How to Read the Church Fathers

How to Read the Church Fathers
By A. G. Hammon

This is the first book I ever read on the Fathers and it served me very well. Anyone interested in learning about the pioneering figures of Christianity should start here. Tracing the story from the beginnings in Jerusalem, Hammon blends large sections of primary sources, maps, charts and concise and detailed background information to take you by the hand through what can be a rather confusing story. You'll learn all about the philosophical backgrounds that the Fathers worked in and among, the nature of martyrdom (so different form what we think now with the rise of militant Islam), early eucharistic worship and creeds, eastern vs. western theological trends, the role of bishops and the canon of scripture. The attractive layout helps you stay connected to the main points and gives you some entertainment, too. Very well done and highly recommended.

See also Evangelicals and Tradition: The Formative Influence of the Early Church (Evangelical Ressourcement: Ancient Sources for the Churchs Future), Tradition, Scripture, and Interpretation: A Sourcebook of the Ancient Church (Evangelical Ressourcement: Ancient Sources for the Churchs Future), By What Authority?: An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition and Early Christian Writings: The Apostolic Fathers (Penguin Classics).