Missions Methods and Principles
Southwestern Journal of Theology
Volume 57, No. 1 – Fall 2014
Managing Editor: Terry L. Wilder
Edited by Paul Foster. Downers Grove, IL.: IVP Academic, 2010. 204 pages. Paperback, $23.00.
In Early Christian Thinkers, Paul Foster assembles a collection of essays that summarize the contributions of some of the most pivotal figures in early Christianity from 150-330 AD. The contributors represent a collection of well-respected patristic scholars and each essay evaluates key aspects of the life and theology of twelve Christian thinkers including: Justin, Tatian, Irenaeus, Theophilus of Antioch, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Perpetua, Origen, Cyprian of Carthage, Hippolytus of Rome, Gregory Thaumaturgus, and Eusebius of Caesarea. While there are other Christian thinkers in this formative period of the church, Foster argues that these individuals made “innovative contributions towards developing Christian thought, theology and piety” (xi). The legacy of these fathers, according to Foster, calls believers in the modern age “to engage one’s intellect in the fullest pursuit of truth, in the confident hope that honest enquiry is always of the highest benefit for Christian faith” (xx).
The book progresses along these lines. Beginning in chapter 1, Paul Parvis commences the volume with a description of Justin’s life and writings. He underscores Justin’s resourcefulness in reworking the form of the governmental petition into an apology for the faith and summaries the importance of his Logos Christology. He even makes the interesting suggestion that Justin’s second apology comprises the “out-takes” of the first, which were collected and arranged by his students after his death (8). In chapter 2 the volume editor, Paul Foster, discusses the life and thought of Tatian beginning with Tatian’s tenuous relationship to Justin and his founding of Encratite heresy. Foster describes the composition and transmission issues of Tatian’s apologetic work, the Oratio ad Graecos, and his Gospel harmony, the Diatessaron. In chapter 3, Denis Minns provides a balanced treatment of Irenaeus’ life and thought. He classifies Irenaeus’ contribution into a series of key themes including the rule of faith and doctrine of recapitulation. He closes by reflecting on the re-emergence of interest in Irenaeus after the Reformation. In chapter 4, Rick Rogers introduces Theophilus of Antioch and his principle work To Autolycus. He argues that this work is an example of “protreptic literature,” which was a type of persuasive rhetoric (58). The document is framed into three separate sections (Homilia, Syngramma, and Hypomnema), which move the reader progressively toward a mature understanding of the faith. In chapter 5 Judith Kovacs reviews of Clement of Alexandria’s life, writings, and theology. She situates him in Alexandria as the head of a Christian philosophical school and explains the broad patterns of his theological trilogy: Exhortation (Protreptikos), Instructor (Paidagogos), and Miscellanies (Stromateis). She organizes Clement’s theological contribution under a series of basic theological questions that culminate in a discussion of his views on spiritual progress toward the divine likeness. Everett Ferguson treats Tertullian in chapter 6 and focuses on his role as the father of Latin Christianity, his extensive litany of writings, and his theological contribution. He also provides a detailed summary the main trajecto- ries of Tertullian’s theology and concludes with a survey of the major approaches to the academic study of Tertullian. In chapter 7 Sara Parvis introduces Perpetua and the account of her martyrdom. She develops several aspects of Perpetua’s theology and focuses particularly on her understanding of the family of God. Rebecca Lyman describes the life and writings of Origen in chapter 8. She summarizes his extensive collection of commentaries, homilies, and other theological and polemical writings, and gives a detailed analysis of his major work On First Principles. She also discusses some of his theological perspectives on theodicy, his doctrines of revelation, incarnation, and salvation. In chapter 9 J. Patout Burns describes the contribution of Cyprian of Carthage and gives special attention to his emphasis on the unity and purity of the church. Then, in chapter 10 Ulrich Volp reviews the contribution of Hippolytus of Rome and disentangles the various issues of authorship related to the Hippolytan literary corpus. He also describes the relationship between his polemi- cal writings, liturgical texts, and biblical commentaries. Michael Slusser introduces Gregory Thaumaturgus in chapter 11 and argues for a maximalist position regarding his body of work. As a student of Origen, Thaumaturgus follows the general aspects of Origen’s theology and emphasis on the philosophic life. Finally, Timothy Barns concludes the volume with an essay on Eusebius of Caesarea that situates his contribution within the theological controversies of the fourth century. He provides a helpful thematic organization of Eusebius’ writings and concludes with a summary of his views of God in history that guided his historiography.
Taken together, this collection of essays is a useful introduction to some of the most important figures in early Christianity. Each chapter concludes with a bibliography that contains the editions and translations of their works, as well as a selection of essential secondary publications for further study. However, as often happens in a collection of essays, some of the contributions are more idiosyncratic or address critical issues that are beyond the scope of introductory material. Most essays have different formats and emphases and use distinctive headings and topics, which gives the volume less coherence. In a certain respect this is understandable given that the study of each of these theologians has its own unique theological and literary issues. The volume would also benefit from a conclusion that might reflect upon some aspects of continuity and discontinuity between their contributions. Nevertheless, despite some of these weaknesses this volume provides a solid introduction to these pivotal figures in early Christianity written by proven scholars in early Christian studies. It would fit nicely into any introductory course on early Christianity, especially if it was coupled with other primary readings.
