The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, 4th Edition

The resulting two volumes of more than 2,000 pages reflects the monumentality of the work. Louth ably fulfills his goal of creating a reference work that caters to a broad range of readers “from the beginner to the learned,” and this work is one of the few that continues to belong in all libraries. * D. S. Azzolina, CHOICE *This updated version preserves continuity with the work of Cross and Livingstone, while responding to a changing situation within and beyond Christianity in Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Latin America, and North America. It makes even more serious attempts to use inclusive language. Altogether, Louth has ensured that this extremely valuable reference book, in its updated form, will remain a truly indispensable resource for students of Christianity. * Gerald O’Collins, Jesuit Theological College, The Heythrop Journal *a national monument * David Martin, TLS *The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (easily abbreviated as ODCC) has become the indispensable reference work on the history of Christianity and its theology…As a reference work on all aspects of past and present Christianity, the ODCC remains the first place to go to for information and guidance on further study. All the articles have a bibliography and/or cross references for those wishing to know more. For many, a book that can be leafed through is to be preferred. Others may appreciate the search facilities and go-anywhere accessibility that the on line version enables. * Congregational History Society Magazine *This new edition of The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church is a major achievement, and, like its predecessors, is particularly strong in its historical information. * Gerald O’Collins, SJ, Heythrop Journal *The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church extends and deepens the quality of this valuable resource….Combined with its increased emphasis on non-Western Christianity, this edition will remain essential for anyone interested in the history of the Christian church. * Kyle R. Hughes, Review of Biblical Literature *In his preface to this newest edition, general editor Andrew Louth reflects upon some of these changes in the global church and the continued evolution of this particular dictionary. Louth contends that, while previous revisions of the dictionary succeeded to some extent in covering new theological movements and the rise of Christianity in the Global South, “the stance and perspective of the dictionary” was still “firmly rooted” in an Anglican perspective, in particular containing an “Anglo-Catholic bias” that centered the English ecclesiastical experience relative to even other parts of the Anglican Communion (v). * Kyle R. Hughes, Society of Biblical Literature *what is published here reflects excellent scholarship. * Sheryl A. Kujawa-Holbrook, Anglican and Episcopal History *

Andrew Louth is Professor Emeritus of Patristic and Byzantine Studies at Durham University. His many publications include Denys the Areopagite; Maximus the Confessor; St John Damascene: Tradition and Originality in Byzantine Theology; Greek East and Latin West: The Church AD 681-1071. He is also co-editor of Oxford Early Christian Studies and Oxford Early Christian Texts.

F. L. Cross was the Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity in the University of Oxford and Canon of Christ Church from 1944 to 1968. From 1941 to 1948, he was editor of what later was published as A Patristic Greek Lexicon; in 1951 initiated the Oxford International Conferences on Patristic Studies.

E. A. Livingstone assisted F. L. Cross in the first edition of The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church and in the organization of the Oxford International Conferences on Patristic Studies. On his death she assumed responsibility for the second and third editions, and organized the conferences from 1969 to 1995, editing the proceedings. She received an MBE, a Lambeth DD, and a British Academy President’s Medal for services to patristic scholarship.