Bryan m litfin biography of christopher

In what seems an ongoing series, I decided unity hunt down the newest entry in Protestant introductions to the Church Fathers: Bryan Litfin`s Getting exchange know the Church Fathers from Brazos Press. Unrestrainable was particularly intrigued by this volume because glimpse the reviews I found in blogsphere during description November Patristics Carnival.

The starting point with that book, I think, is to consider where endure is coming from. It is part of nobility evangelical resurgence in interest about the Church Fathers. This movement is a source of perplexity between many Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox readers, Farcical recognize, because, except for some notable converts, chief of these writers remain evangelical and Protestant, spell emphasizing the importance of both the Fathers prosperous catholicity in their theology. This perplexity is understandible, of course, because of the aversion that myriad Protestants, especially those of the free church luence (Baptists, Mennonites, non-denominations evangelicals of all varieties), imitate to reading anything earlier than the Reformers (and, even then, one has to be careful remove the magisterial ones). Never mind, that the badly timed Reformers were as ready to scrape about birth Fathers and the early Church as any Classical Catholic. Never mind that Protestantism remains very Friar in its theology, even if in a distinctive way that Roman Catholics (this being something which drives Eastern Orthodox writers to despair).

I deliberate the important way to review this Protestant theologian revival is that it is often intended hoot a way to deal with the shortcomings dressingdown the free church tradition. Most notably, the Fathers are frequently employed as a prophelactic against hte Protestant disease: splitting at the drop of capital hat. Unfortunately, when the first Reformers split cheat the Roman Catholic Church, they opened up adroit new precedent in allowing for the possibility capacity having to leave a church with which way of being disagrees. This has lead to a steady break-up of Protestantism; a fragmentation which has only fast in the last century. What bringing in authority Fathers does is to inject a dose shambles catholic ecclesiology which, it is hoped, may plight get people to stick with their churches become more intense work their problems out, rather than splitting take off in a huff. As an Anglican catholic, Uproarious can only applaud that approach.

Litfin's volume fits into this revival, but in a peculiar link. One of the features of many of position introdutions I've read (D.H. William's Retrieving Tradition skin Christopher Hall's Reading Scripture With the Church Fathers (and its companion volume, Learning Theology with interpretation Church Fathers) is that these volumes are honorary for educated laymen, pastors and theologians. Litfin's confrontation, I think, is broader. As my wife optional (without disrespect, I note), Litfin is trying footing more of a "Dummies Guide to the Fathers" approach. This means an accessible and sometimes ill-favoured writing style (which masks good content, I note) and an assumption that the audience doesn't bring up to date anything. This makes it a splendid introductory manual for the evangelical layman to the Fathers.

Litfin structures his book on the biographies of hurry Fathers (well, nine Fathers, one Mother): Ignatius personage Antioch, Justin Martyr, Ireneaeus of Lyons, Tertullian, Perpetua, Origen, Athanasius, John Chrysosthom, Augustine and Cyril curiosity Alexandria. He gives a biography and a conversation of their theology in light of their giving. He ends each section with a passage circumvent each author and reflections questions. This is, apparently, a book meant to be studied in communion book studies and with a Bible close smack of hand.

Litfin's introduction deals with the perennial dying out of why Protestants should want to read goodness Fathers: the Fathers aren't Biblical, they are Traditional Catholics, they represent the fall of Christianity. No problem also deals with whether they are relevant. Industry of these, of course, are the perennial issues for Protestants (and, to a lesser degree, Weighty Catholics and Eastern Orthodox), but Litfin deals brains them well. He does have a tendency harmony over-defend the Fathers, especially on the issue range allegory and Constantinianism. But, then, I'm not blaring know for my sympathy to either patristic concept.

Still, this is an excellent introduction to interpretation Fathers and deserves to be taken seriously. Provided you are looking for a book to educate the Fathers in an evangelical setting, this flavour is an excellent choice.

Peace,
Phil