From the upper room in Jerusalem to the Council of Chalcedon, More Than Conquerors traces the extraordinary journey of the early Christian Church as it grew from a small, Spirit-filled community into a global faith that transformed the Roman Empire.
In this compelling and richly detailed account, historian Nigel Scotland brings to life the courage, conviction, and theological struggles of the first five centuries of Christianity. Discover how the apostles spread the gospel across continents, how martyrs stood firm in the face of brutal persecution, and how the Church wrestled with heresies, forged creeds, and shaped its identity in a changing world.
With vivid portraits of key figures—from Constantine and Athanasius to Origen and Augustine—and deep insights into the development of worship, doctrine, and church structure, this book is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the roots of Christian faith and the resilience of its earliest followers.
“I wish I had had this ‘vade mecum’ when I was studying Early Church history years ago! Brimming with interest and insight, Dr Scotland’s latest book is a joy to read and a wonderful tool for those starting out in Christian ministry.”
George Carey, Lord Carey of Clifton, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1991–2002
“In engagingly accessible prose, Nigel Scotland brings the thinking of the early Church to life, and helps us to understand better this vital period of the Church's change and growth.”
Peter Scott, University of Manchester
“Many Christians know very little about the important stages in the early development of the Church’s faith. Nigel Scotland helps to address this deficit, as he draws on his many years as a popular teacher of church history in a variety of contexts to provide this accessible account of the first four and a half centuries of Christianity in the Roman Empire. Taking the source documents at face value, he builds a comprehensive narrative that highlights the Church’s practices, internal struggles and mission activities in various periods and settings and includes helpful timelines. Scotland ensures readers will know the essentials about and have a solid basis for further exploration of events, dates, key figures, controversies, councils and creeds in the remarkable expansion of the Christian movement in its most formative stage.”
Andrew T. Lincoln, Emeritus Professor of New Testament, University of Gloucestershire
“Nigel Scotland’s books are a great gift for the church – for leaders, students, ordinands and anyone who is keen to discover more of the rich tapestry of Christian thought. He manages to distil enormous amounts of history and debate into thoughtful and readable summaries which are both illuminating and encouraging. Written by someone who is both an academic and an active minister, Nigel’s work is not just informative but brings compassion and perspective to many contemporary issues the Church faces today.”
Tom Yacomeni, Rector of All Saints Weston Bath with North Stoke and Langridge
