Bird Books to Pre-Order
Second Century Christianity. The Historical Jesus. The Basics of Christianity.
Hi friends, sabbatical has only started as of Tuesday, but I’m already off to a cracking start with three NEW Mike Bird books now available for pre-order. They are, in order of publication!
I do not want to exaggerate, but I think this book will be the standard reference work on second-century Christianity for the foreseeable future. We have assembled a brilliant cast of contributors who do a cracking job of excavating one of the most important periods of early church history.
The second century of the Common Era was a time of significant transition, innovation, and upheaval for the Greco-Roman world. In the midst of great societal changes the relatively new religious movement of Christianity began to find its footing as a coherent body―though undeniably marked by incredible diversity of thought, expression, and practice―as it moved beyond its Judaic roots and took on a more Hellenistic tenor, albeit unevenly. This formative era for the church has unfortunately received little attention from a comprehensive scholarly perspective; research is sporadic, fragmented, and often focused on the major texts of the early apologists, hardly representative of the full swath of the various forms of Christianity around the Mediterranean.
A Handbook to Second-Century Christianity aims to fill that gap and provide a wide-ranging guide to the key features of the early church in the context of the Roman Empire at its height. Leading international scholars bring to light material evidence, neglected sources, apologists and theologians, heretical groups, apocryphal writings, persecution and martyrdom traditions, formation of the biblical canon, and ecclesiastical growth. Taken together, these essays present a rich and dynamic portrait of Christianity in this pivotal time period, one that takes seriously the variegated contours of the developing faith. A Handbook to Second-Century Christianity will prove an authoritative resource for researchers as well as teachers of Christian history and historical theology.
Available 15 Oct 2025 from Baylor University Press. Pre-order here.
This book has been in the making for 25 years and I have finally reached the point where I could complete it. It was initially due in 2013, but I did not rush it, I took my time, and it is better for it.
In Whispers of Revolution, Michael Bird slices a path through the tangle of conspiracy theories, older hypotheses, and scholarly debates to propose a compelling idea: the historical Jesus was driven by the conviction that through his words and work, his mission and message, God was unveiling his kingship in a way that would rescue Israel and eventually restore the whole world.
This careful and concise scholarly work covers a wide range of topics related to the historical Jesus and his context. Bird studies Jesus in light of archaeology, Judean history, and apocalypticism. He scrutinizes sayings of Jesus and stories about Jesus, challenging many scholarly paradigms to offer a portrait of Jesus that avoids both sensationalism and pious simplification. The result is a story of Jesus that puts him firmly in the world of ancient Galilee and Judea and explains how this man, crucified by the Romans, became the catalyst for a movement that would defy and then consume the Roman empire.
This important contribution will appeal to scholars, students, and all readers looking for a fresh examination of the life of Jesus.
Available 15 Nov 2025 from Apollos UK and Baker Academic. Pre-order here.
WCOB is my introduction to the basics of theology. It’s been very successful volume sd it is well used in churches and seminaries, so it gets an enhancement and an upgrade in this second edition. And it is a genuine second edition, not gloss! I add 10% new content, add more things for study groups, and try to make it even better. Still uses the Apostles’ Creed as a template for teaching theology.
The Apostles' Creed is a treasure trove of basic Christian beliefs and wisdom that helps ensure the integrity and orthodoxy of our faith.
Sadly, modern churches have often hesitated to embrace the ancient creeds because of our "nothing but the Bible" tradition. In?What Christians Ought to Believe, Second Edition?Michael Bird will open your eyes to the possibilities of the Apostles' Creed as a way to explore and understand the essential teachings of the Christian faith. This updated edition enhances the explanations to provide even more thorough expositions and illustrations of the basic tenets of Christian faith.
Bringing together theological commentary, tips for application, and memorable illustrations, What Christians Ought to Believe, Second Edition summarizes the basic tenets of the Christian faith using the Apostles' Creed as its entryway. After first emphasizing the importance of creeds for the formation of the Christian faith, each chapter, following the Creed's outline, introduces the Father, the Son, and the Spirit and the Church. An appendix includes the Apostles' Creed in the original Latin and Greek, as well as the Nicene Creed.
Available 10 Feb 2026 from Zondervan. Pre-order here.
Loved your work on Luke-Acts . Well done !! ( I have been attending hospital in surgical theatre preparation for radiation treatment for low grade prostate cancer and so Luke Acts came with me to hospital .. and I loved it !!! ) blessings ..
I used the first edition of WCOB when I taught the AC several years ago. I loved the book! I look forward to the new edition.