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Rating: 
Summary: Handy little work
Review: I'm not sure how much the texts have been updated since the time that the author wrote this, which is why I only gave 4 stars in my review, but I can't imagine that the text suffers much.The format is great, with Greek on the left and the english translation on the right, with scripture references, footnotes and textual variants in most cases. There is an introduction to each author briefly sketching the history of each text, manuscripts used, etc - thoroughly academic. The size of the book is great, I can easily throw it in any coat pocket. The writings of Ignatius included are the seven letters of the shorter recension mentioned by Eusebius, for those curious souls who wish to know. Christianity is, from first to last, a historical construct. It rests on the truth of a historical person, Jesus of Nazareth, the people who historically continued in His ministry, and the things which they both historically taught. At least three of the writers in this collection knew at least one Apostle personally, so their writings are an essential witness to the content of apostolic teaching, and as such are invaluable in interpreting the eternal message contained in the scriptures. The entire flavor of the pre-nicene church helps bring out a good deal of things that are in the New Testament but which we either miss or gleam over. Also, their application of Christ's teaching was understood in many cases differently than how we are taught to read them. I'm not espousing anything sensational, as if there is some secret teaching that they had access to, but they actually lived out the principles that we too often water down. Occasionally these writings serve as a good correction of our understanding on some topics, but more often it is their paradigm (if I can use a Kuhnian expression) that differs from ours... So do read, and enjoy.
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