The Spirit Of Early Christian Thought Summary
The Spirit of Early Christian thought
Robert Wilken has written a significant work in The Spirit of Early Christian Thought. What is most striking about it is not Wilken’s ability to give a detailed account of the progression of Christian thought in the early church, although he does do this excellently, nor is it the introduction that he gives his readers to many early church fathers, and other significant thinkers. What Wilken has done best in this extensive work is that he writes about theology, philosophy and other ways of thinking while showing, in detail, the reason for the development of Early Christian thought. Consistently through the book, especially in the first half and then picked up again in that last two chapters, Wilken’s demonstrates …show more content…
Throughout the book, he weaves in and out of topics that progressed Christian thinking throughout church history. Notably, chapter one and twelve, chapters about love for God, work as bookends for Christian thinking. Although these chapters are similar in that at their core they are about love, they also had significant differences. Chapter one is written as a set up for the rest of the book. It brings in and sets the tone by explaining that Christ is the center point of Christian thinking. He explains that against their persecutors the Church Fathers explained that a proof of Christian thinking could not be found in philosophy but must be found in an example of God’s power. Specifically, the Holy Spirit moving in power (pg. 13). Wilken’s explains that all revelation, the wisdom received by Christian thinkers, is a gift of grace from God who, ultimately, wants to be …show more content…
In the opinion of this author the true strength of the Patristics is not found primarily in their content. That isn’t to say that their content isn’t worthy of study. In fact, it is quite the opposite. The Early Church Fathers were instrumental in the development of the Church itself. Their writings, their theology, their practice was what shaped the church for the first 800 years of the church and one could argue is still doing so.
Whether it be the work on Christology, or the Trinity it would impossible to have a standing in these works that did not in some way include the works of Origin (pg. 94), Tertullian (pg. 97) or Augustine (pg. 106). With the, relatively new, development of the Pentecostal and independent Evangelical Churches in North America we have lost sight of the fact that even in form and function the church often resembled something that could be seen in the writings of the Early Church Fathers. The liturgical structure as outlined in the Didaché or the three-fold orders and the sacraments as outlined in the letter of Ignatius (pg. 41) has formed the churches governance and worship structures since its
Robert Wilken has written a significant work in The Spirit of Early Christian Thought. What is most striking about it is not Wilken’s ability to give a detailed account of the progression of Christian thought in the early church, although he does do this excellently, nor is it the introduction that he gives his readers to many early church fathers, and other significant thinkers. What Wilken has done best in this extensive work is that he writes about theology, philosophy and other ways of thinking while showing, in detail, the reason for the development of Early Christian thought. Consistently through the book, especially in the first half and then picked up again in that last two chapters, Wilken’s demonstrates …show more content…
Throughout the book, he weaves in and out of topics that progressed Christian thinking throughout church history. Notably, chapter one and twelve, chapters about love for God, work as bookends for Christian thinking. Although these chapters are similar in that at their core they are about love, they also had significant differences. Chapter one is written as a set up for the rest of the book. It brings in and sets the tone by explaining that Christ is the center point of Christian thinking. He explains that against their persecutors the Church Fathers explained that a proof of Christian thinking could not be found in philosophy but must be found in an example of God’s power. Specifically, the Holy Spirit moving in power (pg. 13). Wilken’s explains that all revelation, the wisdom received by Christian thinkers, is a gift of grace from God who, ultimately, wants to be …show more content…
In the opinion of this author the true strength of the Patristics is not found primarily in their content. That isn’t to say that their content isn’t worthy of study. In fact, it is quite the opposite. The Early Church Fathers were instrumental in the development of the Church itself. Their writings, their theology, their practice was what shaped the church for the first 800 years of the church and one could argue is still doing so.
Whether it be the work on Christology, or the Trinity it would impossible to have a standing in these works that did not in some way include the works of Origin (pg. 94), Tertullian (pg. 97) or Augustine (pg. 106). With the, relatively new, development of the Pentecostal and independent Evangelical Churches in North America we have lost sight of the fact that even in form and function the church often resembled something that could be seen in the writings of the Early Church Fathers. The liturgical structure as outlined in the Didaché or the three-fold orders and the sacraments as outlined in the letter of Ignatius (pg. 41) has formed the churches governance and worship structures since its