Reading the Church Fathers

A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine

By: James L. Papandrea

Narrated by: Tom Parks

Length: 18 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

Heresies, schisms, culture of death, persecutions, excommunications . . . While reflective of headlines from today, these difficulties roiled Christians of the early Church as well. The earliest Church manual, the Didache, brought clarity to a range of moral issues that our culture continues to grapple with to this day.

Here is one of the most lucid and comprehensive overviews of the Patristic period ever written. With simplicity and clarity, Dr. James Papandrea introduces you to all the major theologians, philosophers, and martyrs of the early Christian church and explains the theological principles that guided the Church from the New Testament era through the apologists, and, ultimately, to the development of the major doctrines. He uniquely situates the teachings of the early Church Fathers against the social and cultural context of the Roman Empire and its relationship to the Church.

Dr. Papandrea will introduce you to the gnostics and their influence on the early Church, as well as explain how Church mothers, such as Macrina the Younger, laid a foundation for the monastic life to come. You'll learn how our understanding of the sacraments developed and when devotion to Our Lady and the saints emerged. You'll also explore how the New Testament canon was formed as well as the criteria used to interpret early Christian writings.

©2022 James L. Papandrea (P)2023 Tantor

Many complaints but none here.

A lot of complaints, the title not reflecting the content. Okay, I’ll give them that claim, I agree to an extent. The writings of many church fathers were discussed, not actually read. The bottom line… I found the book very informative and enjoyable. I will revisit the book on occasion also, not cover to cover, but reread sections. Worth my time.

The book is not "Reading the Church Fathers"

All in all, it's pretty good.
It "is" A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine.
That is what it should have been called.
So far, there is no "reading" of the Church Fathers... I don't think there will be.

Never actually reads any of the church fathers

The title would be more accurate if it were "the Roman Catholic traditions about the church fathers" rather than "Reading the church fathers."

(I acknowledge I have bias as I am not a fan of the church of Rome or what it's done to Christianity)

Ot speaks on behalf of church fathers some, but spends most of the time declaring church tradition (only really referencing that a church father may have discussed the topic of this tradition and therefore Rome's expectation is that people associate its decisions with their authority.

One quote I appreciated the honesty of is the explanation of the formation of Rome's traditions:

"As Christianity emerged as a separate religion from Judaism, it inherited some of the cultural aspects of Greek philosophy."

Although, because new cultural aspects don't retroactively change what people in the past taught, it is fair if slightly rephrased:

"As the church of Rome emerged as a separate religion from Judaism, it inherited some of the cultural aspects of Greek philosophy."

So, while I disapprove of the content itself, it IS presented clearly, and the narrator does a good job. It's a good quality look into Roman interpretations and traditions... but don't expect any reading of any church father.