical theologian Gerald Bray provides a clear and coherent account of the church in biblical, historical, and theological perspective. He tells the story of the church in its many manifestations through time, starting with its appearance in the New Testament, moving through centuries of persecution and triumph, and discussing how and why the ancient church broke up at the Reformation. Along the way, Bray looks at the four classic marks of the church--its oneness, holiness, catholicity, and apostolicity--and illustrates how each of these marks has been understood by different Christian traditions. The book concludes with a look at the ecumenical climate of today and suggests ways that the four characteristics of the church can and should be manifested in our present global context. This accessible introduction to the church from an evangelical perspective explores ecclesiology through the lenses of church history and doctrine to reveal what it means for us today. Bray discusses the church as a living reality, offering practical ways churches and individuals can cooperate and live together. -- Provided by publisher.

The question: 'Did the early Christians misrepresent Jesus?' has dominated modern theological discussion to such an extent that the history and development of the Church is widely regarded as a corruption of the original gospel message. The doctrines and practices of the first Christian communities have come under suspicion, and in some quarters they have been quite openly rejected by those who want a fundamentally different kind of Christianity. The purpose of this book is to explain in simple terms what the Early Church believed, and why it developed its theology in the way that it did. It is a defense of the classical orthodox beliefs contained in the major creeds and the statements of the General Councils of the first five centuries. Far from being innovations, these documents are re-statements of the teaching of scripture, which were worked out in the mission field of the Roman Empire. As such they have always commanded the allegiance of the vast majority of Christians, and they must still be the basis for any future reunion of the churches. Modern Christians need to learn about their heritage and understand its importance, as well as its relevance to today's debate. This book is a contribution to that understanding, and it is written in the same spirit and with the same missionary purpose as that which guided the Fathers of the Church whose work forms the subject of its pages.

Christian theology didn't develop in a vacuum. Understanding the story behind the doctrines that have been debated, defined, and defended throughout history is crucial for truly understanding the doctrines themselves. In this groundbreaking resource, professor Gerald Bray traces the history of Christian theology from the early church to the modern era. Structured to parallel the order in which orthodoxy gradually matured in response to challenges from both inside and outside the church, this volume outlines how Christians have struggled to understand, confess, and worship the triune God through the centuries. - Publisher.

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