BOOK REVIEW: LEARNING THEOLOGY WITH THE CHURCH FATHERS

CHHI 520: History of Christianity I

June 17, 2012

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Learning Theology with the Church Fathers by Christopher A. Hall Downers Grove, Ill:

Intervarsity Press, 2002, 308 pp, $18.00 paperback.

Christopher A. Hall, provost of Eastern University as well as dean at its Templeton

Honors College, has presented a compelling and outstanding work in his book Learning

Theology with the Church Fathers. An intelligently well written treatise on key theological issues

facing the early church as seen through the eyes of the church fathers, this book is the second

book in a trilogy: Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers and Praying with the Church

Fathers are the titles of the first and third books respectively.1 Hall’s purpose is to portray various

doctrines from the viewpoint of one or two church fathers. Using this approach Hall covers

several theological issues: Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, God’s providence, the Human

Condition, the Sacred Scriptures, and the Church.

While the book is not an exhaustive discussion of Christian doctrine, the wisdom and

insights of some of the early church fathers thoughts and ideas are passionately presented. Hall

writes the book in a simplistic manner that analyzes each argument by doctrine. Hall presents

both sides of every issue with the view that in the end the reader is left with making his own

decision about what he chooses to believe. Reflecting back to the theological foundation of the

Nicene Creed, Hall exhibits a progression of spirited debates that begin with the incarnation of

Jesus and ends with the Resurrection of the Body and the Life Everlasting.

As Hall wrote in his preface, this book is designed to explain some of the most

foundational Christian doctrines in a way that welcomes beginning learners yet at the same time

not alienate the scholar. 2 Hall accomplishes this brilliantly throughout the book, but does it best

in his coverage of, “The Mystery and Wonder of the Trinity” which also acts as a common

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thread throughout the other chapters in the book. For this reason, this chapter is thoroughly

examined in order to illustrate the thoughts and beliefs of the early church fathers as they

struggled to find answers to probing questions that faced the early church. In this book review of

Learning Theology with the Church Fathers my intentions are to show how the early church

fathers as great theologians, set the foundation and architecture of our Christian faith.

In the chapter titled “The Mystery and Wonder of the Trinity”, Hall introduces the views

of two key fathers on the trinity: Gregory of Nazianzus and Augustine. Gregory begins by stating

some preliminary warnings: only a pure heart can truly and fully understand the trinity, only a

person molded and shaped by scripture can unfold it, and we can only approach God through the

safeguard of his word. 3 With that being said, Gregory believes that God has planted reason with

us and because that reason proceeds from God, we can be lead up to God through visible things

and therefore gain some understanding of the trinity.

Gregory summarizes the trinity in the following manner: The father is the begetter and

the emitter without passion and without reference to time. The Son is the begotten and the Holy

Spirit the emission. 4 In Gregory’s eyes there was never a time when there was not a Father and

Son and Holy Spirit. Gregory illustrates his point with an analogy using the sun and its rays. The

ray’s source is the sun. Both the Sun and its rays came into existence at the same time. So like

wise, the Son and The Spirit find their origin in the Father. Gregory explains his case by citing

passages in the Gospel of John that identifies three separate lights yet one light: The Father

comprehends out of light, the son is light and the Holy Spirit is in the light. 5 Yet, they are all

light.

Augustine, on the other hand, felt that everyone should have a foundational

understanding of the Trinity. He is of the belief that understanding the Trinity is the core of

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salvation. In presenting his views on the Trinity, he goes immediately to the story of Jesus’

baptism by John in the river Jordan. In this experience he states that one can clearly see the

mystery of the Trinity being revealed. The Voice from heaven came from the father, the Man

(Jesus) being baptized is the Son, and the Dove descending represents the Holy Spirit. 6 At first

glance this may lead one to think that three separate god’s are being represented. However, faith

proclaims that there is only one God. In other words, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are a

Trinity inseparable; One God, not three Gods.

Augustine reminds us that the Trinity acts in unity and yet separately. Augustine believes

that we can understand divine realities by way of analogies, studying God’s creation for clues

that lead beyond themselves. By sifting through creation we may find “some resemblance,

whereby we may prove that there are some three things which be exhibited” as being both

separate and yet inseparable in their work or operation. 7 Since humanity alone is created in the

image of God what better place to turn for and answer than to human nature itself. Augustine

illustrates his point by looking at the memory, the will, and understanding. As he looks closely at

each of these aspects, he not only proves that they are inseparable but also interdependently

linked to each other as well. He uses this analogy as an example to parallel the explanation of the

Trinity. Augustine concludes that the Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit may be shown

separately in certain visible forms yet still be in their operations inseparable. 8

This chapter sample summary only gives a peak into the mindset of the early church

fathers. As clearly demonstrated in this chapter and throughout the book, Hall focuses the central

discussion around one or two church fathers. This allows for us to see clearly how the church

fathers tackled the difficult topics about certain doctrines in their day. At the end of each chapter

Hall summarizes their arguments in some detail and even quotes them when needed.

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Other notable chapter events in Hall’s book include: Chapter 6 which gives insights into

Irenaeus’ responses to the Gnostics about sin and grace, and arguments between Augustine and

Pelagius that help show the development of belief concerning matters of will, and Chapters 7 and

8 which highlights Chrysostom’s views on Providence as to why suffering exists, and forms a

basis of belief as it relates to intention, motive and disposition to determine the free will of

accepting God’s control.

Overall, Hall has written a great introductory book that offers a good view of the early

church fathers’ thinking on various Christian doctrines. Through each of the arguments and

debates presented, one can clearly see how the early church fathers set the foundation and

architecture of our Christian faith. From this book alone, Hall has planted the seeds of the early

church fathers deeper and given all Christians a greater appreciation and solid understanding of

patristic theology.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Hall, Christopher A. Learning Theology with the Church Fathers.Grand Rapids, Michigan: Intervarsity Press, 2002.

[1] Hall 2002, 9

[2] Ibid., 12

[3] Ibid., 56

[4] Ibid., 61

[5] Ibid., 62

[6] Ibid., 73

[7] Ibid., 77

[8] Ibid., 79