30 Key Moments in the History of Christianity:
Inspiring True Stories from the Early Church Around the World
DETAILS:
Publisher: Baker Books
Publication Date: January 27, 2026
Format: Paperback
Length: 272 pg.
Read Date: February 15-22, 2026
This emphasis on Our People* across space and time might prompt us to question the extent to which our own national, political, and cultural identities compete with or even overshadow our most foundational (and eternal) identity as Christians. In some important ways, modern American Christians have more in common with Christians from seventh-century Nubia, Persia, and southern Arabia than with agnostic neighbors who share our national flag.
* The term that Graham uses to describe Christians.
What’s 30 Key Moments in the History of Christianity About?
This is one of those that’s all in the title and subtitle. Graham, a history professor, looks at thirty moments from various parts of the world during the first millennium that proved to be turning points in Church History—he focuses on movements, teachings, and individuals to bring these “Moments” to life.
Graham’s Method
Each chapter—each “moment”—is considered in three steps:
- The Background: historical context, some background leading up to the events in focus, some description of the area/people (as a group and individuals) focused on.
- The Moment (or Moments, occasionally): this is the meat of the chapter, the events that the chapter is focusing on—what’s the point of interest in this idea/part of time/chapter.
- The Mathēma: while avoiding hagiography or romanticizing the moment, what lesson can we learn by analyzing the moment or seeing what it tells us about us today?
When Graham outlined this in his Introduction, I was sold—if this was going to be how the book went, I was in for the long haul, period. It was, and I really appreciated it. If only so it makes it easy to come back to look at one or two moments for something and get everything you need in that chapter.
The Moments Selected
I’m not overly familiar with the Early Church—and my Medieval Church history is okay. But when I looked over the Table of Contents astounded by how few of the chapter subjects rang any kind of bell for me. I found that a little embarrassing, but it also excited me—I was going to learn a lot.
For example: Constantine turning to Christianity (Chap 8); Arius at Nicea (Chap 10); Justin Martyr (Chap. 2); Perpetua’s martyrdom (Chap 4)—all of those made sense to include, and I was glad to refresh my memory and see how Graham addressed things like that. On the other hand you’ve got: the Church in the Sassanian Persian Empire (Chaps. 6, 11, 13, 19); Nubian Christians twice saving their Church in Sudan (Chap. 21), or Armenia as the first “Christian Nation” (Chap. 7)—I was utterly clueless about these things. Granted, at last 95% of what I know about Sassanian Persia comes from some Fantasy novels from a decade or so ago—so that’s not saying much. But, wow, all of these were just so fascinating. (ditto for all of the chapters not mentioned)
I’m not—by any means—claiming to be any kind of an expert on any of these moments in time now. But I’ve at least been exposed to them, and am intrigued enough to try and track down a deeper history about some of them.
So, what did I think about 30 Key Moments in the History of Christianity?
It’s not a drawback—it’s a feature, but you need to know going in that these chapters are brief and you can’t get meaty history or analysis. 30 moments from 1,000 years in less than 300 pages? Yeah, depth isn’t on the menu. But, to stretch the metaphor, it’s a great tasting.
If you read this in a sitting or two—or just a chapter at a time—you’re going to get rewarded. You’re going to get a good reminder that The Church isn’t just something that happened in the New Testament and in your local congregation. Nor can the history be reduced from New Testament→Early Fathers/Councils/Creeds→long time of nothing important→Protestant Reformation→Late 20th Century Evangelicalism/today.
Our People (I’m really liking that phrase) have been around since The Garden, and we can relate to them, learn from them, and be inspired by them wherever they’re found in time or on the globe. Graham gives an accessible introduction to some outstanding examples of this from the first millennium A.D.
I really hope there’s a sequel covering the next 1,000 years or another 30 from that same period. I’d rush to get it. In the meantime, I heartily encourage you to go pick this up.
Disclaimer: I received this book as a participant in the Baker Publishing Group Nonfiction Reviewer Program. However, as always here, I read this book because it interested me, and the opinions expressed are my own.
This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
My Favorite Theology/Christian Living Books of 2025
By HCNewton
On January 11, 2026
In News/Misc., Theology/Christian Living
It’s finally time to wrap these lists, with my favorites in Theology and Christian Living (and related things). There’s some overlap in some of these titles, which just shows what kinds of things I was thinking about this year, I guess. I didn’t read as many books along these lines as I expected to/usually do–mostly because the ones I did read took some work to get through (and I had too many “project reads”). But these would’ve floated to the top in any year.
As always, re-reads don’t count for these lists.
(in alphabetical order by author)
by Michael P. V. Barrett
Barrett writes brief devotional meditations on some Old Testament passages (I’m not sure how brief because I read electronically, but they didn’t take terribly long to read). Which is good enough for a book–but Barrett writes with a depth that I don’t think I’ve come across in a devotional before. He gets to the heart and the nitty-gritty of the passages he looks at–and writes in a way that the reader will find application for their life, understanding of the passage, and a new/renewed reason to worship and serve the One who bought them.
