González, Justo. The Story of Christianity. Volume 1. Revised edition. New York: HarperCollins, 2010.
González’s history of Christianity is an excellent survey of church history. His style is engaging, the chapters and chapter sections are brief, and the is largely accurate. González is not an evangelical, so the reader will want to be discerning. For instance, I found him too open to the idea that there was not settled orthodoxy in the earliest history of the church. But in general I found his telling of the Christian story to be fair and accurate. Volume one ends just prior to the Reformation.
I’d recommend
Rosner, Brian S. Paul and the Law: Keeping the Commandments of God. New Studies in Biblical Theology. Edited by D. A. Carson. InterVarsity, 2013.
Schreiner, Thomas R. 40 Questions About Christians and Biblical Law. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2010.
Both are broader treatments, but they should also address they question you raise.
Ramon says
Thank you Brian. Do know of any good books on the law and it’s relationship to salvation?
God bless,
Ramon Contreras
Brian says
I’d recommend
Rosner, Brian S. Paul and the Law: Keeping the Commandments of God. New Studies in Biblical Theology. Edited by D. A. Carson. InterVarsity, 2013.
Schreiner, Thomas R. 40 Questions About Christians and Biblical Law. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2010.
Both are broader treatments, but they should also address they question you raise.