The Study of Christian History

The Study of Christian History, PDF format

  The study of Christian History is one of the most satisfying and profitable studies that any Christian can undertake.  And yet comparatively few of the Lord’s people really study the history of Christianity.  There are probably two main reasons for this.  Firstly, it is not generally considered to be a subject of any great value; and secondly, for many, the study of history – any history – is considered ‘dry’ and ‘boring’.

  In answer to the first widely-held notion, it must be stated categorically that the study of Christian History, and such secular history as is intertwined with it, is of immense profit to Christians.  And the believer who neglects it, if it is within his power to study it, is depriving himself of a source of great blessing.

  “We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old” (Psalm 44:1).

  Much of the Bible is history: the record of God’s dealings with men in past ages.  What a large portion of the Bible would be missing if the historical sections were removed!  In the pages of the divinely-inspired Word, we have the history, in the Old Testament, of the first man and first woman; of Noah, and the destruction of the earth by a flood; of Abraham, “the Friend of God”; of Moses, and how he was God’s instrument in leading the nation of Israel out of Egypt; of Joshua, and the coming of Israel into the promised land; of David the king, “a man after God’s own heart”; and of so many other men, and so many other wonderful events.  And in the New Testament, we have the history of the Lord Jesus Christ, during the days he walked on earth; and the history of his first disciples, known as “the Acts of the Apostles”.  Oh, what history this is!

  In the passage from Psalm 44, quoted above, we see that the mighty works of the Lord “in the times of old” were passed on to later generations.  And in the pages of the holy Scriptures, how often do we come across that word, “remember”!  “Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place” (Exod. 13:3); “Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt well remember what the LORD thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt” (Deut. 7:18); “Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee” (Deut. 32:7); “Remember his [the Lord’s] marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgements of his mouth; O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones” (1 Chron. 16:12); and even those words of the Lord Jesus, “Remember Lot’s wife” (Lk. 17:32).  The Word of God exhorts us to keep in remembrance the history of God’s people, and his dealings with them: “that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15:4).

  But it may be objected that this is the history recorded in the inspired Word, and that the history of the Christian Church after the passing of the apostles is not part of the inspired Word.

  Certainly, it is true that we cannot learn from history books in the same way that we can learn from the Scriptures!  The Scriptures are divinely inspired; history books are not.  But are Christians unable to profit from such study at all?  Let none be so foolish as to say so!

  There are the prophecies of the New Testament (in particular, the book of Revelation), and those of Daniel in the Old Testament.  It has been correctly observed that ‘symbolic prophecy is simply history written beforehand in hieroglyphics’.  The Lord, particularly in the prophecies of Revelation, revealed “the things which shall be hereafter” (Rev. 1:19), i.e. after the time of John, who wrote the book: “things which must shortly come to pass” (Rev. 1:1), i.e. shortly after the book was written.  And that marvellous book of prophecy foretells, in symbolic language, of events which would occur throughout the ages from the earliest centuries of the Gospel age until the end of the world.

  History, then, is the fulfilment of prophecy; history is the outworking, in time, of what God, “declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done” (Isa. 46:10), has decreed, in his prophetic Word, shall surely come to pass.  For a right understanding of prophecy, then, Christians need to have a grasp of the history of the Christian Church, and interrelated events, during the past 2000 years.

  But history should be studied, not only because it fulfils divine prophecy, but also simply because it reveals God’s dealings with men and women through the centuries.  Why is this of benefit to the believer?

  For one thing, it fills the believer with praise to his Lord.  Jesus said, in Matt. 16:18, “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  When we study Christian History, we see that this promise (like all his promises) has been kept.  He has indeed been faithful to his Word.  On the day of Pentecost, 120 disciples were endued with power from on high (Acts 2:1-4; Acts 1:8; Lk. 24:49).  Those 120 – the first church – became 3000, and “multiplied greatly” (Acts 2:41; 6:1,7).  Then, in fulfilment of the Lord’s words in Mk. 16:15, apostles and evangelists went forth “into all the world”, and “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6).  Though the Church of Christ has consisted, for the most part, of those who are “foolish” in the world’s eyes, “weak”, “base”, and “despised” (1 Cor. 1:26-29), yet it has marched on through the centuries, despite the malice of Satan and the world, and is here today.  The Lord Jesus Christ has indeed been building his Church; and truly, the gates of hell have not prevailed against it!  Nor will they ever do so.  As the Christian studies the history of the saints of God through these 2000 years, he is filled with praise to the Lord, whose Word has never failed.  His heart is lifted up in worship to the great Head of the Church, who said, “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28:20).  The Church of Christ has been divinely preserved, century after century.

