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The Monarch History of the Church Vol. 1: The Birth of the Church – From Jesus to Constantine, AD 30-313 400, Ivor J. Davidson, Oxford: Monarch, 2005,  400 pp.

The Monarch History of the Church Vol. 2: A Public Faith – From Constantine to the Medieval World, AD 312-600, Ivor J. Davidson, Oxford: Monarch, 2005,  463 pp.

These two volumes cover the early church period up to 600 A.D.  This section of history is one which has been covered by many other scholars such as the older works by Chadwick and Frend and more recently by Hazlett.   As such,  it would be thought it that there would only a limited demand for any additional titles.

But Davidson has made a distinctive contribution that will make his publications the first choice for this period.   Their notable strength is their presentation of the theological disputes and in particular the complexities of Christology in the early church’s development. 

His treatment of Arianism and Athanasius is particularly good.  In evangelical circles  Athanasius is usually presented as the saviour of apostolic Christology,  but Davidson shows his darker,  controversial side.     Areas of debate over the number of natures and persons of Christ are explained with the different ideas of Apollinarinism,  Nesotrianism and monophisitism.   Even the names of such groups is sufficient to make the reader apprehensive,   yet with Davidson´s grasp of theology,   the concepts involved can be followed without too much difficulty.  In the debate over the doctrine of sin and grace,  Augustine and the Pelagian controversy are given a well-balanced treatment.     

But these books are not just historical theology,  they include social and cultural trends as well as biographical descriptions.  His treatment of Jerome and Chrysostom are fascinating.   A comment about Chrysostom like “his inability to restrain the tongue in his ‘golden’ mouth was his major undoing” (vol. 1,  p. 157) indicates that readers encounter a realistic appraisal of well-known Christian figures. The author also has a good eye for detail which hold readers interest,  for instance his comments on the plummeting population of Rome with the rise of Constantinople.

Issues of contemporary interest such as women in the church,  charismatics and church leadership are dealt with individually.  The author treats the New Testament documents as being historically reliable when dealing with the time of the apostles.

The bibliographical detail consists of over 300 titles in each volume arranged by subject areas and chapters.  It is a bibliography rather than what the section title suggests,  “Suggestions for Further Reading”.   Some guidance for students would have been appreciated.  

It was a bit disappointing to find that the text did not include the occasional summary table,   particularly of the theological issues.   But the most disappointing part of the publications is the quality of the photographic reproductions.  These grey images give the impression that it was always cloudy in the ancient world.  

Davidson has provided the present generation of theological students with text books which will be preferred to Frend and Chadwick,  and one hopes will serve as many students as these texts have done.

David Ford, Profesor del Nuevo Testamento,   Fundación Universitaria Seminario Bíblico de Colombia,  Medellín,  Colombia.