Below you’ll find links to the books recommended by professors in Church History, Theology, World Christianity, and Missions. Beneath each book you’ll see the professor(s) who recommended it. Click “Read More” for a note from the professor about the book and why it is worth a read. Clicking on the book itself will take you to the Gordon-Conwell bookshop on ChristianBook.com where you can purchase it.
Church History Dr. Scott Sunquist,
Gordon-Conwell President & Professor of Missiology
“From the title, one might expect this to be a reader of Greek Christian writings, but actually it takes it selections from much farther afield than Byzantium. The book compiles writings (some theological, but mostly spiritual) written in Syriac, Armenian, Georgian, Arabic, Coptic, and Ethiopic. As a result, it gives western readers a remarkable window into the breadth of the early Christian church.”
Recommended by Dr. Donald Fairbairn:
“Richard Price is the world’s greatest conciliar translator and has spent more time with the documents from the Ecumenical Councils than anyone else on earth over the past two decades. While there are few people who would want to wade through all the documents related to each of the Ecumenical Councils, the introductions (some written by Price himself and some by his colleagues) are priceless. These are the two latest volumes, and the introductions to the earlier volumes on Chalcedon (2005) and Constantinople 553 (2009) are also well worth reading. Anyone who reads any of these introductions and then wants a recommendation about which documents to try to tackle, just email me!”
Recommended by Dr. Donald Fairbairn:
“Origen has been profoundly influential on the history of Christian doctrine, but that influence has been very much a mixed bag. One of the biggest questions is whether we can even know the thought of the real Origen or only that of his possibly more extreme followers, the Origenists. Behr’s new introduction to and translation of Origen’s controversial masterwork On First Principles provides a new and provocative angle on who the real Origen was.”
Recommended by Dr. Gina Zurlo:
“Women in the Mission of the Church highlights the important roles women have had in church history – and that are often forgotten. Dzubinski’s expertise in intercultural studies and mission combines with Stasson’s historical prowess to provide a well-researched and highly accessible book that centers the experiences, stories, and lives of Christian women in the past for the benefit of all Christians today.”
Recommended by Dr. Scott Sunquist:
“Engaging, surprising, and lucid, this volume corrects many of the blind spots in our telling of Christian history in the past. I used this book last semester and students found it very helpful in telling the spread of Christian in all four directions, rather than as a western religion tilting west. As always, Fairbairn is thorough in his research and inviting in his approach. It reflects well on the approach of Gordon-Conwell in reflecting the global church in our theological education.”
Recommended by Dr. Scott Sunquist:
“Vince is a Gordon-Conwell alumnus who submitted this book to me in our “Missiological Engagements” series three years ago. I was impressed from the first manuscript and even more pleased with the final edition. This is similar to Fairbairn’s volume, but with a more clearly articulated pedagogy expressed at the introduction and the conclusion. This has a missiological trajectory and, like Fairbairn’s volume is well written and engaging. I used both this fall and had good responses from students to their approaches and more inclusive story telling.”
Recommended by Dr. Todd Johnson:
“This book, with 30 essays from the Global South, presents a starting point for a new global Christian approach that coheres the whole message and story of the Bible, fostering community resilience and redressing injustice at its roots. I’m using it as a text in my “NGOs and Development in Mission” course this spring.”
Recommended by Dr. Scott Sunquist:
“This is an excellent and practical volume with biblically and theologically informed solutions to one of the greatest issues in mission today: helping people from different countries work together. Lingenfelter, former Dean of the School of Intercultural Studies at Fuller, has broad global experience that makes this a very well-informed volume regarding the problems that often threatens good mission work. However, the volume will also be helpful for multi-cultural teams in churches in the United States. Chapters can be studied and discussed with ministry or mission teams.”
Recommended by Dr. David Currie:
“Drawing from his own experience as a pastor in a small town, Pepperell, and a NT scholar, Witmer explores the dynamics of smaller communities and how ministry there can be strategic and effective, adopting a missionary perspective for ordinary places.”
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