A book both well ahead of its time, and timeless. Its language is very readable, an expert translation that is not watered down. To put it simply, it gives the reader the inside story of the people, ideas, and activities of the early Christian church. Not from one looking back (with an agenda), but from one who lived it and had a contemporary's knowledge. It is amazing how it answers many of the most challenging questions at issue today. With a credibility that no current historian or theologian can match. Some background as to issues and concepts would be useful (but not essential) to a reader, since the author simply tells it as it was, with no prescience of today's contexts. A "must read" book for those seriously interested in the foundations of the church and its beliefs.

I have read Eusebius's Church History in four different translations, and find K. Lake's consistently the best, most readable. The Greek text is of course very helpful, for confirming the exact terminology used ie" but the footnotes and intro material are very good. That translation is available online...

V, with the other Books VI-X in another volume.

This edition (part of the Loeb series) has the original Greek text on all the left hand pages and Kirsopp Lake's English translation on all the right hand pages.

There is a difference in the footnotes and margin notes of Kirsopp Lake and G.A. Williamson. Lake's footnotes are more accurate than Williamson's. Lake usually points out the exact primary source (author, work, chapter number) for any of Eusebius' assertions while Williamson is prone to just supply the author's name on occasion, which is frustrating if you are verifying the sources yourself. Moreover, Williamson is occasionally wrong in his explanatory footnotes--asserting theories or arguments in support of Eusebius' text that have not borne close scrutiny later or which are incomplete. Lake's footnotes explain both any misconceptions or controversy about one of Eusebius' points and then attempts to resolve it in the most plausible fashion.

The margin notes in Lake's volume are also noteworthy. Lake tries to reference every source Eusebius uses and list it for the reader. Williamson is not as precise or thorough. This helps if you want to know from material Eusebius is drawing his material from.

The book itself is a beautiful little volume. It is almost pocket-sized, bound like) material with gold lettering if you display it without the paper jacket.

It will be a gem for both your collection and bookshelf display!