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Rating: 
Summary: A great introductory tool
Review: A good book for prominent church fathers, but I was looking for a book including those less well known. If all you need is an overview, then this would be a great choice.
Rating: 
Summary: Good introduction to 2nd century Christian writings and idea
Review: An attempt to present the early church fathers in a more user-friendly book, Early Christian Fathers is readable and useful as both a tool and a reference. This book covers the writings of Clement of Rome, Igantius, Polycarp, Justin Martyr, Athenagoras, Diognetius, Ireneaus and the Didache in a author-by-author context introducing the background, authorship, and texts of each writing. The book is introduced with a good but brief overview of 2nd century Christianity and the development of its thought up until that point.The translations are very readable and the footnotes, while sometimes distracting, help to keep the context in mind. For me, however, the introductions to each writing is almost worth as much as the actual translated letters as it provides the whole theme of the letter in concise and simple treatment. So whether it is the background or the actual letters you desire to read this book has it.
Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding Selected Writings From Early Christians
Review: Cyril C. Richardson has edited a beautiful book with writings of the "early christian fathers." Unlike many Introductions in other books, Cyril's is to the point and informative. It is a must read to get a better understyanding on the letters from these early Christians. He has laid out the book in a nice, easy format that consists of each chapter with an: Introduction that gives the historical and theological backdrop of the letter. A list of books used as resources. The letter by the early author. The different chapters cover such items as the "Letters in Crises", "The Way of Martyrdom", "In Defense of the Faith" and so on. Letters are written by some of Christians greatests men such as Ignatius, Polycarp, and Clement. This is a great book for all Christians - a must read!
Rating:
Summary: A great introductory tool
Review: Cyril C. Richardson has edited a beautiful book with writings of the "early christian fathers." Unlike many Introductions in other books, Cyril's is to the point and informative. It is a must read to get a better understyanding on the letters from these early Christians. He has laid out the book in a nice, easy format that consists of each chapter with an: Introduction that gives the historical and theological backdrop of the letter. A list of books used as resources. The letter by the early author. The different chapters cover such items as the "Letters in Crises", "The Way of Martyrdom", "In Defense of the Faith" and so on. Letters are written by some of Christians greatests men such as Ignatius, Polycarp, and Clement. This is a great book for all Christians - a must read!
Rating:
Summary: Good introduction into the Church Fathers.
Review: This book has very good introductions before each selection of a Church Father. For those not knowing much about the author or his writings these intros were informative and aided in understanding the text. There is also some commentary about the text which again is very helpful. This book attempts to capture a representative sampling of the Early Christian literature and it does so well. A must read for any student of Early Christian history.
Rating:
Summary: The Great Christian Church Fathers...
Review: This book is an excellent text for those who are solely interested in the topic for pure curiosity and for those who are interested in doing a little research. The author, Richardson, has put together an excellent compilation of letters, and journal entires of various prominent early Christians. There are letters from the famous St. Polycarp, to the early Bishop St. Ignatius (not the Jesuit Ignatius) depicting the events and thoughts leading up to their martyrdoms. There are also letters from the early Popes illustrating the various problems the early church faced. All in all an excellent read for the beginner and for the far advanced. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in biographical information pertaining to the Early Chirstian Fathers.
Rating:
Summary: The Great Christian Church Fathers...
Review: This book is an excellent text for those who are solely interested in the topic for pure curiosity and for those who are interested in doing a little research. The author, Richardson, has put together an excellent compilation of letters, and journal entires of various prominent early Christians. There are letters from the famous St. Polycarp, to the early Bishop St. Ignatius (not the Jesuit Ignatius) depicting the events and thoughts leading up to their martyrdoms. There are also letters from the early Popes illustrating the various problems the early church faced. All in all an excellent read for the beginner and for the far advanced. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in biographical information pertaining to the Early Chirstian Fathers.
Rating:
Summary: outstanding
Review: This collection from the early fathers is outstanding. I don't know how to describe it except to say that the translator shows himself to be a master of the languages: sheer genius. When going back to these seminal masterpieces of the early Church, this edition is my preferred choice. Thank God it's back in print! While most of the texts are complete, the choice of selections from longer works (i.e., Irenaeus and Justin) are generous and judicious. It includes the critical texts of Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius, Irenaeus, Justin the Martyr, Athenagoras, as well as the Didache and a few other things. Paragraph numbering is useful to the academic reader. Each text is supplied with a critical introduction and valuable textual notes. These intro's are also, for the most part, real gems. Probably the only disappointment is the lack of Shepherd of Hermas. My advice: get this masterpiece on your bookshelf.
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