Liberty Theological Seminary

A Review onGetting to Know the Church Fathers: An Evangelical Introduction

A Paper Submitted to Dr. Dave Pederson

In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the course

History of Christianity ICHHI 520

ByBaskin, Deborah M.

22 September 2012

Getting to Know the Church Fathers: An Evangelical Introduction By Bryan M. Litfin, Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2007, 301 pp, $18.00 paperback.

INTRODUCTION

Bryan M. Litfin, who holds a PhD from the University of Virginia and is an

associate professor of theology at Moody Bible Institute, has written a compelling book

that expounds upon the church fathers; however, he included one chapter on a Perpetua

who was a woman martyr from the early third century. Litfin outlined the four

qualifications that define a patristic: 1) they must be ancient, 2) orthodox in doctrine, 3)

holy in life, and 4) approved by other Christians (p. 19). His goal was to help develop an

appreciation for the church fathers by correcting the misconceptions that many

evangelicals have about them, and to help the modern church understand the doctrinal

thrust these early theologians had on the faith (pp. 20-28).

STRUCTURE AND STYLE

Litfin stated, “When we get to know the church fathers as individuals, we will

begin to understand something of the grandeur of the community to which we belong…

We begin to feel connected to those believers who passionately followed Jesus Christ…”

(p. 29). In order to accomplish this purpose Litfin chose ten individuals (i.e., Ignatius of

Antioch, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus of Lyons, Tertullian, Perpetua, Origen, Athanasius, John

Chrysostom, Augustine, and Cyril of Alexandria) that he considered influential in their

contribution to church doctrine based upon their lives and writings.

Persuasively, he draws the reader into the life of each person by beginning the

chapter with a more modern story that is an indication of how he has recounted the

history of the ancient. Next, he encapsulated the region’s society and politics as he

emphasized the challenges that the church faced both from the pagans outside the church

and from heresy within the church. Finally, he introduced the main character of the

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chapter giving the person’s background beginning with their birth, family, education,

career/s, and conversion experience. This is followed by the subject’s contribution to the

faith, which might include their writings and theological explanations of the early text,

how he/she helped to define the canon, and his/her faith during times of persecution or

martyrdom. Often, Litfin made connections of other historical church figures where he

illustrated either their respect or in some case disdain for each other. After a captivating

narrative, he personalized the chapter by asking thought provoking questions. He ended

the chapters with suggestions for further study and a sampling of the Church Father’s

writing or more eyewitness accounts of the subject.

CRITIQUE

Getting to Know the Church Fathers is reminiscent in style to historical fiction in

that Litfin sets up each chapter in a way that hooks the reader and entices one to continue

with the text. As he developed the storyline, I found myself hoping that the ending (in

some cases) would not be so brutal. However, since Litfin faithfully wrote historical

events, he truthfully reported that Ignatius, Martyr, Irenaeus, and Perputua are all

martyred, which is described in gruesome detail. These accounts are used to drive home

an important theme of the book that Tertullian made famous, “The blood of the Christians

is seed” (p. 100). Litfin designed his book to ascertain that the readers understand the

price that was paid by the early Christians in their fight to keep the faith they had

received in Christ alive.

One of his stated goals was to introduce the church in a personal way to her

spiritual ancestors (p. 16). Therefore, the laity will discover that Litfin’s syntax is

extremely user-friendly. When he introduces a more advanced theological term, he

defines it - i.e., “asceticism: the disciplining of the body against its fleshly desire” (p.

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193). His explanation of Gnosticism and other heretical doctrine is straightforward and

will help the reader to appreciate the heresies that particular church fathers were battling.

In this respect the book makes an excellent primer for the average Christian wanting to

gain a deeper understanding of the church’s past and of her spiritual leaders. However,

for one with more advanced learning, he may wish that Litfin would refrain from

defining such terms and give more space to additional material or theological issues that

the church father advanced. Despite this small criticism, Litfin’s book should captivate

any reader (babe in the word to studied theologian) as he or she becomes intimately

involved in the lives of the individuals in those early years of the church.

One of the most moving narratives in the book is the account of Perpetua and her

companions. Included is the following:

Perpetua and Felicity were stripped and led out to the sandy floor of the arena before the hungry crowd. The narrator records that the Romans were ashamed when they saw the women’s naked bodies, for they could see Perpetua was in the flower of her youth and Felicity’s breasts were still dripping with milk from her recent childbirth. The onlookers demanded the martyrs be clothed in tunics to ease their guilty consciences. Then they were returned to the arena (pp. 133-134).

This is representative of Litfin’s capable writing style that permits the modern Christian a

modicum of insight into the harsh reality and pain that these women had to endure. He

composes other events of the additional featured individuals with the same passion and

style. Some might feel that this type of writing is done for an emotional response.

However, the fight for one’s faith should produce feeling in an individual.

Another appreciated aspect of the book is the way in which various theologies

were decided upon. These men had to help interpret the meanings of the letters of Paul

and the gospels before any established protocol existed. Ignatius advocated for the

monepiscopacy in order to promote harmony and to safeguard the message (pp. 42-43).

Justin developed the theology of the Logos as the Incarnate Son of God, which began to

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address the doctrine of the Trinity (p. 66). Irenaeus established the idea of recapitulation

and the “Rule of Faith” (pp. 90-91). Augustine described the fundamental spiritual

longing that can only be satisfied in Christ (p. 215). These were just a few of the

theological ideas that the church fathers developed that are staples in the Christian faith

today.

CONCLUSION

Getting to Know the Church Fathers is a book that would benefit any

evangelical who aspires to gain a deeper affection for the faith and to grasp the

reality of the true cost of discipleship. It will help one to understand how much of

the theology and the structure of the church were established. Lastly, the reader will

be astounded as he or she acquires a newfound love and appreciation for the church

fathers.

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