The Jesus Proposal. Rubel Shelly and John York.
A plea for unity in the church focusing on the simple message of Christ Jesus.

Visit Rubel Shelly's website

Dictionary of Early Church Beliefs. David W. Bercot.
An indispensible compendeum for an in-depth study of the writing of the ante-Nicean writers organized by over 700 topics.

God In Sandals. Margaret Montreuil.
A beautiful novel of Jesus' ministry on earth.

Visit the author's website

God With Us. Margaret Montreuil.
A companion study guide for God in Sandals.

Visit the author's website

Paul, Women & Wives. Craig S. Keener.
One of the most complete, objective treatments of the issue of women's roles in the church and in the family.

Women in the Church: Reclaiming the Ideal . Carroll Osburn..
Another excellent study about the role of women in the church, marred only by a couple of unfounded assertions at the end of the book. Otherwise, all conclusions are carefully and thoroughly documented.

The First Urban Christians. Wayne A. Meeks.
A wonderful analysis of the practical aspects of Paul’s ministry, perhaps the most interesting book I read while writing Peculiar People.

Paul: A Critical Life. Jerome Murphy-O'Connor.
A bold, dramatic reconstruction of Paul’s life based on his letters. The chronology of events in Paul’s life embedded in Peculiar People is based largely on Murphy-O'Connor's analysis.

The Theology of Paul the Apostle. James Dunn.
If you're really, really into Paul, this is probably the ultimate tome for you! The book uses Romans as the road map for constructing an integrated Pauline theology.
This is only for the serious student.

Ecclesiastical History. Eusebius Pamphilus, C. F. Cruse (Translator).
This 4th century work details the history of the church from Christ to Constantine using many now-lost sources that were available during Eusebius' time. An essential church history reference.

Pagan Rome and the Early Christians. Stephen Benko.
A fascinating treatment of Christianity from the perspective of the Romans.

Introducing the New Testament. John William Drane.
Easily the best general introduction to the New Testament I have found.

The First Century: Emperors, Gods and Eveyman . William K. Klingaman.
Combines events in Rome, Judea, and China—a very interesting read.

The Rise of Christianity. Rodney Stark.
A sometimes jaded, but nevertheless insightful, account of the growth of the early church using modern sociological theory.

A World Full of Gods: The Strange Triumph of Christianity. Keith Hopkins.
A provacative, highly entertaining reconstruction of the early years of Christianity. Warning: this book may offend some readers. Among books about the early church, I'd give this one an R rating.

Austin's Topical History of Christianity. Bill R. Austin.
This book is out of print, but it is far and away the most readable general history of Christianity I have encountered. You can click the graphic to the left to search for a used copy.

The Ante-Nicene Fathers: 10 volumes. Alexander Roberts, editor.
The complete works of the Ante-Nicene (pre-325) fathers in 10 volumes.

Note: ChristianBook sells this set for $99.99

Early Christians Speak. Everett Ferguson.
A discussion of the beliefs of early Christians based on the Ante-Nicene writings.

Note: I haven't read this one but it is recommended by subscribers.

The Method and Message of Jesus' Teachings. Robert H. Stein.
Stein helps locate the many modes of discourse of Jesus, speculates as to why they were employed, and leads readers through the mazeways of the Gospels. A reverent and learned treatment".--The Christian Century.
Subscriber recommendation

The Life and Teachings of Hillel. Yitzhak Buxbaum.
"This book" is a treasure of information relating to all aspects of Jewish life. It is well researched and very well documented. The book brings to life an entire historical period with its giant leaders. It is amazing how much of Hillel's teachings are still applicable in modern times. It is a joy to read!" (Association of Jewish Librairies review)