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Foundations of Theological Exegesis and Christian Spirituality
Vincent of Lérins and the Development of Christian Doctrine
The theology of Vincent of Lerins is often reduced to a memorable slogan: "We hold that faith which has been believed everywhere, always, and by everyone." Thomas Guarino argues that this "Vincentian canon" has frequently been taken out of context. This book introduces Vincent's thought and its reception in Christian history, exploring Vincent's creative and innovative understanding of the development of doctrine and showing how it informed the thought of John Henry Newman. Guarino contends that Vincent's theology contributes significantly to theology and ecumenism in the twenty-first century. The volume is the second in a series on the church fathers edited by Hans Boersma and Matthew Levering.
192 pages, Paperback
First published May 15, 2013
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148 people want to read
About the author
Thomas G. Guarino
9 books3 followersThomas G. Guarino (STD, Catholic University of America) is professor of systematic theology at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey. He is the author of several books, including Vattimo and Theology and Foundations of Systematic Theology.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 9, 2013
*Received from Goodreads through Goodreads first reads giveaway.
As a religion major as an undergraduate, I thought this book would be interesting to read. I am becoming much more of a history buff as I grow older, and I had taken an Early Church course as an undergraduate and find that I am still quite interested in stories of the Early Church.
I made an agreement with myself that I would not underline the text or take notes as I made my way through this book, so I approached it as a non-Catholic lay reader with interest in the early church, not as a scholar or student studying the early church in order to more fully understand the topic. I know I am probably not the intended audience for whom this book was written. I do want to note that I appreciated the author's clear writing style and definition of Latin phrases when they were used the first time in the text. I did have to look up some words in the dictionary however!
Saying this, what did I get from reading this book? Interestingly, as I listen to a variety of pastors preach in my church this summer, I found myself thinking about Vincent of Lerins and how his approach applied to where the church is to grow, and how doctrine informs this. I realized that indeed, without looking up too many words and instead reading each chapter with a fresh interest, that the message of the Lerinian is quite contemporary.
I don't have the theological background to appreciate the finer points expressed in this book, but I did enjoy reading it and thinking about how the church is to continue through the 20th Century to be a relevant and helpful force for the good.
As a religion major as an undergraduate, I thought this book would be interesting to read. I am becoming much more of a history buff as I grow older, and I had taken an Early Church course as an undergraduate and find that I am still quite interested in stories of the Early Church.
I made an agreement with myself that I would not underline the text or take notes as I made my way through this book, so I approached it as a non-Catholic lay reader with interest in the early church, not as a scholar or student studying the early church in order to more fully understand the topic. I know I am probably not the intended audience for whom this book was written. I do want to note that I appreciated the author's clear writing style and definition of Latin phrases when they were used the first time in the text. I did have to look up some words in the dictionary however!
Saying this, what did I get from reading this book? Interestingly, as I listen to a variety of pastors preach in my church this summer, I found myself thinking about Vincent of Lerins and how his approach applied to where the church is to grow, and how doctrine informs this. I realized that indeed, without looking up too many words and instead reading each chapter with a fresh interest, that the message of the Lerinian is quite contemporary.
I don't have the theological background to appreciate the finer points expressed in this book, but I did enjoy reading it and thinking about how the church is to continue through the 20th Century to be a relevant and helpful force for the good.
August 24, 2025
This was an impulse buy, so I'm not sure how to rate it. I come from a tradition that invokes Vincent's canon, so I was hoping there would be more about the faith that Vincent hell, rather than how to address how doctrine is developed (I realize this was in the name, again, impulse buy).
Anyway, I appreciated learning more about Vincent's background; where I could learn more about his faith as received, and navigating some of the challenges around invoking his cannon. But I don't think I walked away with what I was hoping for. (But again, that's on me)
Anyway, I appreciated learning more about Vincent's background; where I could learn more about his faith as received, and navigating some of the challenges around invoking his cannon. But I don't think I walked away with what I was hoping for. (But again, that's on me)
July 14, 2020
Repeats every point
The author basically has a pamphlet worth of ideas that he stretched out to be a short book. He keeps repeating over and over again the same things. Sometimes the paragraphs were so similar I had to flip around because I thought I had lost my place and was rereading the same material. Overall, I think that the scholarship is great. I just got bored with it.
The author basically has a pamphlet worth of ideas that he stretched out to be a short book. He keeps repeating over and over again the same things. Sometimes the paragraphs were so similar I had to flip around because I thought I had lost my place and was rereading the same material. Overall, I think that the scholarship is great. I just got bored with it.
January 23, 2022
Must Read Book to understand the connection between St Vincent of Lerins and Newman and (no pun intended) development of the development of doctrine
May 29, 2013
First off, the author admits that it is for the academic minded and the very informed lay reader. But, as a trained theologian and a retired pastor, I find that I do not believe the informed lay reader would understand this book, or find it easy reading, unless he/she was extremely well versed in early church history, the history of the early fathers, and understanding of the culture and methodology of the early Christians as they struggled to form a new church based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
While the author does his best to provide a basic understanding of the times and history of Vincent, and to provide a basic background of his times in the monastery and his seriousness as a theologian, I found the brief background to be interesting only because of my studies in seminary so many years ago.
I found it to be heavy reading, but interesting because it added to the depth of my understanding of the early church, and the struggles it went through as the various factions tried to exert their influence over the growth of the church.
I also found it to be a very influential tome for the conservative point of view in religion, something that is sorely lacking in today's ministers and most churches in the mainline denominations. The book of Vincent is a direct introduction into how the modern church can develop and grow and be meaningful to the life of the members of the church. It was, and is, a breath of fresh air to counter the "situational ethics" and the "progressive socialism" of many of the mainline churches. That is to say, most of them are preaching moistly book reports of modern writers of liberal persuasion and psychology, rather than ground their congregation in the biblical background of their faith.
Sadly, I feel that the audience that needs to read this book will not be engaged in reading it because it is not to their way of thinking nor their brand of modern theology. That is a shame since it would be an enhancement of their understanding of the basic foundation of their Christian faith.
As I said earlier, it is heavy reading, but it is doable reading if one takes the time to read it and contemplate on what the author is asserting is Vincent's thesis. Light summer reading at the beach is not the venue for this book.
Serious academics in religion, seminarians, and theologians are the main target audience for the book. I am glad I read it and it has helped me immensely in my understanding of the development of my faith from the early ages. It gave me a new understanding of how I can translate my faith into today's times and society, and still be a strong Christian with a well ground faith in Jesus.
It also helped me to understand the Creeds of the Church that many still recite periodically in their worship. But, knowing the background and development of the early church makes them come alive and to be more meaningful to me.
While the author does his best to provide a basic understanding of the times and history of Vincent, and to provide a basic background of his times in the monastery and his seriousness as a theologian, I found the brief background to be interesting only because of my studies in seminary so many years ago.
I found it to be heavy reading, but interesting because it added to the depth of my understanding of the early church, and the struggles it went through as the various factions tried to exert their influence over the growth of the church.
I also found it to be a very influential tome for the conservative point of view in religion, something that is sorely lacking in today's ministers and most churches in the mainline denominations. The book of Vincent is a direct introduction into how the modern church can develop and grow and be meaningful to the life of the members of the church. It was, and is, a breath of fresh air to counter the "situational ethics" and the "progressive socialism" of many of the mainline churches. That is to say, most of them are preaching moistly book reports of modern writers of liberal persuasion and psychology, rather than ground their congregation in the biblical background of their faith.
Sadly, I feel that the audience that needs to read this book will not be engaged in reading it because it is not to their way of thinking nor their brand of modern theology. That is a shame since it would be an enhancement of their understanding of the basic foundation of their Christian faith.
As I said earlier, it is heavy reading, but it is doable reading if one takes the time to read it and contemplate on what the author is asserting is Vincent's thesis. Light summer reading at the beach is not the venue for this book.
Serious academics in religion, seminarians, and theologians are the main target audience for the book. I am glad I read it and it has helped me immensely in my understanding of the development of my faith from the early ages. It gave me a new understanding of how I can translate my faith into today's times and society, and still be a strong Christian with a well ground faith in Jesus.
It also helped me to understand the Creeds of the Church that many still recite periodically in their worship. But, knowing the background and development of the early church makes them come alive and to be more meaningful to me.
June 12, 2023
Thomas Guarino takes up Vincent of Lerins' key work in this slim volume and sets about to show the Lerinian (as he refers to him often) was not a stodgy opponent of all things new, but a defender of orthodoxy and its promulgation. He also spends a good part of a chapter with John Henry Newman and his ideas on doctrinal development as well, and shows how they, dare we say, developed to match closely those of Vincent.
