Beyond the Book with Drs. McKinion and Quinn: “Christian History, Volume 1”

At Southeastern, McKinion serves as professor of theology and patristic studies, and Quinn serves as associate professor of theology. In the following Q&A, they take some time to share further about the origins of “Christian History, Volume 1” and how they hope it will serve readers.

What is the purpose of this book, and who is its target audience?

McKinion: I first began teaching church history at Southeastern in 1998. The same textbook I used then is still the primary textbook for church history classes in seminaries and universities today. While there have been some very good textbooks that have emerged, we felt there was still a need for a narrative history of Christian history that focused on doctrinal development and mission. This two-volume church history is targeted at college and seminary students, along with others interested in the history of Christianity.

What originally inspired this project?

Quinn: Steve and I began a conversation a decade ago about the need for a church history volume that we geared especially toward college and seminary students that narrated core doctrinal development through the lens of the Great Tradition with a missional impulse.  Over time our conversations grew into a desire to write such a volume.

How does “Christian History” uniquely situate itself amongst other scholarly overviews of this subject?

McKinion: These volumes tell the story of Christianity as the reception, preservation, and passing on of the gospel of Jesus Christ according to the apostles. We focus on the efforts Christians make at understanding and describing the Christian faith for the purpose of faithful living and mission. We want to tell “our” history. We occupy a unique time in history, but we are heirs of a Great Tradition of Christian mission. We capture the best of scholarship regarding Christian history to best understand how we got to where we are, both theologically and culturally.

For protestants in particular, how does this volume (pre-reformation) serve to deepen their theology and understanding of God’s working in history?

Quinn: As Steve mentioned in the previous question, we desire to help Protestants — especially evangelicals — recognize the centuries prior to the Reformation as “our” story, not just “a” story or “their” story.  While we are confessionally evangelical Baptists, we understand our tradition as integrally connected to the Tradition of the Apostles from the first century until today. In other words, our history as evangelical Baptists doesn’t begin in the 16th century.  We understand ourselves as having received the “faith once for all delivered to the saints,” living that faith in word and deed, and handing on that faith to future generations around the world.

How does this book help readers to better serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission?

McKinion: For 2,000 years Christians have wrestled with how best to explain the biblical faith. Whether theological, liturgical, or moral, Christians have always been on mission, living as witnesses to God’s work in the world through Jesus Christ. Readers discover where theology went wrong, where the church suffered mission drift, and where cultural influences misshaped Christian thinking. But they also see inspiring examples of Christians who faced conflict and emerged with a strong faith. Readers will find Christians whose intellectual efforts and moral courage helped them push into cultural spaces with the gospel of Jesus Christ to help others receive this gospel and share in the Christian faith.

How has writing this book encouraged or challenged you spiritually?

Quinn: Reflecting on the history of the Church is both encouraging and challenging.  Encouraging to remember and learn more about the great saints who have defended and promoted the faith over the centuries. And challenging to consider mistakes and difficult decisions of Christians in the past. Nevertheless, the many years behind us offer a deep well of wisdom for the years ahead of us.