The Christian Century

Any book by veteran church historian Robert Wilken demands respectful attention. The First Thousand Years is an ambitious and wide-ranging survey of the first half of the Christian story. The highly accessible volume abounds with lively tales and fascinating connections, and the color illustrations are a delight. Wilken’s recent scholarship has also given him a global perspective of impressive sweep. I do, however, have some criticisms, partly about his own approach, but also about how he has been treated by his publisher.