Posted: 8/30/2026 6:19:34 PM EDT
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Any suggestions for reading on the early church fathers, next or maybe 2-3 gens removed from the Apostles? Augustine, Tertullian, Iraneus, etc. Are there specifics from any of those early church leaders that are your formative reading? |
“..statistically they are shortest people on earth. But they are very mean….”
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Originally Posted By Philmore: Any suggestions for reading on the early church fathers, next or maybe 2-3 gens removed from the Apostles? Augustine, Tertullian, Iraneus, etc. Are there specifics from any of those early church leaders that are your formative reading? I'm reading a book with excerpts from City of God by St. Augustine which is really good. There's also Confessions by the same. |
Why is the sky blue?
What makes the green grass grow?
What makes the green grass grow?
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Originally Posted By Philmore: Any suggestions for reading on the early church fathers, next or maybe 2-3 gens removed from the Apostles? Augustine, Tertullian, Iraneus, etc. Are there specifics from any of those early church leaders that are your formative reading? You looking for books about them or are you looking for their writings? |
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Originally Posted By JAD762: You looking for books about them or are you looking for their writings? Mainly interested in their writings and how they maintained and nurtured the early church. Some bio that is relevant is fine |
“..statistically they are shortest people on earth. But they are very mean….”
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This is the largest online collection of their writings that I’m aware of. https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/ |
Give me that old time religion
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Originally Posted By Gullskjegg: This is the largest online collection of their writings that I’m aware of. https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/ Definitely recommend new advent. There is also a cross reference search engine that I just use to look up any quoted verse that appears in the church fathers homilies or apologetic writings. Here is a link for John 3:5 for example. You can then read reference after reference to baptismal regeneration. https://www.catholiccrossreference.online/fathers/index.php/John%203:5 That website itself uses a large collection of early works in a very well arranged format from the link below. https://ccel.org/fathers.html |
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Most of that stuff, at least for the older english translations, is public domain. You can find it free online in many places and formats. Just be sure to read other materials for context. Like with the U.S. founding fathers, expecting them to all have been a "hive mind" will lead to confusion. In some cases, their discussion of contemporary Church beliefs and practices is probably more valuable than when they dive more into personal opinions. Then there's cases like Tertullian, for example, where his later writings were considered heretical but his earlier stuff as foundational. |
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Modern life is one steep, perpetual tax on the mathematically impaired
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This is also a good start where you can just click on a Bible verse and bring up relevant commentary by Church Fathers and later theologians, scholars, and the like. https://catenabible.com/2pt/1 |
Give me that old time religion
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Or you can go this route, Father Cornelius a Lapide from the 17th century was like a walking Bible, world historian, linguist, and Church Father encyclopedia all wrapped up into one. I have the Gospels and I think Galatians. https://loretopubs.org/cornelius-a-lapides-commentary-on-the-four-gospels.html |
Give me that old time religion
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Originally Posted By Philmore: Mainly interested in their writings and how they maintained and nurtured the early church. Some bio that is relevant is fine Originally Posted By Philmore: Originally Posted By JAD762: You looking for books about them or are you looking for their writings? Mainly interested in their writings and how they maintained and nurtured the early church. Some bio that is relevant is fine If you’re looking for their writings, Philip Schaffs Early Church Fathers has been the standby for a long time. Someone mentioned Vladimir Presses recent translations, which have been nice to see. I’m guessing you’re limited to English here? Little of the writings and study of the early church have made it into English & it really sucks. If you’re looking for commentary on how their writings shaped the early church, you’re generally looking at 10000 ft summaries (like Haykins Rediscovering the Church Fathers) or biographical books of individuals (like Kelley’s Golden Mouth). |
