The First Christian Theologians: An Introduction to Theology in the Early Church (review)

This volume, part of a series drawing upon internationally acclaimed scholars to present the major theologians of different epochs at a level aimed primarily at undergraduates, covers the period up to Augustine and the Council of Chalcedon. Divided into five parts, the volume includes twenty-two short essays, usually around ten pages, with varying degrees of scholarly notes, and concludes with a short bibliography. The first part entitled "The Bible," includes essays by J. W. Rogerson on "The First Christian Writings," treating the use of Scripture in the apostolic writings (and much more briefly the apostolic fathers) and the issue of canon (in the sense of list), and by F. Young, on "The Interpretation of Scripture," covering Irenaeus, Origen, and the reaction against allegory together with a treatment of the use of Scripture in doctrinal debate and figural reading. The second part, "The Church," includes essays by S. G. Hall on "The Early Idea of the Church," G. R. Evans, on "The Early Church in the World," and C. Gallagher on "The Imperial Ecclesiastical Lawgivers." Together these studies cover various aspects of the concept of the Church from the early communities and the formation of monepiscopacy to the legislation of Theodosius and Justinian. The third part, "Rival Traditions: Christian Theology and Judaism," includes two essays: "Philo of Alexandria" by D. T. Runia and "Christian Theology and Judaism" by P. Fredriksen and J. Lieu.

The fourth and fifth parts turn, finally, to the first Christian theologians themselves. Beginning in the mid-second century, part four, "Rival Traditions: Christian Theology and Secular Philosophy," opens with an essay by J. Rist on "Christian Theology and Secular Philosophy," and is followed by four essays by E. Osborn, "Justin Martyr," "Irenaeus of Lyons," "Clement of Alexandria," and "Tertullian" together with an essay on "Origen" by R. Williams and a brief mention of "The Hermetica" by G. R. Evans. The final part of the work, "The Maturing of Early Christian Theology in East and West," includes essays in the following order: by R. Williams on "Athanasius and the Arian Crisis," M. Ludlow on "The Cappadocians," J. P. Williams on "Pseudo-Dionysius and Maximus the Confessor," D. G. K. Taylor on "The Syriac Tradition," and B. Ramsey on "Ambrose." These are followed by much briefer treatments of "Jerome," "Augustine of Hippo," and "Eutyches, Nestorius and Chalcedon" by G. R. Evans. Augustine merits only brief consideration here (and, in fact, most of the four pages focus on the teaching of rhetoric) since he is treated more fully in another volume of the series entitled The Medieval Theologians (2001). The present work is introduced by a general thematic essay by Evans and concludes with a few words from her on "The End of an Era?" Finally, the volume ends with a "Consolidated List of Sources," presenting bibliographic information on collected sources and individual figures.

As a work aimed at undergraduates, this volume has much to commend it. The essays do not presuppose any specialized knowledge or vocabulary and are generally clear, thoughtful introductions to the figures and issues in question. They also point the reader to further questions and material for study. However, given the intended audience, there are various aspects of the work which make it rather unsatisfactory. The order of the chapters is somewhat bewildering. The demand for thematic progression has led to placing Dionysius and Maximus after the Cappadocians and following them with the Syriac tradition, which goes back to the Odes of Solomon and Ephrem and continues to the post-Chalcedonian writers. All this comes before the concluding chapter on Chalcedon.

The last chapters of the volume become increasing short (four pages are allotted to the period from 381 to 451) as if the book were running out of steam. It is also a pity that terms such as "Arian" continue to be used without qualification, and even more regrettable the use of "monophysite" (for Severus of Antioch Taylor...