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The Apostolic Fathers: A Narrative Introduction
Who were the Apostolic Fathers? What did they care about? Why did they write what they wrote? The Apostolic A Narrative Introduction is the most engaging introduction to Apostolic Fathers you will ever read. Imagine what it would be like to ask Polycarp about the documents that were composed during his lifetime. You don't have to imagine any longer. Situated during the final week of Polycarp's life, these fictional dialogues will introduce you to the earliest Christian documents after the time of the apostles. You will come to know Clement, Ignatius, Hermas, Papias, and others. Freshly translated excerpts from the writings themselves are included after each chapter. "Berding's experience of living in Smyrna, the home of Polycarp, serves him well as he brings to life its famous bishop. The stories of the church leaders who once sat at the feet of apostles are little known unfortunately. Hopefully Berding's volume will rectify that. All Christians will enjoy this creative retelling of the stories of Polycarp and the other apostolic fathers as well as the readable translations of their writings." --Mark Wilson, Founder/Director, Asia Minor Research Center "Berding's historical novelization brings characters to life, putting flesh and bones on a skeletal framework of early Christianity. Through a creativity rooted in competent scholarship, he draws readers into the socio-historical world of the Apostolic Fathers. His narrative introduction is both enjoyable and informative, both imaginative and insightful. The fictional storyline is a spoonful of sugar, but the pedagogical nourishment is substantial." --Paul Hartog, Professor of Christian Thought, Faith Baptist Theological Seminary Kenneth Berding is Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. He is the author of Polycarp and An Analysis of Their Literary and Theological Relationship in Light of Polycarp's Use of Biblical and Extra-Biblical Literature.
- GenresTheology
156 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 8, 2017
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September 18, 2017
There are many ways that one can teach history. Many undertake the task as a simple regurgitation of facts to their audience. Some teachers present history with the basic formula of “On this day, this person did this.” This is often why people complain about studying history! I will be honest and say that I do not mind a simple “on this day. . .” approach to learning history. That approach does lend itself to objectivity and historical accuracy without introducing bias of interpretation. However, it is quite dry. Dr. Kenneth Berding has provided a different approach…and I like it. Berding undertakes the study of the Apostolic Fathers from a narrative perspective. The Apostolic Fathers: A Narrative Introduction is a fast, easy read about the beliefs and struggles of the early Church.
Berding writes from the perspective of the Apostolic Father, Polycarp, while he is in hiding from the Roman authorities. The narrative follows the story of Polycarp and his companions while they wait for word from Polycarp’s home church in Smyrna that it is safe for Polycarp to return. The text is historical fiction, but it is much more history than fiction. Berding has taken excerpts from Polycarp’s letters and other historical documents and neatly woven them into a dialogue between Polycarp and his companions. While very little “happens” in the book (i.e. it includes much dialogue), the story and writing style are captivating.
Berding’s narrative shows Polycarp spending each day (often morning, afternoon and evening) teaching his companions about various aspects of the early church. Through this, Berding discusses ten of the earliest extra-biblical texts. Beginning with the earliest writing with 1 Clement (Berding notes that this is disputed, but is still commonly accepted), moving through the To Diognetus, Berding uses common language and narrative style to tell a story about the early Church. Each chapter provides a general date of writing, the reason the text was written, and then a thorough explanation of the content of the text. This is the greatest value of Berding’s work. It is difficult for a lay reader to navigate through the writings of the early church. The early Church writers used a very different writing style than what 21st Century readers are used to reading. Berding does a wonderful job of bringing the writing of the early church into a modern style.
At the end of each chapter, Berding then includes excerpts from the text referred to in the chapter so the reader can dig deeper into the history of the Christian Church. Berding concludes with the Martyrdom of Polycarp which, as the title indicates, describes how Polycarp finished his life on this earth.
The Apostolic Fathers: A Narrative Introduction is easily the best introduction to the apostolic fathers that I have read. Berding’s writing style is fluid and clear. His selections of texts from the early Church were perfect for an introductory text. I would HIGHLY recommend picking up a copy from Wipf & Stock or Amazon. It will not take you long to get through the book and you will have a greater appreciation for the giants on who’s shoulders we stand
Berding writes from the perspective of the Apostolic Father, Polycarp, while he is in hiding from the Roman authorities. The narrative follows the story of Polycarp and his companions while they wait for word from Polycarp’s home church in Smyrna that it is safe for Polycarp to return. The text is historical fiction, but it is much more history than fiction. Berding has taken excerpts from Polycarp’s letters and other historical documents and neatly woven them into a dialogue between Polycarp and his companions. While very little “happens” in the book (i.e. it includes much dialogue), the story and writing style are captivating.
Berding’s narrative shows Polycarp spending each day (often morning, afternoon and evening) teaching his companions about various aspects of the early church. Through this, Berding discusses ten of the earliest extra-biblical texts. Beginning with the earliest writing with 1 Clement (Berding notes that this is disputed, but is still commonly accepted), moving through the To Diognetus, Berding uses common language and narrative style to tell a story about the early Church. Each chapter provides a general date of writing, the reason the text was written, and then a thorough explanation of the content of the text. This is the greatest value of Berding’s work. It is difficult for a lay reader to navigate through the writings of the early church. The early Church writers used a very different writing style than what 21st Century readers are used to reading. Berding does a wonderful job of bringing the writing of the early church into a modern style.
At the end of each chapter, Berding then includes excerpts from the text referred to in the chapter so the reader can dig deeper into the history of the Christian Church. Berding concludes with the Martyrdom of Polycarp which, as the title indicates, describes how Polycarp finished his life on this earth.
The Apostolic Fathers: A Narrative Introduction is easily the best introduction to the apostolic fathers that I have read. Berding’s writing style is fluid and clear. His selections of texts from the early Church were perfect for an introductory text. I would HIGHLY recommend picking up a copy from Wipf & Stock or Amazon. It will not take you long to get through the book and you will have a greater appreciation for the giants on who’s shoulders we stand
Displaying 1 of 1 review