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Originally Posted By 11boomboom: I'm reading a book with excerpts from City of God by St. Augustine which is really good. There's also Confessions by the same. Originally Posted By 11boomboom: Originally Posted By Philmore: Any suggestions for reading on the early church fathers, next or maybe 2-3 gens removed from the Apostles? Augustine, Tertullian, Iraneus, etc. Are there specifics from any of those early church leaders that are your formative reading? I'm reading a book with excerpts from City of God by St. Augustine which is really good. There's also Confessions by the same. Honest question, why read excerpts instead of the entire text? City of God is fairly large but Confessions is a pretty short book (though a couple read throughs is a good idea). IN GENERAL I recommend Oxford World's Classics if you want a scholarly-leaning translation or a Penguin if you want a slightly more readable version but both will contain footnotes and citations. I generally avoid the public domain translations because they're often a bit antiquated and often better fidelity can be found in a more modern translation as long as you choose good options. See Emily Wilson vs Robert Fagles re: Homer or P&V vs McDuff re: Dostoevsky. (Also note that both of these are Penguin publications but probably half my shelf is OWC, I'm reading OWC Sophocles right now as a matter of fact) Also, I had some trouble really parsing out two parts in Confessions until I either listened to it in audio or read it aloud. If you get stuck in some sections try that, reading aloud gives some texts a character that reading to yourself just can't replicate and helps make things clear at times. OP, either: First pick https://commonplacebooksokc.com/item/jvekz9I8n820ABK3gjCr_w OR (not both, lots of overlap) Second pick https://commonplacebooksokc.com/item/Mh0zQvXIbbFXavqIXYVcfw If you want to go from there Irenaeus is likely up and you can find Against the Heresies in public domain versions or a new translation, multi volume version if you really want to dig deep. https://www.christianbook.com/against-the-heresies-book-1/st-irenaeus/9780809104543/pd/9104547 |
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Originally Posted By King_Mud: Honest question, why read excerpts instead of the entire text? City of God is fairly large but Confessions is a pretty short book (though a couple read throughs is a good idea). IN GENERAL I recommend Oxford World's Classics if you want a scholarly-leaning translation or a Penguin if you want a slightly more readable version but both will contain footnotes and citations. I generally avoid the public domain translations because they're often a bit antiquated and often better fidelity can be found in a more modern translation as long as you choose good options. See Emily Wilson vs Robert Fagles re: Homer or P&V vs McDuff re: Dostoevsky. (Also note that both of these are Penguin publications but probably half my shelf is OWC, I'm reading OWC Sophocles right now as a matter of fact) Also, I had some trouble really parsing out two parts in Confessions until I either listened to it in audio or read it aloud. If you get stuck in some sections try that, reading aloud gives some texts a character that reading to yourself just can't replicate and helps make things clear at times. OP, either: First pick https://commonplacebooksokc.com/item/jvekz9I8n820ABK3gjCr_w OR (not both, lots of overlap) Second pick https://commonplacebooksokc.com/item/Mh0zQvXIbbFXavqIXYVcfw If you want to go from there Irenaeus is likely up and you can find Against the Heresies in public domain versions or a new translation, multi volume version if you really want to dig deep. https://www.christianbook.com/against-the-heresies-book-1/st-irenaeus/9780809104543/pd/9104547 Originally Posted By King_Mud: Originally Posted By 11boomboom: Originally Posted By Philmore: Any suggestions for reading on the early church fathers, next or maybe 2-3 gens removed from the Apostles? Augustine, Tertullian, Iraneus, etc. Are there specifics from any of those early church leaders that are your formative reading? I'm reading a book with excerpts from City of God by St. Augustine which is really good. There's also Confessions by the same. Honest question, why read excerpts instead of the entire text? City of God is fairly large but Confessions is a pretty short book (though a couple read throughs is a good idea). IN GENERAL I recommend Oxford World's Classics if you want a scholarly-leaning translation or a Penguin if you want a slightly more readable version but both will contain footnotes and citations. I generally avoid the public domain translations because they're often a bit antiquated and often better fidelity can be found in a more modern translation as long as you choose good options. See Emily Wilson vs Robert Fagles re: Homer or P&V vs McDuff re: Dostoevsky. (Also note that both of these are Penguin publications but probably half my shelf is OWC, I'm reading OWC Sophocles right now as a matter of fact) Also, I had some trouble really parsing out two parts in Confessions until I either listened to it in audio or read it aloud. If you get stuck in some sections try that, reading aloud gives some texts a character that reading to yourself just can't replicate and helps make things clear at times. OP, either: First pick https://commonplacebooksokc.com/item/jvekz9I8n820ABK3gjCr_w OR (not both, lots of overlap) Second pick https://commonplacebooksokc.com/item/Mh0zQvXIbbFXavqIXYVcfw If you want to go from there Irenaeus is likely up and you can find Against the Heresies in public domain versions or a new translation, multi volume version if you really want to dig deep. https://www.christianbook.com/against-the-heresies-book-1/st-irenaeus/9780809104543/pd/9104547 I don't have Confessions and I have other books I'm planning on reading before tackling the whole City of God. |
Why is the sky blue?
