The Eternal City: Rome & the Origins of Catholic Christianity

Excellent history of Rome and the Catholic ChurchI learned much from this author and this book.Every catholic should read this!

This book brought Paul in the Gospels with details I had not considered. I couldn't put the book down, and have recommended it to many. I bought the trilogy as a gift to my church's library.

As previous reviewers have likely noted, this book is the final installment in a trilogy. After reading the second installment, The Catholic Perspective on Paul, I said to myself, "I'll be a Catholic by next Easter." Easter has not come yet, but I am enrolled in RCIA, strongly considering entering the Catholic Church. Like the previous volumes, The Eternal City has a lot to offer someone from a Protestant background "feeling" his way towards Catholicism.The central question of the book is, "What does Rome have to do with salvation history?" Dr. Marshall answers well, with a presentation that includes both the big picture as well as details that add color. For example, did you know a good case can be made that the Catholic Church was prophesied in the book of Daniel? Dr. Marshall addresses this issue in chapter one. And did you know that there was a close, if often strained, relationship between the Jewish people and the Roman Empire, even before the time of Christ? Dr. Marshall lays out an eye-opening account of both the inter-testamental period and the time of the Gospels in chapters two through four.The rest of the book explores Peter and the Papacy (chapters five through seven), the destruction of the Jerusalem temple (eight), the reign of the Emperor Constantine (nine), and the fall of the Roman Empire (ten). Highlights of the second half include an intriguing exposition of the book of Revelation and an interesting approach to explaining/critiquing the Eastern Orthodox schism based on Augustine's distinction between the City of God and the City of Man.Chapter ten is a fitting conclusion. After arguing that God intended the Church to be founded and centered in Rome, Dr. Marshall admits that Rome is not our final home: Heaven is.The book is an enjoyable read. The momentum grows as the story of salvation is told. Very, very rarely did I wonder if the argument might be forced (and those occasions could have been due to my own ignorance more than anything else.)If you are interested in learning more about Church history from the Catholic perspective, consider The Eternal City, as well as Dr. Marshall's other books. But be warned: you might find yourself saying, "I'll be Catholic by next Easter."

Beginning with the Old Testament prophets, Dr. Taylor Marshall explains how the Messiah would come and assume reign over the nations through the Roman Empire. It objective and well-researched, yet easy-to-read and hard to put down. This book helped reaffirming my belief in Jesus being present in the community of the Roman Catholic Church, and her perennial teachings in a world and times when many other religions have aligned themselves to the ever spinning moral compass of fashionable, woke and immoral views in the name of staying current.

I just finished reading this book and I found it very informative. It made me very proud being a ROMAN CATHOLIC. Dr. Marshall beautifully explained that the conversion of the Roman Empire is part of the Divine Plan to propagate the Gospel and the Kingdom of the Messiah on earth. He gave us a compelling explanation of the ancient prophecy of Daniel wherein the Four Great Empires of Ancient Times crumbled with the coming of the Messiah - Jesus the Lord. Then, the Birth of the Messiah occurred when the Roman Empire was at the height of its power. The Pax Romana became the must cruel anti-Christian empire in history but the Lord Jesus defeated that mighty empire through Peter the Fisherman and Paul of Tarsus armed only with faith and the Word of God. His explanation why the Church chose December 25 as the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord Jesus is also very compelling.God bless you Dr. Marshall and welcome home to the Catholic Church.

This book did show that dr. Taylor Marshall his family and even those that were born into the faith Hall that realization of Truth is does come about how God does work Wonders. and so again I encourage us all to persevere in faith and good works I enjoy his teaming up with mr. Timothy Gordon and of course there's another gentleman all three or very much with zeal it is good to see, God bless you all

Thanks to this book I learned to love Peter. Its filled with a ton of history so at times it gets a little dense while reading it. This is the 3rd book of the series. By far this is my favorite book in the series. At times I wished that Taylor Marshall would take it a little further in his explanations but then I came to realize that my lack of understanding in certain areas probably has nothing to do with his explaining and everything to do with the fact that I've never been anything other than Catholic. You would need to have walked the path that Taylor Marshall has walked to fully understand some of his explanations, in my opinion. Even so, the book is great. If you do not fall in love with Peter, The Rock you basically didn't read the book :). Enjoy!

The author gives good reasons why the Bishop of Rome is the head of the Roman Catholic Church. Why St. Peter and Paul went there and established the Church there. The scriptural reasons for their actions. No one has ever given the reasons why Rome is the center of Catholicism and will always be. The book is very informative and possesses excellent scholarship.

Taylor Marshall 's book, The Eternal City: Rome & the Origins Of Catholic Christianity, is a fascinating look at the Origins of the Catholic Church in Rome. It describes the birth of the Christian faith from both old and new treatments backed up with writings from the church fathers. It deals with those who disagree that the Catholic Church was ordained by Jesus using the tools of scripture itself.It is the third of a trilogy of books from Taylor Marshall and was the best one yet. Taylor Marshall 's way of writing is far from boring. He makes the books come alive and easily remembered.I might just read them again.Michael Whelan

Puts the "Roman" in Roman Catholicism.

It was mind boggling. This really proves who is the mother church, it is none other than the Catholic Church.The Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.Thanks Talylor Marshall for such wonderful research and putting it in Simple words.God Bless u and your work

You need this for your library.

An interesting theme and topic with facts worthwhile o have a look at. Not just for Catholics, but for anybody, interested in politics.