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Summary: a
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Summary: Quick Review
Review: A great source for those interested in the Seven Ecumenical Councils (what shaped them and how they came to be). Insightful discussion of the events which molded the major branches of Christianity.
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Summary: A Matter-of-fact look at the early Church.
Review: In this valuable book Leo Donald Davis, a Roman Catholic priest takes an objective look at the history of the Church and the theological story of the council meetings during the first seven ecumenical councils. Each chapter of the book is dedicated to one council; the circumstances that led to the council, the convening of the council, the actual deliberations and the aftermath of the council. The seven ecumenical council dealt with are the councils of Nicea I, Constantinople I, Ephesus, Chalcedon, Constantinople II, Constantinople III and Nicea II.The life of the Church during these councils was very much intertwined with secular history. Secular politics and theological controversieis were often intermingled. The eccelsiastical rivalries were sometimes much worse than the political ones. The author deals with history in an objective manner and is preoccupied with showing the gruesome facts without taking any sides. The faithful people need to note that the Holy Spirit worked through all these persons and situations. It is a delightful book. After having read this, our outlook on the Church and her doctrines will no more be the same.
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Summary: Decent book, but keep a balanced view of the author.
Review: This book is a summary and overview of the Councils and the climate in which took place. If you are looking for extreme detail, this may or may not be what you are looking for. But when read along with the Early Church Fathers volume on the Councils (Series 2 Vol 14) at the Christian Classics Ethereal Library, it serves the reader well.
Mr Davis writes well and does his homework, but when you read, you must keep in mind that he is a Roman Catholic and puts in plugs here and there for the Pope, as if that is what made the council Ecumenical. Even the title reflects this (as if there were an 8th ecumenical council).
After reading the chapter on the 7th Ecumenical council, I was almost convinced that it was not even Ecumenical, on account of his exerpt on the Franks "not being included". But even as an Eastern Orthodox, you can read this and get a lot out of it, as for Councils'theology and politics.
Rating:
Summary: Decent book, but keep a balanced view of the author.
Review: This book is a summary and overview of the Councils and the climate in which took place. If you are looking for extreme detail, this may or may not be what you are looking for. But when read along with the Early Church Fathers volume on the Councils (Series 2 Vol 14) at the Christian Classics Ethereal Library, it serves the reader well.
Mr Davis writes well and does his homework, but when you read, you must keep in mind that he is a Roman Catholic and puts in plugs here and there for the Pope, as if that is what made the council Ecumenical. Even the title reflects this (as if there were an 8th ecumenical council).
After reading the chapter on the 7th Ecumenical council, I was almost convinced that it was not even Ecumenical, on account of his exerpt on the Franks "not being included". But even as an Eastern Orthodox, you can read this and get a lot out of it, as for Councils'theology and politics.
Rating:
Summary: worth 10 stars!
Review: While not many scholars have pulled this sort of thing off well, Davis does it with amazing detail (though not cumbersome) and lucid style. It is welcome to have such a work in English. I recommend that the reader would see my review of Kelly's "Early Christian Doctrines" for a list of other works of relevance, especially Allison's "The Cruelty of Heresy". Enjoy!
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