Table Of Contenta guide for your journey into the ministry— c
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in Exploring Church History, Derek Cooper invites readers to consider the signifi- p
cance of church history in the lives of individuals and communities today. rather e
than offering an exploration of bygone eras and outdated events, cooper brings r
history to life by emphasizing how past events, individuals, and movements shape
our understanding of the world around us. While the first and second sections ex-
plain why and what we study in church history, the last section teaches readers how
to study church history.
praise for Exploring Church History
“For anyone thinking church history has to be boring, this book is the perfect antidote. In a rapid-fire
romp through the last two thousand years and around the world, Derek Cooper shows how engaging E
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and relevant the study of the Christian past can be.”
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Douglas Jacobsen, Messiah college l
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“Exploring Church History is engaging and thought-provoking and enlightens the reader both histori- r
cally and theologically. By rooting the discussions in the creeds, Cooper squarely makes this work in
historical theology. By weaving in historical and personal stories, he helps the student see the integral g
importance of studying church history for both the individual and the church. Exploring Church His- expLoring
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tory is suitable for early and prospective seminarians, Bible study groups, and those seeking to have a
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better understanding of the importance of historical theology in their lives and in the ongoing life of cHurcH History
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the church. I highly recommend it for study and for spiritual formation, and I plan to use it myself!”
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Jonathan s. riches, reformed episcopal seminary C
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“The convoluted, complicated, multilayered, and omnifaceted subject of church history finds a re-
freshingly accessible and reliably honest invitation to explore this subject in and through this nu- h derek cooper
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anced and candid book. Drawing upon the ‘marks’ of the church and using them as a frame to ask s
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stimulating questions, the writer goes on to offer a range of evocative and wide-ranging illustrations o
and wraps this up with significant methodological observations, all of which open the field to students r
and scholars alike to engage in creative exploration of the legacy and living reality that is the church y
in the world.”
J. Jayakiran sebastian, the Lutheran theological seminary at philadelphia
Derek Cooper is associate professor of world Christian history at Biblical Seminary in Hatfield,
Pennsylvania, where he is also the director of the doctor of ministry program. He is the author of
several books, including Christianity and World Religions: An Introduction to the World’s Major Faiths
(2013).
religion / church History
F o u n d a t i o n s F o r L e a r n i n g
Exploring Church History
F O U N D A T I O N S F O R L E A R N I N G
EXPLORING
CHURCH HISTORY
DEREK COOPER
This book is warmly dedicated to my parents, Robert and Gayle Cooper,
for all of their support and love. Although I have branched out,
I have not forgotten my roots.
EXPLORING CHURCH HISTORY
Copyright © 2014 Fortress Press. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical
articles or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written
permission from the publisher. Visit http://www.augsburgfortress.org/copyrights/ or write to
Permissions, Augsburg Fortress, Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440.
Cover design: Laurie Ingram
Book design: PerfecType, Nashville, TN
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available
Print ISBN: 978-1-4514-8890-6
eBook ISBN: 978-1-4514-8960-6
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National
Standard for Information Sciences — Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI
Z329.48-1984.
Manufactured in the U.S.A.
Contents
List of Figures and Tables ix
Part 1: Why We Study Church History—Purpose 1
1. The Church Strives to Be One Family 5
Welcome to Your Story: The Story of the Church 5
The One Family of Christ Jesus: The Church 6
Many Members of the One Family 8
Practicing Hospitality toward Distant Relatives 10
Conclusion: Family First 11
2. The Church Strives to Be a Holy People 15
A Holy People? 15
Holiness in the Bible 16
A List of Grievances 18
Repenting of the Unholiness of the Church 20
Conclusion: Seeking to Become Holier 23
3. The Church Strives to Be a Catholic Body 27
The Universality of the Church 29
Three Ways to Become a More Catholic Church 31
Conclusion: Embodying the Catholicity of the Church 35
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4. The Church Strives to Be an Apostolic Church 39
The Call toward Apostolicity 40
The Difference between Progress and Alteration 42
Insiders versus Outsiders? 44
Conclusion: Wrestling with the Past 46
Part 2: What We Study in Church History—Content 49
5. A Tomb in Italy Illumines the History of Christianity
in Western Europe 53
The Story of a Tomb 54
The Catholic Church 55
The College of Bishops 58
Devotion to Relics 60
Conclusion: Still Adored after Nineteen Hundred Years 63
6. An Icon in Egypt Illumines the History of Christianity
in the East 67
The Story of an Icon 68
A House Divided 69
Icons in the Orthodox Faith 73
The Monastic Movement 75
Conclusion: Christ the Almighty Reigns 77
7. A Stele in China Illumines the History of Christianity in Asia 81
The Story of a Stele 81
The Church of the East 84
The On-Again, Off-Again Church 86
The Collision between Eastern and Western Worldviews 88
Conclusion: Christianity in a Museum? 91
8. A Crucifix in the DRC Illumines the History of Christianity
in Africa 95
The Story of a Crucifix 95
The Church in Africa 97
Cultural Clashes between African and European Christians 103
Conclusion: Lingering Questions 105
Contents TTT vii
9. A Cloak in Mexico Illumines the History of Christianity in Latin
America 109
The Story of a Cloak 110
The Social Context of Latin America 111
Devotion to the Virgin Mary 114
Bridge between European and Indigenous Cultures 117
Conclusion: What a Difference a Cloak Can Make 118
10. A Warehouse in California Illumines the History of Christianity
in North America 121
The Story of a Warehouse 122
American Pentecostal Churches 123
Revivalism in America 127
An Interracial Church 129
Conclusion: From Warehouse to World 133
11. A Boot in Fiji Illumines the History of Christianity in Oceania 137
The Story of a Boot 138
Christianity in the Isles 140
Foreign and Domestic Missionaries 142
A Clash of Civilizations 144
Conclusion: The Holy Clash Continues 147
Part 3: How We Study Church History—Method 151
12. A Medieval Forgery Illumines How to Write a Paper
on Church History 155
The Story of a Medieval Forgery 155
Getting Started on a Research Paper 158
Collecting Sources 159
Formulating an Argument 160
Overcoming Barriers 162
Conclusion: Becoming a Budding Church Historian 163
Figures and Tables
Figures
Chapter 5—Saint Peter’s Tomb in Saint Peter’s Basilica
in the Vatican. The tomb is located directly below the main altar
of the church, Rome. Holger Weinandt, 2003. 46
Chapter 6—The oldest known icon of Christ Pantocrator,
a sixth-century encaustic icon from Saint Catherine’s Monastery,
Mount Sinai. 60
Chapter 7—Reproduction of drawing of the text from Nestorian
Stele, Xi’an, China. The stele was originally engraved in 781 ce. 74
Chapter 8—Early seventeenth-century, copper-alloy cast crucifix
from the Kingdom of Kongo. Two figures atop Jesus and one
below him, all in prayer. 88
Chapter 9—Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City’s
Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Tomasz Pado, 2007. 102
Chapter 10—The Apostolic Faith Gospel Mission on Azusa Street in
1907. Apostolic Faith International Headquarters, Portland, Oregon. 114
Chapter 11—Thomas Baker exhibition at the Fiji Museum in Suva. 128
Chapter 12—Thirteenth-century fresco depiction of Constantine
“donating” his empire to Sylvester and the church.
ix
