Reading Scripture With the Church Fathers

Rating:
Summary: Invitation to Patristic interpretation of Scripture
Review: "When we trace the development of patristic literature we discover something of how the intellectuals thought." RPC Hanson

Fathers of the Church:
Chris. Hall coeditor of "Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture" has written a pleasant and useful introduction to the Commentary series and to patristic studies of scripture, in general, targeted for the curious American reader. He discusses in a logical sequence expected queries of the postmodern western mind, "why pursue an abandoned Eastern Church tradition, when they no more read the scripture, let alone studying it?" Hall uses here the authority of Robert Wilken and Thomas Oden's own journey home to the Fathers through paleo Orthodoxy, to prove his case to patrology seekers. The desert fathers, says Burton-Christie, needed only scripture to sustain their spiritual life.

Fathers' Sola Sciptura:
"Ecclesiastical leaders and teachers who are accepted as authorities in matters of doctrine. In the early Church, Orthodoxy was determined by the so-called consensus patrum that showed general agreement among a set of Christian leaders distinguished by purity of faith, holiness of life, approval of the church, and antiquity." Nelson's New Christian Dictionary
None of first and second century fathers could make it to Hall's list, Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, Clement of Alexandria, Justin, Irenaeus, and Polycarp. The master of all exegetes, Origen of the Hexapla (of 6000 works) was covered only as representative of the Alexandrine school, and his associate Dionysius the Great, master of textual & redaction criticism was totally ignored.

The Hermeneutical Fathers:
"The Fathers placed the Bible in the context of the Christian life"
RPC Hanson, Introduction: Historical Theology, Vol. 2, p. 31
The study of the scripture with the aid of early church fathers, is a great project, invigorating patristic hopes, that Nottingham & Cambridge patrologist and Coptologist Dr. George Bebawi has proposed to translate the series into Arabic for the benefit of Christian readers in the Middle East. Hall seems to intentionally avoid a systematic and extensive discussion of biblical exegesis, in favor of introducing the novice reader to a group of patristic figures defined by the (Roman) Church. Even if recognized as exemplary in their approach to interpret the Bible devotionally, ecclesiastically, and morally (Chrysostom), collosal Biblical interpreters, including Cyril of Alexandria, who wrote the best on the Gospel of Luke, and Doctor of the Catholic Church (1982!), and champion of Orthodoxy was left out.

Fathers Comparative deductions:
While Dr. C. Hall gave enhancing applications, he could have elaborated on Golden mouth against the brilliant deduction of Gregory on priesthood, as masterfully exposed by the founder of the first patristic review in North America;" Priesthood between St. Gregory and St. Chrysostom, Dr. Rodolph Yanney, Coptic Church Review, vol. 20, No. 4, winter 1999, pp 135-141.
Hall decided honestly that the meager exegetical crop of early Christian 'mothers' does not sustain the anti chauvinist title of "church mothers"

Reading with the Doctors:
When evangelical scholars discovered that their exegetical memory was far from adequate, they started to find out why Alexandria led, Scriptura! Alister McGrath edited his 'Theology Reader', of which his proposed study panel (5) on interpretation of scripture included: Clement of Alexandria, Hippolytus, Origen, Augustine, and Bernard of Clairvaux (last of the Fathers)Hall is in fact reading the scripture with these eight church teachers with a sampler of each doctor's Hermeneutical views and their contributions to the early Church thought. He also presents a birds eye view of the patristic thought on: allegory in the scripture, Christology, development of scripture, prayer, etc. Although he treated fairly well basic church exegetical traditions in Alexandria and the Antiochene 'response' of sticking to historical moral methodology.

What do Patrologists say?
Hall was reluctant to mention any of the contemporary masters of patristic studies: Bettenson, H. Chadwick, Crouzel, Daniellou, or RPC Hanson, let alone Hans von Balthasar. The best defense for patristic studies is its overwhelming influence in restoring the Roman Church to Catholic originals by the above 'Nouvelle theologie' through the writings of the Church Fathers. I hope when he edits his reader friendly essay, that he may not overlook the monumental work by Charles Kannengiesser; "Handbook of Patristic Exegesis: The Bible in Ancient Christianity", April 2004

Rating:
Summary: Vital addition to anyone's library
Review: Great book that was a welcome addition to my library. I feel that the author gave a strong review, explanation, and context for the selected church fathers that were covered. After reading the book, I came away with a deeper understanding of the fathers, the early church, and some of the stuggles that the church is going through now.