The Beginnings of the Church masterfully summarizes the dramatic shifts in the way scholars understand the first-century Church. Using the latest scholarship, Frederick J. Cwiekowski traces the church’s story from its origins in the ministry of Jesus to the end of the New Testament period. Cwiekowski reviews the ministry of Jesus, the Resurrection, Pentecost, and how these events formed the mission of the early church. He discusses growth and development in the ancient church, the death of the apostles, the fall of Jerusalem, the entrance of the Gentiles into the church, and the gradual separation of the church from Judaism. Ecumenical in its scope, The Beginnings of the Church is a valuable guide for church historians, seminarians, and priests.

Our largest package, the 2025 Ultimate Library, provides an incredible library for biblical research and theological reflection. Whether focused on Church history or biblical exegesis, the vast collection of resources and titles at your fingertips cover the gamut—from most devotionals to practical discussions of pastoral ministry to the most rigorous scholarly and academic research. This package has everything you need to engage in the serious study of Scripture and its world, with respected resources like the Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies | LHBOTS (382 vols.) and top-tier exegetical commentaries like the New International Commentary on the Old and New Testament | NIC (51 vols.).