Review: The General Councils: a History of the Twenty-One Church Councils from Nicea to Vatican II

I read The General Councils: a History of the Twenty-One Church Councils from Nicea to Vatican II by Dr. Christopher M. Bellitto in preparation for a study I plan to lead on the Crusades and the Church Councils of the period. (Last year, I lead a study on the eight “ecumenical” councils.). Bellitto’s book is concise, readable, and presents the major historical, political, and theological issues involved in the Councils. I am finding it helpful in my preparations, and I believe anyone interested in the Councils would benefit from this introduction.

Two caveats about the book: First, I wish he had spent more time in fleshing out the theological issues: one can get the point of them, but one’s understanding would be clearer with a little more explanation.

Second, this book is written from a decidedly Roman Catholic perspective and that, perhaps, has led to slighting the Protestants, especially in the section on Trent, by not fully presenting their views. For example: on page 105, he claims that Protestants believe that Adam’s sin did not stain his prodigy, but only gave them a predisposition to sin. Then, on page 106, he claims that there are two views of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper in Protestantism: consubstantiation and memorialism. It is disappointing that a historian would leave out other prominent views.

If one knows enough Protestant and doctrinal history, one can easily balance out these problems.