What makes the green grass grow?
What makes the green grass grow?
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Originally Posted By 11boomboom: I don't have Confessions and I have other books I'm planning on reading before tackling the whole City of God. Originally Posted By 11boomboom: Originally Posted By King_Mud: Originally Posted By 11boomboom: Originally Posted By Philmore: Any suggestions for reading on the early church fathers, next or maybe 2-3 gens removed from the Apostles? Augustine, Tertullian, Iraneus, etc. Are there specifics from any of those early church leaders that are your formative reading? I'm reading a book with excerpts from City of God by St. Augustine which is really good. There's also Confessions by the same. Honest question, why read excerpts instead of the entire text? City of God is fairly large but Confessions is a pretty short book (though a couple read throughs is a good idea). IN GENERAL I recommend Oxford World's Classics if you want a scholarly-leaning translation or a Penguin if you want a slightly more readable version but both will contain footnotes and citations. I generally avoid the public domain translations because they're often a bit antiquated and often better fidelity can be found in a more modern translation as long as you choose good options. See Emily Wilson vs Robert Fagles re: Homer or P&V vs McDuff re: Dostoevsky. (Also note that both of these are Penguin publications but probably half my shelf is OWC, I'm reading OWC Sophocles right now as a matter of fact) Also, I had some trouble really parsing out two parts in Confessions until I either listened to it in audio or read it aloud. If you get stuck in some sections try that, reading aloud gives some texts a character that reading to yourself just can't replicate and helps make things clear at times. OP, either: First pick https://commonplacebooksokc.com/item/jvekz9I8n820ABK3gjCr_w OR (not both, lots of overlap) Second pick https://commonplacebooksokc.com/item/Mh0zQvXIbbFXavqIXYVcfw If you want to go from there Irenaeus is likely up and you can find Against the Heresies in public domain versions or a new translation, multi volume version if you really want to dig deep. https://www.christianbook.com/against-the-heresies-book-1/st-irenaeus/9780809104543/pd/9104547 I don't have Confessions and I have other books I'm planning on reading before tackling the whole City of God. IM me and I'll loan them to you if you want. I’ll share whatever I have on hand. Half Price books is usually a pretty good bet though and they’ll order them in for you if needed. |
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Originally Posted By JAD762: If you’re looking for their writings, Philip Schaffs Early Church Fathers has been the standby for a long time. Someone mentioned Vladimir Presses recent translations, which have been nice to see. I’m guessing you’re limited to English here? Little of the writings and study of the early church have made it into English & it really sucks. If you’re looking for commentary on how their writings shaped the early church, you’re generally looking at 10000 ft summaries (like Haykins Rediscovering the Church Fathers) or biographical books of individuals (like Kelley’s Golden Mouth). Those late 19th/early 20th translations by the Anglicans were the only thing in English for a long time. They can be difficult to read. The SVS Press translations are so much nicer. However, they’re Orthodox, so you won’t find Augustine at all, unless they recently added it. The works tend to be shorter. |
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Originally Posted By King_Mud: IM me and I'll loan them to you if you want. I’ll share whatever I have on hand. Half Price books is usually a pretty good bet though and they’ll order them in for you if needed. Originally Posted By King_Mud: Originally Posted By 11boomboom: Originally Posted By King_Mud: Originally Posted By 11boomboom: Originally Posted By Philmore: Any suggestions for reading on the early church fathers, next or maybe 2-3 gens removed from the Apostles? Augustine, Tertullian, Iraneus, etc. Are there specifics from any of those early church leaders that are your formative reading? I'm reading a book with excerpts from City of God by St. Augustine which is really good. There's also Confessions by the same. Honest question, why read excerpts instead of the entire text? City of God is fairly large but