Is there a Complete Idiots Guide to the Early Church Fathers?

[Montie_Claunch]

I was wondering. I am going to start reading the early Church Fathers a little and I was wondering if there was anything that could give a consiece overview of them so I could have and idea of how things are going to go when I start? Any Complete Idiots Guide to the Early Church Fathers or something like that? Thanks and God bless.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

There are two books I would recommend:

• The Fathers of the Church: An Introduction to the First Christian Teachers by Mike Aquilina (published by Our Sunday Visitor)
• Four Witnesses: The Early Church in Her Own Words by Rod Bennett (published by Ignatius)

Aquilina’s book is a good overview, touching on thirty-one Church Fathers (and three “Mothers”).

In an attempt to show what the early Church was like, Bennett focuses in more detail on the writings of four Church Fathers: Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, and Irenaeus of Lyons.