  For another thing, the study of Christian History encourages, strengthens, and teaches believers.  As we see how the saints of past generations stood firm in the midst of great tribulations, we are encouraged and strengthened in our own witness; and as we read of their doings, we are taught more about how a Christian should live – and how he should not live, too!  When we follow “the footsteps of the flock”, what lessons we learn! (Song of Sol. 1:8).

  Finally, we are indebted to the saints of past ages in so many ways.  We must not be so ungrateful as to forget them!  Let us cherish the remembrance of them, and give God thanks for them.  In a very real way, it can be said to Christians today, as Christ said to his disciples, that “other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours” (Jn. 4:38).  Few believers today realise just how much they owe to the labours of the saints of past generations.

  Now, to address the second widely-held notion – that the study of Christian History is ‘dry’ and ‘boring’.  No doubt the writings of many men make it so; but this accusation cannot be levelled at all authors.  The truth is, if the child of God studies history in the light of the Word of God, he soon finds that it is full of gripping interest; for he approaches it expecting to see the Lord’s hand over it all, guiding his Church, shaping the destinies of nations, and using weak human vessels to bring glory to his Name.  And he who approaches it in this frame of mind will not be disappointed.

  Here is stirring adventure indeed!  Mighty exploits, mighty men.  Men of whom it may be said, as it was said of the great men of the Old Testament, “the world was not worthy” (Heb. 11:38).  Men of faith.  Mighty men of valour.  Men who left their marks on the pages of history, NOT because they were great in themselves, but because the LORD was their God!

  Who can read the stirring history of the Waldenses, those faithful witnesses who through the dark centuries of papal power maintained a faithful testimony to the truth, and not be stirred to the very depths of his soul?  Who will not be filled with praise, and humbled, as he reads of the many saints of God who suffered cruel tortures, and even death, for the Lord Jesus Christ and his Gospel?  Those blessed men and women who “loved not their lives unto the death” (Rev. 12:11)?  And those who, forsaking all, faced unknown and terrible dangers to take the Gospel to places where it had not been heard?

  Look into the sixteenth century: among many others, William Tyndale stands tall. Tyndale – “destitute, afflicted, tormented” (Heb. 11:37) – who translated the Word of God into English despite great hardships, finally being put to death for it.  Our King James Version owes so much to him.  In that century, too, we see many saints at the time of the Reformation, suffering imprisonment and death for the sake of the Lord.

  Move on to the seventeenth century.  There we see the ‘immortal dreamer’, John Bunyan, languishing in a prison cell for the Gospel’s sake, and writing the greatest Christian classic of all time.  There, too, we see the godly Puritans, who produced such outstanding Christian literature.

  When we arrive at the eighteenth century, we see George Whitefield, whose powerful voice was heard by millions as he proclaimed the glorious Gospel of the grace of God to the spiritually hungry multitudes of his day.  And we see John Newton, whose sinful, adventurous life on the high seas came to an end when God, in his mercy, saved him by his ‘amazing grace’.

  “And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of” many other men (and women) of faith (see Heb. 11:32).  They were not perfect men; history records their faults.  But they were men who loved their Lord, and sought to please him.  What a story it is – and it is all true!  The story of the Church of the living God.  The story of the followers of the Lamb.

  Do not neglect it, but study it.  For if you are a child of God, it is your story as well.  By grace, you are come to mount Zion, to the general assembly and Church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven (Heb. 12:22,23).  You are part of the same body: the body of Christ, the Church.  You are part of its story: a story that is still unfolding.

Shaun Willcock is a minister, author and researcher.  He runs Bible Based Ministries.  This pamphlet was first published in 1991.  For other pamphlets (which may be downloaded and printed), as well as details about his books, audio messages, articles, etc., please visit the Bible Based Ministries website, or write to the address below.  If you would like to be on Bible Based Ministries’ email list, please send your details.

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