The only thing that impressed me–almost every week–as much as the content was Barret’s ability to accomplish it so briefly.
by Mitchell L. Chase
My original post
I personally benefited from Chase’s definition of “wisdom” and how to find it in Scripture. I really appreciated his unwillingness to make Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and James the epicenter of his discussion, but to look for it throughout the Scriptures (see above). Tackling the topic of wisdom from a Redemptive Historical point of view rather than a Systematic perspective (which is what I’m used to, as I expect most are), really helped me to see the breadth of it—and even to help with my Systematic understanding of it (as it should).
All in all, this is a truly helpful and insightful read.
Why the Love of Money Is the Root of Racism and How the Church Can Create a New Way Forward
by Malcolm Foley
I’ve tried on at least four occasions to write a post about this book, and keep failing. I’m going to keep trying, but in the meantime, I’ll just say that this is one of the best books I read in 2025 regardless of genre/topic. Foley starts with Ida Wells’ point tying racism to money, and expands on that. He traces the connection between the love of money (which we know to be the root of all sorts of evil) and racism/racism-friendly policies and attitudes throughout U.S. History–particularly after the Civil War. And how the Church, to her shame, participates in those.
Then he points the way forward–using a variety of theological tools. Including the Westminster Larger Catechism’s teaching on the Eighth Commandment. It’s inspiring, it’s convicting, it’s full of hope.
by Carmen Joy Imes
My original post
Is this the most rigorous, robust work that I’ve ever read on The Church? No. Is this the most technical, theological work I’ve come across? No. Did this take a lot of effort to get through? No (and what a relief). Is this perhaps the most passionate work on the subject I’ve read? Yes. Is it perhaps the most persuasive about the need for individual believers (particularly in an individualist culture) to be involved with the Church? Also, yes.
It’s warm, it’s approachable, it’s learned in a non-off-putting way. Imes is a great guide through the topic and a fun companion through the stroll. She pointed out some things I hadn’t thought of before—and helped me grasp a couple of texts that I’ve struggled with for years.
by C. S. Lewis
There’s a lot of this book that I disagree with–but I appreciate the way that Lewis got to his conclusions. I also admit that Lewis might be closer to right than I am on those points. But the opening letter on prayer is one of the best things I’ve read on the topic, and while the rest of the book doesn’t reach those heights, I truly enjoyed and benefited from considering them. This is one of those books by him I hadn’t gotten around to reading in the past until my little Lewis-immersion project last year. It won’t be the last time.
by Zacharias Ursinus
As this is written by one of the chief authors of the Heidelberg Catechism, it’s impossible to get a more authoritative take on it. This is essentially the director’s cut of the catechism. Sure, we all know the answers, but how’d you get to that answer? Well, you think like so….
This is a treasure for anyone trying to understand and use the Heidelberg Catechism for personal use or for trying to raise the generation to follow.
by Drew Poplin
My original post
I hate the fact that books decrying the sin (or, in Poplin’s argument, heresy) of racism need to be written now. But the need for them is pretty clear to anyone in the American Church. This brief (perhaps too brief) book is a compelling read, calling racism what it is, an attack on God and His creation. Convicting, and hopefully convincing. It’s well worth the time to read.
by O. Palmer Robertson
Did this floor me as much as the first volume of this set (on the Gospels) did? Nope. But am I going to study Acts or Paul’s letters without consulting this in the future? Bigger nope. Robertson first traces the development of revelation and the Church’s understanding of it through Acts, then he spends the bulk of the book watching Paul’s themes develop and change over the course of his career–never contradictory, never inconsistent, but starting with certain emphases that develop into new ones given the events of his life and the needs of the Church throughout the First Century. It’s really a handy book to work through and to keep on hand for future use.
by Mikel Del Rosario
My original post
Del Rosario’s approach to the subject alone could put him on this list–let’s take an in-depth look at two passages and see what Jesus is claiming for himself in both. Let’s consider what the original audience heard–and seek to understand that by the way they reacted. Then let’s consider the implications of both. Del Rosario writes clearly and compellingly. The text—even when it gets technical—is straightforward and approachable by people who aren’t historical scholars.
Not only does reading this help buttress the confidence a reader has in the passage and Jesus’ claims in them, but Del Rosario gives his readers a model to follow when they come across similar passages.
by Cornelius Van Til
My original post
This is some pretty clear writing from a man widely considered not to be terribly clear all the time. Some of the commandments don’t get the same level of attention as others–and it makes sense given who Van Til is and his own driving focus.
It’s a very sound introduction, in line with the bulk of the Reformed stream of thought on the Law and its usage from the time of the Reformation forward. But a little more approachable given the length and the fact it was written in the 20th Century.