Alexandrian Christianity

by John Ernest Leonard Oulton (editor), Henry Chadwick (editor), Origen

This volume in the Library of Christian Classics series offers fresh translations of selected works of Clement & Origen of Alexandria.
Long recognized for the quality of its translations, introductions, explanatory notes & indexes, the Library of Christian Classics provides scholars & students with modern English translations of some of the most significant Christian theological texts in history. Thru these works--each written prior to the end of the 16th century--contemporary readers are able to engage the ideas that have shaped Christian theology & the church thru the centuries.

Genres: Church History, Theology, History

475 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1954

Reviews

[Erik Graff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this along with the first volume of the Library of Christian Classics set for Cyril Richardson's early Church history class at Union Theological Seminary. Indeed, before graduating two years later I'd read all of the Patristic sources up until Augustine and most of him as well as part of a project which ended as what I like to think of as "The Child's First Golden Book on Early Gnosticism"--a sort of encyclopedia on the subject from patristic sources.

Most of the early Fathers are difficult to stomach. Not only were many of them apparently psychologically troubled, but most come across as incredibly gullible and thoughtless. There's a lot of hate in some of them like Irenaeus and Tertullian, a lot of hate shadowing their "love" for the Christ. There's very little intelligence until Augustine and the Cappadocian Fathers.

The exceptions are Clement and, especially, Origen, the Alexandrians excerpted in this volume. Origen's Christianity is intelligible as a well-articulated neo-Platonic appropriation of the scripture and he might be read profitably even today. Clement is less sophisticated, but seems to inhabit the same thought-world as Origen. Some of his Miscellanies are actually quite amusing, most particularly his discussion of the Pythagoreans.

As the book's description by Bennett indicates, these texts and excerpts partially supplement the much more extensive coverage afforded in the much more extensive--and, sadly, dated--Ante-Nicaean Fathers set available from Eerdman's.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always amazed how much scripture is used seamlessly in the words of the fathers. It is like they absorbed it thru and thru.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delightful Sunday reading. I have heavily marked my copy for future reference.

[Gerald Greene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full description of Clement and Origen writings.