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Ante-Nicene Fathers #6
Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol 6
This edition of the Early Church Fathers series has been optimized for use on the Kindle with a hierarchical Table of Contents that minimizes the number of page turns required to locate a section of the volume. This edition is among the most accurate electronic editions available, but Hebrew characters do not display on the Kindle.
This volume includes the writings of Gregory Thaumaturgus, Dinoysius the Great, Julius Africanus, Anatolius and Minor Writers, Methodius, and Arnobius.
This edition features an artistic cover, a new promotional introduction, and a hierarchical table of contents which makes it possible to navigate to any part of the book with a minimum of page turns.
This volume includes the writings of Gregory Thaumaturgus, Dinoysius the Great, Julius Africanus, Anatolius and Minor Writers, Methodius, and Arnobius.
This edition features an artistic cover, a new promotional introduction, and a hierarchical table of contents which makes it possible to navigate to any part of the book with a minimum of page turns.
2232 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1888
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June 2, 2025(1) Gregory “Thaumaturgus” (Wonder Worker) lived from 213 to 270. He was converted and trained by Origen of Alexandria while they were together in Palestine; he would be made a bishop in his native Neocaesarea in Pontus (modern-day Turkey).
Of Gregory’s works which have been preserved, his declaration of faith, treatise on the Trinity, and canonical letter are early witness to robust Trinitarian thinking and how Gregory organized the churches in his bishopric; his metaphrase of Ecclesiastes is interesting inasmuch as one can see how a decently educated citizen of the Greco-Roman world read and understood Ecclesiastes. His longest work was his Oration and Panegyric Addressed to Origen, telling the story of his life and conversion and singing Origen’s praises.
Most of the rest of the texts preserved are of questionable origin: while some accept the authenticity of the treatise on the soul, others believe it comes from a later author; the twelve topics on the faith, four homilies about Mary and Christ’s baptism, and treatises on the saints and on Matthew 6:22-23 are believed to be later based on their greater affinity with theological and devotional language developed after the days of Gregory.
As a witness to his own times and faith, and as a witness to Origen, Gregory Thaumaturgus’ works provide historical and devotional value.
Of Gregory’s works which have been preserved, his declaration of faith, treatise on the Trinity, and canonical letter are early witness to robust Trinitarian thinking and how Gregory organized the churches in his bishopric; his metaphrase of Ecclesiastes is interesting inasmuch as one can see how a decently educated citizen of the Greco-Roman world read and understood Ecclesiastes. His longest work was his Oration and Panegyric Addressed to Origen, telling the story of his life and conversion and singing Origen’s praises.
Most of the rest of the texts preserved are of questionable origin: while some accept the authenticity of the treatise on the soul, others believe it comes from a later author; the twelve topics on the faith, four homilies about Mary and Christ’s baptism, and treatises on the saints and on Matthew 6:22-23 are believed to be later based on their greater affinity with theological and devotional language developed after the days of Gregory.
As a witness to his own times and faith, and as a witness to Origen, Gregory Thaumaturgus’ works provide historical and devotional value.
March 6, 2016
I know this punches my nerd card, but I enjoy reading early Christian writers. My goal is to finish this 28 volume set. I figure at 50 pages a week it will take me just over 8 years.
August 19, 2015
It might just be me, but I do think the Church Fathers get better as history unfolds. Specifically, as orthodoxy develops and Christians become clearer about what we believe, the writings of theologians begin to have more practical and theological value to modern readers. Which isn't to say that writers like Origen or Tertullian shouldn't be read, just that they're not Augustine. This particular volume is generally worth reading, especially Arnobius, Alexander of Alexandria, Alexander of Lycopolis, Phileas, Theonas, and Gregory Thaumaturgus.
Not everything in this volume needs to be read in detail, but all of it should be at least skimmed.
You can read short reviews of each work here: http://coyleneal.blogspot.com/search/...
Not everything in this volume needs to be read in detail, but all of it should be at least skimmed.
You can read short reviews of each work here: http://coyleneal.blogspot.com/search/...
April 2, 2014
Once again, I will state that this is a difficult book for me to give an in depth review of, especially because I read just 7 pages a day over the course of a couple months. I did notice that this era of church fathers tends to focus on debunking the Ancient Greek and Roman gods even though that sort of worship was on the fast decline in the waning Roman Empire. (I'm also not entirely sure at what point these writers penned their works.)
I will repeat that the online PDF versions are phenomenal resources for those interested in this particular topic.
I will repeat that the online PDF versions are phenomenal resources for those interested in this particular topic.
October 1, 2016
Not a bad volume. High points were Thaumaturgus's Metaphrase of Ecclesiastes, Archelaus's Disputation Against Manes, and the episode by Theonas of Alexandrea. Arnobius also did some very good internal destruction of the Greek polytheistic system. Methodius was a stinker--the prolonged, hyper-exaltation of lifelong celibacy is always tedious. But otherwise, decent volume.
April 4, 2014
Enjoyed the Epistles as a form; very repetitive after a while. Arnobius had moments of brilliance. A great deal of development and restatement of previous works and themes. Fascinating to watch early Trinitarianism take shape.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews