Church History

Ancient Catholic Church by Robert Rainy

Today’s free book is Robert Rainy’s comprehensive survey of early church history from the time of the Emperor Trajan to Fourth General Council (98-451 AD).

My thanks to Book Aid for making a copy of public domain title available for digitisation.

Robert Rainy [1826-1906], The Ancient Catholic Church from the Accession of Trajan to the Fourth General Council [A.D. 98-451]. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1902. Hbk. pp.539. [Click here to visit the download page for this title]

Table of Contents

  • Introduction
    1. The Environment
    2. The Early Churches
    3. The Church’s Life
    4. Beliefs and Sacraments
    5. The Apologists
    6. The Heresies
    7. Montanism
    8. Relation to the State
    9. The New Philosophy
    10. Christian Thought and Literature
    11. Christ and God
    12. Christian Life
    13. Worship
    14. Clergy
    15. Discipline and Schisms
    16. Manicheism
    17. The Church in the Christian Empire and Beyond
    18. Monasticism
    19. The Clergy
    20. Nicene Council
    21. Arian Controversy—Post Nicene
    22. Minor Controversies
    23. Discussions Regarding the Person of Christ
    24. Donatism
    25. Ecclesiastical Personages of Fourth Century
    26. Festivals, Church Services, and Sacraments
    27. Discipline
    28. Augustine
    29. Pelagian Controversy
    30. Semi-Pelagianism
    31. Ecclesiastical Personages [who survived A.D. 400]
    32. Processes of Change
  • Appendix
    • A. Literature of Church History
    • B. Supplementary Notes to Chapters
Rob Bradshaw

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