The Church History
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The Church History Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 558 ratings
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Often called the "Father of Church History", Eusebius was the first to trace the rise of Christianity during its crucial first three centuries from Christ to Constantine. Our principal resource for earliest Chrisitianity, The Church History presents a panorama of apostles, church fathers, emperors, bishops, heroes, heretics, confessors, and martyrs.

This audiobook edition includes Paul L. Maier's clear and precise translation, historical commentary on each book in The Church History, and numerous maps, illustrations, and photographs. These features promise to liberate Eusebius from previous outdated and stilted works, creating a new standard primary resource for listeners interested in the early history of Christianity.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio. 

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  1. Listening Length
    13 hours and 14 minutes
  2. Author
    Eusebius, see all
  3. Narrator
    John Lescault
  4. Audible release date
    July 17, 2018
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Blackstone Audio, Inc.
  7. ASIN
    B07F928VXX
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 13 hours and 14 minutes
Author Eusebius, Paul L. Maier - translator, Paul L. Maier - commentary by
Narrator John Lescault
Audible.com Release Date July 17, 2018
Publisher Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B07F928VXX
Best Sellers Rank #187,443 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#353 in History of Christianity (Audible Books & Originals)
#686 in Ancient History (Audible Books & Originals)
#712 in Christian Church & Church Leadership

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
558 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Zeke
5.0 out of 5 stars First 300 History of the church
Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2024
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It’s before Constantine’s conversion and the Counsel of Nicea. I’m only on page 59, but loving the historical writing that’s filled with scripture references!
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David C. Leaumont
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb translation of the father of church history
Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2006
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Dr Maier, the R. H. Seibert Professor of Ancient History at Western Michigan University, has completed this new and helpful translation of Eusebius. The translation is highly readable and in modern language.

Eusebius is a very helpful book for study of the early church, because many of the writings before he completed this in AD 324 are lost because of the early Christian persecutions. So, Eusebius' quotations of these works are the only extant copies of their works. Papias is one such person, who is believed to have been a contemporary of John the Apostle.

Eusebius is called the father of church history because he was the first historian to attempt to chronicle the Christian church from the beginning with Christ until his time, the early 4th century. His writing is the preeminent history of the church from Jesus' time on earth until AD 324, just before the Council of Nicea, but after Constantine had ended Christian persecution from Rome by passing the decree making Christianity a legal and later a preferred religion in the Roman Empire.

Eusebius' writing is not without slant, but considering he was the first to write on this subject, he is still widely regarded as a superb resource of church history. Again, Papias gives an example of this slant, as Eusebius calls his intelligence into question because of his millennial views. But, in studying the early church, Eusebius is the key resource.

This copy of Eusebius is very well bound in the hardback edition. The binding is stout and the pages are thick and durable. Maier's commentary is easily discernible from Eusebius' writings by either being placed in footnotes or on pages with a beige tint. Maier includes many images and notes that help explain aspects of Eusebius' history.

Anyone from lay-people to theologians interested in church history study would be well served by this reliable, modern and sturdy copy of the most referenced church historian in Christian history.
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Jeffrey Van Wagoner
5.0 out of 5 stars The source material for so many Christian Histories
Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2008
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I have always been a great fan of history and have read the works of Gibbon, Durant, and Paul Johnson and noted that they all referenced Eusebius for the first few centuries of Christian history. I decided that I wanted to read this to see everything that he had to say instead of just reading the quotes others used. I also have a great interest in early Christian doctrines and the major heresies and thought this would be a good place to start.

First of all, I thought the translation was excellent. The prose was very understandable and clear. Note that this is the only translation that I have read, so I have no comparison. I also liked the commentaries that the author put in after every chapter to put things into context and to update historical errors that Eusebius made.

I found the extra biblical stories of the apostles fascinating. I also learned a lot about the early church fathers and the early heretics. Eusebius extensively covered the persecutions that the early Christians endured.

As far as doctrines, he didn't go into much detail, except when explaining the heresies; and that was explaining what they didn't believe. The most enlightening section on his beliefs was in the end when he gave a Panegyric on the building of some churches. Here I was able to get a good feel for his beliefs in God. Maier did note that he trimmed this section a bit due to its "excessively eulogistic verbiage". I would be interested in seeing all of that section for doctrinal reasons. I'll have to look elsewhere. As far as I could tell, that is the only section he trimmed.

