Reading Scripture With the Church Fathers

by Hall, Christopher A.

• ISBN13: 9780830815005
• ISBN10: 0830815007
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-09-01
• Publisher: Ivp Academic

Summary

Many Christians today long to become reacquainted with their ancient ancestors in the faith. They see a deeper worship and devotion in the prayers and hymns of the early church. And they believe that the writings of the early church can shed new light on their understanding of Scripture.But where and how do we begin? Our first encounter with the writings of the church fathers may seem like visiting a far country where the language, assumptions, concerns and conclusions are completely unfamiliar to us.InReading Scripture with the Church FathersChristopher Hall helps us through this cultural confusion, introducing us to the early church, its unique world, and the sights and sounds of Scripture that are highlighted for them. As Hall points out, the ancient fathers hear music in Scripture where we remain tone-deaf. Despite their occasional eccentricities, theirs is a hearing refined through long listening in song, worship, teaching, meditation and oral reading. And like true masters they challenge and correct our modern assumptions as they invite us to tune our ears to hear the divine melodies of the Bible.Reading Scriptue with the Church Fathersis an exceptional guide. Hall provides a warm, winsome, informative and indispensable introcution to who these leaders and scholars were, how they read and interpreted Scripture, and how we might read Scripture with them for all its worth.

Table of Contents

PREFACE	7	(4)
1 WHY READ THE FATHERS?	11	(8)
2 THE MODERN MIND & BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION	19	(24)
3 WHO ARE THE FATHERS?	43	(13)
4 THE FOUR DOCTORS OF THE EAST Athanasius, Gregory of Nazianzus, Basil the Great & John Chrysostom	56	(46)
5 THE FOUR DOCTORS OF THE WEST Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine & Gregory the Great	102	(30)
6 THE FATHERS & SCRIPTURE Exegesis at Alexandria	132	(24)
7 THE FATHERS & SCRIPTURE The Response of Antioch	156	(21)
8 MAKING SENSE OF PATRISTIC EXEGESIS	177	(24)
NOTES	201	(18)
GENERAL INDEX	219	(6)
INDEX OF BIBLICAL TEXTS	225