That record is often incomplete, inaccurate, embarrassingly voluminous or obscure. Thus we need historians to evaluate, select and explain. Our picture of the past is filtered by historians; their judgement of what is true and significant profoundly influences the history books we read.

Since historians - and everyone else - view the past from some perspective, the question naturally arises: How should Christians view history? Roy Swanstrom introduces us to the relationship between history and the Christian faith. He asks key questions: What are the alternative ways of looking at the past? How does the Bible portray history? Does Christianity contribute to an understanding of history and and, conversely, does a knowledge of history contribute to the Christian life? Does God intervene in history?

Professor Swanstrom (Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley) is a professor of history at Seattle Pacific University.
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