Some books grab you from the first page and never let go. Michael Reeves’ The Unquenchable Flame: Discovering the Heart of the Reformation (B&H Academic, 2010) was one such book for me. In fact, I read it in a single day. It came highly recommended by my friend and former church history professor, Dr. Sean Lucas, and after finishing it, I think I can say that it’s now my favorite book on church history.
I’m not going to offer a comprehensive review of this work. Instead, I want to share a few quick thoughts on why this book stood out to me and why I think it’s worth your time, whether you’re new to the subject or have spent years studying church history.
A Fast-Paced, Focused Narrative
First, Reeves does a phenomenal job of keeping the story moving. Much of the church history I’ve read has a tendency to get bogged down in the minutiae. Sometimes those details are necessary, and sometimes they’re interesting, but they can often cause us to lose sight of the larger story. The Unquenchable Flame manages to avoid that pitfall.
Reeves gives us a high-level overview without sacrificing the heart of the story. When I finished the book, I had a clearer grasp than ever of the causes of the Reformation, the key players involved, and the monumental stakes at hand. Reeves masterfully balances depth with brevity, inserting loads of fascinating tidbits along the way that might provoke you to dig deeper elsewhere. But what he never does is lose sight of the overall narrative.
Humor and Absurdity in History
Another thing I loved about the book was Reeves’ use of humor. The fact is, much of church history is ridiculous! From our vantage point 500 years removed, things that were deadly serious at the time can now be seen with a bit of levity. Reeves handles this balance well, bringing out the absurdity of certain situations without being irreverent.
For example, his description of the Archbishop of Canterbury William Laud, made me laugh out loud:
“Laud was never a man much able to win people over; he seemed to reserve all displays of warmth for his pet cats and giant tortoise. The thing was, he didn’t even seem to try. When Charles re-issued his father’s Book of Sports, Laud merrily suspended all clergy who refused to play ball and read it from the pulpit. But it was Laud’s love of liturgy and orderliness (his liturgy and orderliness) that really got people’s backs up. For example, he installed communion rails in the churches; and that, people reckoned, was either the attempt of a cat-lover to curb the freedom of the average Englishman’s beloved dog (people were quite used to bringing their dogs to church), or it was popish. Given that Laud insisted people kneel at the rail for communion, it looked like the latter” (The Unquenchable Flame, p. 166-167).
That’s just one example, but there are many more moments like it that make this book a joy to read.
A Push Toward Further Study
One of the best things a book like this can do is inspire you to read more, and Reeves did that for me. His description of Richard Sibbes and his famous work The Bruised Reed intrigued me so much that I bought it and read it also. He also deepened my love and appreciation for John Calvin, which already ran very deep. Reeves includes a jaw-dropping report from Calvin to his doctors detailing his health issues. I won’t reprint it here, but after reading it I resolved to eliminate complaining from my mouth. Despite his tremendous suffering, Calvin faithfully preached the Word day in and day out. Books like this remind us that our heroes carried out their ministries amid the trials and challenges of real life.
Appreciating The Greek New Testament as an Essential Catalyst
Another insight from the book that left a strong impression on me was Reeves’ treatment of Erasmus’ Greek New Testament. While we often hear about Martin Luther, John Calvin, and other well-known Reformers, it’s clear to me now that without Erasmus’ critical edition of the Greek New Testament, the Reformation might not have happened at all. Reeves helped me appreciate how the publication of that Greek New Testament became an essential piece of God’s plan to ignite the Reformation.
Pouring Fuel on the Fire of My Passion for Ministry
Finally, The Unquenchable Flame did something that I did not anticipate: it poured fuel on the fire of my passion for the gospel ministry. It’s not that I’ve been wavering in my calling, but reading this captivating portrayal of the Reformers filled me with a renewed sense of purpose. These were men and women who endured tremendous opposition and personal suffering to ensure that the gospel of grace was proclaimed clearly and powerfully. Their example reminded me of what a privilege it is to be called to preach and live out the same message. As the Reformers themselves knew, this is a message worth living for—and worth dying for.
Highly Recommended
I highly recommend The Unquenchable Flame to every Christian, whether you’re a novice in church history or an expert. For the novice, it’s a very accessible and easy to read introduction to one of the most exciting and pivotal eras in the history of the church. For the expert, it’s a fun, compelling, and refreshing example of how we can introduce more people to the amazing history of Christ’s church. The Unquenchable Flame is a powerful reminder of the beauty and truth of the gospel message that was reignited during the Reformation. It’s a flame that still burns today, and it’s one we must never allow to be quenched.
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