Church Fathers

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looking for a good book that quotes the fathers in an apologetic sense and how they interpreted catholic bible verse. And maybe even some common quotes that are taken out of context by the fathers. Any good reads?
 
Odell said:
looking for a good book that quotes the fathers in an apologetic sense and how they interpreted catholic bible verse. And maybe even some common quotes that are taken out of context by the fathers. Any good reads?
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“The Faith of the Early Fathers” William A. Jurgens
*3 volume set. *
 
Odell said:
looking for a good book that quotes the fathers in an apologetic sense and how they interpreted catholic bible verse. And maybe even some common quotes that are taken out of context by the fathers. Any good reads?
Click to expand...
steve_b said:
“The Faith of the Early Fathers” William A. Jurgens
*3 volume set. *
Click to expand...
I definitely second steve’s recommendation (I can’t comment on the books that Marco Polo cited because I don’t have them, but I will certainly look into them).

I do, however, have The Faith of the Early Fathers and have heavily utilized it for years. Jurgens provides a very detailed topical index that is of enormous help as an apologetic reference (and for non-apologetic research as well). Just remember that if you have all three volumes, always use the index specifically located in the third volume. I say this because the index in volume one only applies to the material contained in volume one. Volume 2 encompasses the first two volumes but not the third. The index of the third volume, however, encompasses all three books. Perhaps this is not the case with later editions, but it is the case for mine.

Here is an example of the kind of information Jurgens provides in his index. Let us say that someone is researching what the ECFs wrote concerning Mary. In his index, Jurgens divides the topic of Mary into the following subcategories:
  1. Mary is truly the Mother of God…
  2. …the deipara or theotokos.
  3. Mary conceived as a virgin (virgo ante partum)
  4. Mary was a virgin during the birth (in partu)
  5. Mary remained a virgin after the birth of Christ (virgo post partum)
  6. Mary is the New Eve, the cooperatrix in the mystery of the Redemption.
  7. The holiness of Mary is entirely unique.
  8. Mary was conceived immaculate, i.e., without original sin.
  9. The body of Mary was assumed into heaven.
Jurgens gives references to quotes from the ECFs (provided in The Faith of the Early Fathers) which either directly state or at least imply each subcategory’s teaching.

I should point out that Jurgens does not give the full texts of many of the patristic documents used. Otherwise, it would not be a handy three-volume set, but rather a collection of books resembling an enormous encyclopedia set. Instead, he provides an English translation for paragraphs from these documents which are the ones that come up most often in research. Also, Jurgens does not cite material from all the ECFs, but the ones who are most commonly referenced. Once again, this was simply a matter of space.

The Faith of the Early Fathers can be a very handy apologetic tool. Also, for people who want to begin reading the ECFs as part of spiritual reading and reflection, reading Faith of the Early Fathers can help them discern which fathers they want to focus on (and then buy books containing their documents in full).
 
EricFilmer said:
I definitely second steve’s recommendation (I can’t comment on the books that Marco Polo cited because I don’t have them, but I will certainly look into them).

I do, however, have The Faith of the Early Fathers and have heavily utilized it for years. Jurgens provides a very detailed topical index that is of enormous help as an apologetic reference (and for non-apologetic research as well). Just remember that if you have all three volumes, always use the index specifically located in the third volume. I say this because the index in volume one only applies to the material contained in volume one. Volume 2 encompasses the first two volumes but not the third. The index of the third volume, however, encompasses all three books. Perhaps this is not the case with later editions, but it is the case for mine.

Here is an example of the kind of information Jurgens provides in his index. Let us say that someone is researching what the ECFs wrote concerning Mary. In his index, Jurgens divides the topic of Mary into the following subcategories:
  1. Mary is truly the Mother of God…
  2. …the deipara or theotokos.
  3. Mary conceived as a virgin (virgo ante partum)
  4. Mary was a virgin during the birth (in partu)
  5. Mary remained a virgin after the birth of Christ (virgo post partum)
  6. Mary is the New Eve, the cooperatrix in the mystery of the Redemption.
  7. The holiness of Mary is entirely unique.
  8. Mary was conceived immaculate, i.e., without original sin.
  9. The body of Mary was assumed into heaven.
Jurgens gives references to quotes from the ECFs (provided in The Faith of the Early Fathers) which either directly state or at least imply each subcategory’s teaching.

I should point out that Jurgens does not give the full texts of many of the patristic documents used. Otherwise, it would not be a handy three-volume set, but rather a collection of books resembling an enormous encyclopedia set. Instead, he provides an English translation for paragraphs from these documents which are the ones that come up most often in research. Also, Jurgens does not cite material from all the ECFs, but the ones who are most commonly referenced. Once again, this was simply a matter of space.

The Faith of the Early Fathers can be a very handy apologetic tool. Also, for people who want to begin reading the ECFs as part of spiritual reading and reflection, reading Faith of the Early Fathers can help them discern which fathers they want to focus on (and then buy books containing their documents in full).
Click to expand...
added to my wish list:)
 
Like everybody else, I highly recommend William Jurgens 3 volume set of the Early Church Fathers. In addition to Jurgens volume set, I recommend that you go to either newadvent.org to read the to read quote in context with the surrounding passages. You can also go to Christian Classics Eternal Library to read Church Fathers writing that was put together by Philip Schaff. I am in the process of getting Schaff complete volume set in my Kindle.

newadvent.org/fathers/
ccel.org/fathers.html

Reading the entire passage around the quotes help me get a better understanding of the quote is saying. It also helped me find more quotes (sometimes better in my view) I can use to show what the Church Fathers believe.
 
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