Forerunners of the Faith (Student Edition)

Author: Nathan Busenitz, John MacArthur

The Christian faith extends beyond our personal experiences, our individual churches, and far beyond our present age. This, for the Christian, is great news. When we become acquainted with the legacy of our Christian heritage, we connect our stories to those of the faithful believers who have come before us.

This connection is precisely what Nathan Busenitz, Dean of Faculty and professor of church history at The Master's Seminary, seeks to provide. Based on the bestselling Fundamentals of the Faith, Forerunners of the Faith outlines the biblical orthodoxy that characterizes the true church. Busenitz then succinctly identifies thirteen key lessons that capture the trials and triumphs of the historical Church, providing insights for how the ancient Christians responded to the problems of their day to become the pillars of faith we now consider them to be. Learn how your faith stands on the shoulders of giants like Athanasius, Augustine, and Wycliffe. As more than a didactic resource, Forerunners of the Faith serves as spiritual encouragement as we remember the legacy of God’s faithfulness to his people.

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• How to Use This Manual
• Introduction

Part I: The Apostolic Age (1st Century)

1. The Biblical Framework: Identifying the Pillars of the Faith
2. From Pentecost to Patmos: Peter, Paul, and the First-Century Church

Part II: The Patristic Period (2nd–5th Centuries)

1. The Disciples of the Apostles: Clement, Polycarp, and the Early Church Fathers
2. Contending for the Faith: Justin, Irenaeus, and the Pre-Nicene Church
3. Defending the Deity of Christ: Athanasius and the Council of Nicaea
4. Grace and Truth: Augustine, Chrysostom, and the Post-Nicene Church

Part III: The Middle Ages (6th–15th Centuries)

1. Controversies and Councils: Doctrinal Debates in the Late Patristic Period and Early Middle Ages
2. Schisms, Scholars, and Soldiers: Anselm, Bernard, and the Crusades
3. Forerunners to the Reformation: Waldo, Wycliffe, and the Pre-Reformers

Part IV: The Reformation and Modern Period (16th–20th Centuries)

1. After Darkness, Light: Luther, Calvin, and the Protestant Reformers
2. From Reformation to Revival: Edwards, Whitefield, and the Great Awakening
3. The Gospel Goes Forth: Carey, Judson, and the Modern Missions Movement
4. The Battle for the Bible: Faithful Believers in the Face of Modernism