I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in early Christian history. It is clearly a must for anyone interested in the subject.
28 people found this helpful
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A. Sutono, a.k.a., Birdey The Observer
5.0 out of 5 stars An Indispensable Resource
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2013
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I am delighted that the first church history text by Eusebius of Caesarea is made available in English by Prof. Maier, an expert story-teller. The ten-volumes consist of Christology in book 1, the progress of Christianity from the ascension of Christ to the reign of Diocletian in books 2-7, the Diocletian persecution in book 8, Constantine's victory and his imperial favor to the church in book 9 and Christianity prospering as the state religion in book 10. Eusebius cites other authors such as Josephus on the account of the siege of Jerusalem under Titus the son of Vespasian the Caesar (p.82-87), whose scene reminds one of what happened during the first siege when the city fell to Babylon in 586 BC under Nebuchadnezzar that the prophet Jeremiah writes in Lamentations. One problem I am annoyed with in this book is Eusebius seems to be excessively concerned with names. He wants to ensure that he gets all the names right in the apostolic succession which may distract the solemnity of the reader's experience. Nevertheless, vivid descriptions of brutality towards Christians under hostile imperial regimes, the unspeakable suffering they endured with courage out of their love and allegiance to Jesus Christ are much appreciated for the edification of the church today. Some popular stories include the martyrdoms of Ignatius the bishop of Antioch and Polycarp the bishop of Smyrna. An excerpt from the letter Ignatius wrote sheds light on the account of his death (p.109),

"From Syria to Rome, I am fighting with wild animals on land and sea, night and day, chained to ten leopards - a troop of soldiers - whom kindness makes even worse. Their shameful deeds increase my discipleship, but this does not justify me. May I benefit from those wild beasts that are ready for me, and I pray that they are prompt. I will coax them to devour me quickly, not as with some whom they have been afraid to touch. If they are unwilling, I will force them to do it. Pardon me, but I know what is best for me: now I am starting to be a disciple. May I envy nothing seen or unseen in gaining Jesus Christ. Let fire and cross, struggles with beasts, tearing bones apart, mangling limbs, crushing of my whole body, and tortures of the devil come upon me, if only I may attain Jesus Christ."

The martyrdom of Polycarp (p.131-135), burnt alive at "the stadium," is perhaps highlighted by the last moment before he died in which "he was filled with courage and joy, and his features with such grace that they did not pale with alarm at what was said to him." Then there is his remark in response to the governor's pressure on him to curse Christ "For eighty-six years I have been his servant and he has never done me wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?"

Both sides of the stories in Eusebius's Ekklesiastices Historias, the original title in Greek, in which Christianity was persecuted under Roman regimes before Constantine and its privileged status afterwards are reflected today in countries hostile to Christianity and the prosperous West, respectively. While there is no need to feel guilty for those of us living in the West, the Western churches would do well to remember various Scripture exhortations to support their persecuted brothers and sisters. I will only include Pink's exposition on Heb 10:32-34 and 13:3 in this regard, "It is the bounden duty for Christians to express in a practical way their compassion for any of Christ's suffering servants, doing everything in their power to succor, support and relieve them...remember them in your prayers, intercede for them, seeking on their behalf grace from God, that they may meekly acquiesce to his providential dealings...Finally, do unto them as you would wish them to do unto you were you in their place. If you can obtain permission, visit them (Matt 25:36), endeavor to comfort them, so far as practicable relieve their sufferings; and leave no stone unturned to seek their lawful release" (An Exposition of Hebrews, p.631, 1121-1122).
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Top reviews from other countries

pw242
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly readable
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 23, 2020
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Paul Maier has done a great job. The translation is a pleasure to read. In addition this edition has high production values with clear font at a sensible size (too often this sort of work is printed in miniature for some reason). Each chapter concludes with a helpful section giving more context and background. Likewise the footnotes contribute to understanding without detracting from the flow. Unusually there are several pictures and maps embedded in the text which again aid understanding. I don't know why this isn't done more often.

As far as Eusebius himself, his History covers a critical period and gives us a unique insight. He supports much of what he says from primary sources which he quotes at length. It is clear that he wants to persuade rather than assert. I found the story fascinating, comparable to any adventure novel.
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Aaron Hernandez
5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended
Reviewed in Mexico on October 3, 2018
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The book contains really good information, Eusebius one of the best historian on early Church, supported by L Maier the book explains a lot details on that time when the Church there was started also the comments are really interesting for the reader and give a real idea on many acts that the Church suffered. I recommend for serious students.
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originalvagabond
3.0 out of 5 stars Most Anti-Semetic Book Ever?
Reviewed in Italy on April 2, 2014
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Eusebius' constant hapring on how everything bad that ever happens to a Jew is Divine Justice punishment for the lie that Jews killed Christ makes it hard to read this book. But I guess from an historical perspective it's good to know where anti-Semetic hatred began.
But it's a bit problematic to read a "history" that doesn't know the story is Christ was crucified by the Romans. And even if Eusebius' wants to blame Jews to make himself feel better and superior, saying Jews killed Christ is like saying white people killed JFK. It be laughable if the reprecussions weren't so deadly...even to this day.
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J. B. L. Ayliffe
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 2, 2017
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It's an interesting read and a more accessible way of unpacking Eusebius, The Church History, with Paul L Maier's helpful comments.
The book is well illustrated too. Highly recommended.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book. I would recommend it to all history buffs.
Reviewed in Canada on February 22, 2016
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Good introduction.
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