The Battle of the Milvian Bridge (1520–24) by Giulio Romano

Gwatkin’s History of the Church to 313AD

Today’s free book is Henry Gwatkin’s History of the Church up to the time of Constantine the Great. This public domain work was digitised using the copy held in Spurgeon’s College library. Henry Melvill Gwatkin [1844-1916], Early Church History to A.D. 313, 2 Vols., 2nd edn. London: MacMillan & Co., Ltd., 1912. Hbk. pp.311+382. [Click…

Ancient Chapel in Cyprus

Introduction to the Early History of Christian Doctrine by J.F. Bethune-Baker

Today’s free book is J.F. Bethune-Baker’s extremely useful History fo Early Christian Doctrine, which entered the public domain this year. This title was digitised from the copy held in Spurgeon’s College library. James Franklin Bethune-Baker [1861-1951], An Introduction To The Early History Of Christian Doctrine, 2nd edn. London: Methuen & Co., 1903. Hbk. pp.458. [Click…

Gnosticism in the Second Century – Francis Crawford Burkitt

Today’s Free book is F.C. Burkitt’s Morse Lectures for 1931 on Gnosticism in the Second Century. It includes discussions of the Gnostics groups of Valentinus, the Barbelo-Gnostics and the Mandaeans. My thanks to Book Aid for making this public domain title available for digitisation. Francis Crawford Burkitt [1864-1935], Church & Gnosis. A Study of Christian…

Introduction to Early Christian Books by William John Ferrar

This handy little book provides brief summaries of Christian writers and their writings up to the middle of the Second Century. My thanks to Book Aid for making this public domain volume available for digitisation. William John Ferrar [1868-1945], The Early Christian Books. Handbooks of Christian Literature. London: SPCK, 1919. Hbk. pp.108. [Click here to…

Backhouse & Tylor’s Early Church History to the Time of Constantine

Early Church History to the Death of Constantine was Edward Backhouse’s final work and was completed posthumously by Charles Tylor. Backhouse intended to write church history from the perspective of The Society of Friends (Quakers). His desire, perhaps not fully allowed to himself, was to find out with what early early teachers stigmatised as heretics…