The Eternal Kingdom: A History of the Church – Paperback F. W. Mattox

A history of the church from its establishment in the first century, through the apostasy, the reformation and the restoration of New Testament Christianity in the 20th century.

Written by Mattox, a former professor of church history at Harding College and former president of Lubbock Christian College, this book addresses the need for a general history of the church to help the reader understand undenominational Christianity. A good resource for any Bible student.

358 pages, paperback.

Contents Include:

Part One: Divine Beginnings

• In the Fullness of Time
• Historical Evidence Concerning the Life of Jesus
• The New Testament Church

Part Two: Controversy and Departure

• Uninspired Writings, 100-150
• The Apologists, 185-250
• Through Persecution to Victory, 54-313
• The Development of the Canon
• Departure from the New Testament Pattern, 100-325

Part Three: The Increase in Error, 313-787 A.D.

• The Influence of Constantine
• The Growth of Episcopacy
• The Ecumenical Councils
• The Life, Worship, and Doctrine under Romanism
• Theory and Organization of Roman Catholicism
• The Rise of Mohammedanism

Part Four: The Growth of Papal Power

• Sources of Support for the Papacy
• The Strong Popes
• The Crusades
• Opposition to the Papacy

Part Five: Reformation Beginnings

• The Need for Reformation
• Early Reform Movements
• Decline of Papal Influence

Part Six: The Protestant Reformation, 1517-1800

• The German Reformation
• The Swiss Reformation
• The Spread of Reform Ideas in Europe
• Reformation in England
• Roman Reaction to Reformation
• The Religious Wars
• Denominationalism Transferred to America

Part Seven: The Restoration Movement: 19th Century

• Early Beginnings Toward Undenominationalism
• Principles of Undenominationalism
• The Restoration Fully Launched
• Union of Forces: Stone and Campbell
• The Unfinished Restoration