Augustine. Tertullian. Origen. These early church fathers may sound vaguely familiar, but what impact do their beliefs have on Christians today? Moody scholar Litfin takes a look at 10 of the church's founders---probing their personalities, debunking centuries of misconceptions, and demonstrating their deep concern for preserving the core tenets of the Christian faith. 304 pages, softcover from Brazos.
Average Rating: 5 out of 5 stars(5 out of 5 stars)
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5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Dan (Jefferson, Oregon), April 29, 2009
As a pastor, I highly recommend this easy-to-read history of the early church fathers to teachers and laymen alike. Modern-day anecdotes preface each biographical sketch, which serves to bridge the fathers (and "mothers") to today's world. Each bio contains a brief historical overview and fair analysis of the fathers' theological understanding. Each chapter ends with suggestions for further reading and a passage from the father just introduced.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Damian (Londonderry, NH), July 11, 2008
An excellent introduction to the patristic era! Especially useful for evangelical Christians who have no familiarity with the early church fathers. The book is an easy read yet it hits the major theological debates of the day without dumbing down the material. At the end of each chapter Liftin has added the useful feature "Good Books to Dig Deeper", listing his recommendations for further study on the particular topic of the chapter.
My only minor quibble - I would have enjoyed a longer look at some of these men and women. In fairness however, Liftin does call this an "Introduction" to the topic so I really can't find much fault there.
An excellent work that I highly recommend.
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