Who are the most important figures in Christian history?

Among the most influential are Augustine of Hippo, Athanasius, Thomas Aquinas, Francis of Assisi, Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, C. S. Lewis, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Billy Graham, spanning the early church through the modern age.

Are these Christian figures presented honestly?

Yes. These profiles state the facts, including the difficult ones, such as Luther's later antisemitic writings, Calvin's part in the execution of Servetus, and Edwards owning enslaved people, alongside the good, with accurate dates and works.

What do these historical Christians have in common?

Across very different centuries and cultures, each pointed beyond himself or herself to Jesus Christ. Their lives and writings are gateways to the person at the center of the Christian faith.

Christian History

Great Christians in History

Christian history is carried by real people, brilliant and flawed, who shaped the faith and pointed beyond themselves to Jesus Christ. These are honest, source-based profiles of nineteen of the most important, from the early church fathers through the Reformation to modern witnesses. Each page gives the facts, including the hard ones, and traces how their life and teaching lead back to Christ.

These are not saints on pedestals but human beings, some of them deeply flawed, whose lives moved the story of the church and whose witness still points to Jesus. We have tried to tell the truth about each of them, the good and the hard, with accurate dates and real works. Follow any name to read the fuller story.

The early church

Augustine of Hippo →354 to 430 · Roman North Africa Athanasius of Alexandria →c. 296 to 373 · Alexandria, Egypt Patrick of Ireland →Fifth century · Britain and Ireland

The medieval church

Thomas Aquinas →1225 to 1274 · Italy Francis of Assisi →c. 1181 to 1226 · Assisi, Italy

The Reformation

Martin Luther →1483 to 1546 · Germany John Calvin →1509 to 1564 · France and Geneva

The Reformation era

Teresa of Avila →1515 to 1582 · Spain

Revival and awakening

Jonathan Edwards →1703 to 1758 · Colonial America John Wesley →1703 to 1791 · England

Faith and reform

William Wilberforce →1759 to 1833 · England Charles Spurgeon →1834 to 1892 · England

Modern witnesses

Dietrich Bonhoeffer →1906 to 1945 · Germany C. S. Lewis →1898 to 1963 · Britain Corrie ten Boom →1892 to 1983 · Netherlands Billy Graham →1918 to 2018 · United States

Faith and mission

Hudson Taylor →1832 to 1905 · Britain and China George Muller →1805 to 1898 · Germany and England Fanny Crosby →1820 to 1915 · United States

The people of the Bible are covered separately: Who is Jesus?, Paul the apostle, and more.

Frequently asked questions

Who are the most important figures in Christian history?: Among the most influential are Augustine of Hippo, Athanasius, Thomas Aquinas, Francis of Assisi, Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, C. S. Lewis, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Billy Graham, spanning the early church through the modern age.
Are these Christian figures presented honestly?: Yes. These profiles state the facts, including the difficult ones, such as Luther's later antisemitic writings, Calvin's part in the execution of Servetus, and Edwards owning enslaved people, alongside the good, with accurate dates and works.
What do these historical Christians have in common?: Across very different centuries and cultures, each pointed beyond himself or herself to Jesus Christ. Their lives and writings are gateways to the person at the center of the Christian faith.

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Where their witness leads

Every one of them would not want to be the last word. Every one of these people said, in the end, the same thing: do not look finally at me, but at the Christ I followed and pointed to. They are worth reading, and they are honest about their own failures. The living Jesus they trusted is still near to anyone who comes to him with an open heart, and meeting him yourself costs nothing but a little quiet and an honest look. The Gospel of John is a gentle place to begin.

Meet Jesus Read the Gospel of John The story of the church

Jesus Christ is Lord.