Confessions is a pretty short book (though a couple read throughs is a good idea). IN GENERAL I recommend Oxford World's Classics if you want a scholarly-leaning translation or a Penguin if you want a slightly more readable version but both will contain footnotes and citations. I generally avoid the public domain translations because they're often a bit antiquated and often better fidelity can be found in a more modern translation as long as you choose good options. See Emily Wilson vs Robert Fagles re: Homer or P&V vs McDuff re: Dostoevsky. (Also note that both of these are Penguin publications but probably half my shelf is OWC, I'm reading OWC Sophocles right now as a matter of fact) Also, I had some trouble really parsing out two parts in Confessions until I either listened to it in audio or read it aloud. If you get stuck in some sections try that, reading aloud gives some texts a character that reading to yourself just can't replicate and helps make things clear at times. OP, either: First pick https://commonplacebooksokc.com/item/jvekz9I8n820ABK3gjCr_w OR (not both, lots of overlap) Second pick https://commonplacebooksokc.com/item/Mh0zQvXIbbFXavqIXYVcfw If you want to go from there Irenaeus is likely up and you can find Against the Heresies in public domain versions or a new translation, multi volume version if you really want to dig deep. https://www.christianbook.com/against-the-heresies-book-1/st-irenaeus/9780809104543/pd/9104547 I don't have Confessions and I have other books I'm planning on reading before tackling the whole City of God. IM me and I'll loan them to you if you want. I’ll share whatever I have on hand. Half Price books is usually a pretty good bet though and they’ll order them in for you if needed. Thanks for the offer! I'll probably hit you up when I'm ready. |
Why is the sky blue?
What makes the green grass grow?
What makes the green grass grow?
|
Originally Posted By Marie: Those late 19th/early 20th translations by the Anglicans were the only thing in English for a long time. They can be difficult to read. The SVS Press translations are so much nicer. However, they’re Orthodox, so you won’t find Augustine at all, unless they recently added it. The works tend to be shorter. Originally Posted By Marie: Originally Posted By JAD762: If you’re looking for their writings, Philip Schaffs Early Church Fathers has been the standby for a long time. Someone mentioned Vladimir Presses recent translations, which have been nice to see. I’m guessing you’re limited to English here? Little of the writings and study of the early church have made it into English & it really sucks. If you’re looking for commentary on how their writings shaped the early church, you’re generally looking at 10000 ft summaries (like Haykins Rediscovering the Church Fathers) or biographical books of individuals (like Kelley’s Golden Mouth). Those late 19th/early 20th translations by the Anglicans were the only thing in English for a long time. They can be difficult to read. The SVS Press translations are so much nicer. However, they’re Orthodox, so you won’t find Augustine at all, unless they recently added it. The works tend to be shorter. Yeah. I appreciate the fact that they’re more readable, but I really wish they’d focus on texts that haven’t been previously translated as opposed to just new translations. Don’t hear that as me throwing darts at them. I’m fully aware of the world they live in because I live in that world too. The project I’m kinda most excited about right now is that there’s a group putting together a critical edition of Origen’s Hexapla. They’re using PhD students to do the work, so it probably won’t be finished in my lifetime. But that’s about the only way a project like this is going to get done. |
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Originally Posted By Philmore: Mainly interested in their writings and how they maintained and nurtured the early church. Some bio that is relevant is fine Originally Posted By Philmore: Originally Posted By JAD762: You looking for books about them or are you looking for their writings? Mainly interested in their writings and how they maintained and nurtured the early church. Some bio that is relevant is fine Consider the following for that part: https://ignatius.com/church-fathers-chufap/ As for your primary purpose, New Advent is great as already suggested. |
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