Guarino's efforts to broaden the view of the Commonitorium from merely the "Vincentian Canon" to the rest of his work where he lays down the earliest systematic schema for adjuticating between legitimate development of sacred doctrine and distortions are largely convincing and successful. He addresses criticisms of Vincent and also shows how he has been interpreted by others as well.
As has been noted by other reviewers, Guarino's text does feel repetitive at times, but I'm willing to grant him some leeway. Perhaps it is merely a didactic technique to lodge his thesis into our brains. If this is the case, I will say it is effective. If he's just repeating himself to bulk up a slender text, shame on him.
I think this work, and more broadly the topic, are still of great interest and service to the Church, especially as we find ourselves, in 2022, in the midst of the "Synod on Synodality" and in many ways, still coming to grips with the Second Vatican Council.
While Guarino is obviously writing with the academic in mind (he seems a bit found of grandeloquent words) and leaves bits of Latin frequently untranslated, it is at its core, a straightforward book that would benefit anyone with interest in how to seperate truth from error in the Catholic setting.
Finally, one last criticism, not of Guarino, but his publisher, Baker Academic. You are an academic publisher, this is obviously a book aimed primarly at scholars and students. Would it really be to much to ask to have footnotes and not endnotes? I feel your target audience reads them, and the author certainly intends some of them to be read, beyond mere reference citations. Why make it harder on your audience by placing them all at the end of the book?
Guarino's efforts to broaden the view of the Commonitorium from merely the "Vincentian Canon" to the rest of his work where he lays down the earliest systematic schema for adjuticating between legitimate development of sacred doctrine and distortions are largely convincing and successful. He addresses criticisms of Vincent and also shows how he has been interpreted by others as well.
As has been noted by other reviewers, Guarino's text does feel repetitive at times, but I'm willing to grant him some leeway. Perhaps it is merely a didactic technique to lodge his thesis into our brains. If this is the case, I will say it is effective. If he's just repeating himself to bulk up a slender text, shame on him.
I think this work, and more broadly the topic, are still of great interest and service to the Church, especially as we find ourselves, in 2022, in the midst of the "Synod on Synodality" and in many ways, still coming to grips with the Second Vatican Council.
While Guarino is obviously writing with the academic in mind (he seems a bit found of grandeloquent words) and leaves bits of Latin frequently untranslated, it is at its core, a straightforward book that would benefit anyone with interest in how to seperate truth from error in the Catholic setting.
Finally, one last criticism, not of Guarino, but his publisher, Baker Academic. You are an academic publisher, this is obviously a book aimed primarly at scholars and students. Would it really be to much to ask to have footnotes and not endnotes? I feel your target audience reads them, and the author certainly intends some of them to be read, beyond mere reference citations. Why make it harder on your audience by placing them all at the end of the book?
July 8, 2013
*Received from Goodreads through Goodreads first reads giveaway
This book took me quite some time to get through. It is quite a heavy, meaty book full of information. I really enjoying reading about religion - various religions, not just my own. It does provide the reader with some insight as to the difficulties, struggles, etc. of the early church. I often had to re-read what I had already read so that I could grasp the information. I found myself thinking "I should really take notes while reading this book" and then did just that. I found that doing so helped me grasp more of the information provided. I also think that this book would do well as at a college or university type setting. It was very academic in it's nature. The author did extensive research and it is obvious in the writing and in the notes.
This book took me quite some time to get through. It is quite a heavy, meaty book full of information. I really enjoying reading about religion - various religions, not just my own. It does provide the reader with some insight as to the difficulties, struggles, etc. of the early church. I often had to re-read what I had already read so that I could grasp the information. I found myself thinking "I should really take notes while reading this book" and then did just that. I found that doing so helped me grasp more of the information provided. I also think that this book would do well as at a college or university type setting. It was very academic in it's nature. The author did extensive research and it is obvious in the writing and in the notes.
July 2, 2013
The Vincentian Canon states that we are to affirm that which is believed Always, everywhere, and by everyone. This call to consensus has been embraced by some who seek to affirm a broad theological foundation for Christian truth, but derided by others as creating a static theological construct that freezes Christian belief. What is missing is Vincent's understanding of development -- something that John Henry Newman seems to have caught, but was unable to integrate the two aspects of Vincent's thought.
Guarino offers us a helpful discussion of Vincent that presents him as a guide to balancing foundational truth with proper development -- growth out of not in contradistinction from this foundation. Well worth the read!
Guarino offers us a helpful discussion of Vincent that presents him as a guide to balancing foundational truth with proper development -- growth out of not in contradistinction from this foundation. Well worth the read!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews