The Early Church Fathers on the Scriptures: Reading Scripture with the Early Church...[Ecumenical]

The Early Church Fathers on the Scriptures

Introduction: Reading Scripture with the Early Church Fathers

What can the early church fathers teach us about Scripture?
Why read the early church fathers and what can they teach us about the scriptures? It is easy to underestimate the contributions of the past and to exaggerate the wisdom of the present. Can we trust the Christian teachers of the early church period? Did they read the scriptures well? Did their own cultural and religious blind spots prevent them from understanding the heart of the gospel? Today there is renewed interest in the writings of the early church fathers among Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox. Many are rediscovering the rich treasure of wisdom and insight of the early church scholars, pastors, and teachers who devoted their lives to the study of the scriptures. The early fathers had a tremendous zeal for God and the Scriptures. What we see from a distance of some 2000 years, they saw close-up because of their access to the teachings of the apostles and the disciples of the apostles who also passed on their wisdom and insight.
Who are the early church fathers?
The age of the church fathers begins with the apostles and the first disciples who had the privilege of personal contact with the Lord Jesus. They are the hearers of the Incarnate Word who kept and handed on the words of the Word. The age of the apostles ends with the death of John the Evangelist at the close of the first century.
The patristic period began with some of the fathers who remembered the apostles John or Peter personally. They did not see Jesus in the flesh, but they had a personal share in the transmission of the apostles' testimony.
The golden period of the fathers runs from the fourth to the sixth century. Most date the end of the age of the Fathers of the West with the death of Isidore of Seville in 636, and the age of the Fathers of the East with the death of John Damascene in 749.
What characterizes a father of the church?
What qualified someone to be recognized as a "father of the church"? There are four key characteristics. First, their antiquity. The first church father is Clement of Rome, who wrote his letter around the year 96 AD. The early fathers lived and breathed the scriptures and the teachings of the apostles. They were the disciples of—and the disciples of the disciples of—the apostles. They demonstrate how Christ is present in all the Scriptures, from Genesis through Revelations. [See How the Scriptures are one book in Christ.]
A second characteristic of the church fathers is their holiness of life. They studied, meditated, and lived as faithful witnesses of the gospel. And they exhibited a tremendous zeal for God and the Scriptures. They have much to teach us about reverence for God's word and for study and meditation upon it.
A third characteristic is their orthodox doctrine. Their teaching is recognized as sound within the bounds of Scripture and church tradition. They affirm the central truths of the faith, such as belief in the triune God, that Christ was fully divine and fully human, the redemptive efficacy of Christ's death on the cross, the absolute authority and infallibility of Scripture, the fallen condition of humanity, the significance of baptism, the vital importance of prayer and of the disciplined spiritual life. They were not just theologians, but pastors of the church. Most of the early fathers were bishops. As shepherds of the church they spoke to the hearts and needs of those in their care.
The fourth characteristic is ecclesiastical approval. They were affirmed as such by the church itself. Within the broader classification of "Church Fathers" eight are designated as "Doctors of the Church": Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine and Gregory the Great in the West; Basil the Great, Gregory of Nazianzus, Athanasius and John Chrysostom in the East. They are eminent among the fathers for the depth of their learning.
Reading Scripture is a spiritual activity
How did the early church fathers approach the reading of the Bible? They show us that it's not just an intellectual activity, but more importantly a spiritual one. In fact we need to prepare our hearts and minds for the fruitful study and meditation of the Scriptures.
Listen to what the early fathers say about reading the Scriptures:
Origen, who lived between 185-254 AD, wrote: "The Word of God is in your heart. The Word digs in this soil so that the spring may gush out."
Jerome, who lived between 342-419 AD, wrote: "You are reading? No.Your betrothed is talking to you. It is your betrothed, that is, Christ, who is united with you. He tears you away from the solitude of the desert and brings you into his home, saying to you, 'Enter into the joy of your Master.'"
John Chrysostom, who lived between 347-407 AD, wrote: "Listen carefully to me..Procure books [of the Bible] that will be medicines for the soul. At least get a copy of the New Testament, the Apostle's epistles, the Acts, the Gospels, for your constant teachers. If you encounter grief, dive into them as into a chest of medicines; take from them comfort for your trouble, whether it be loss, or death, or bereavement over the loss of relations. Don't simply dive into them. Swim in them. Keep them constantly in your mind. The cause of all evils is the failure to know the Scriptures well."
The reading of the Bible should impact daily living. The Scriptures must be put into practice and translated into daily experience. We must be living testimonies of the Word of God. Reading the church fathers can be very rewarding, but it requires some serious effort. We have to transcend our modern culture and way of looking at things in order to understand the mind and culture of the early church and its way of thinking. If we are willing to hunt and dig a little in our study, then we will find a rich treasure of wisdom and inspiration from the writings of early fathers on the Scriptures.

“Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.”
Jerome, c. 347-420

1 posted on 06/14/2011 5:26:38 PM PDT by Salvation

This was left-aligned in the view.....sorry.

2 posted on 06/14/2011 5:28:03 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

To: Religion Moderator

Guidelines for Ecumenical Threads

from the Religion Moderator.

Basically, no antagonism.

3 posted on 06/14/2011 5:29:45 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

**The age of the church fathers begins with the apostles and the first disciples who had the privilege of personal contact with the Lord Jesus. They are the hearers of the Incarnate Word who kept and handed on the words of the Word. The age of the apostles ends with the death of John the Evangelist at the close of the first century.**

A lot of people do not understand what the age of the Early Church Fathers actually is.

4 posted on 06/14/2011 5:31:17 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

To: nickcarraway; NYer; ELS; Pyro7480; livius; ArrogantBustard; Catholicguy; RobbyS; marshmallow; ...

Qualifications of the Early Church Fathers:

First, their antiquity.

holiness of life.

orthodox doctrine. (true doctrine)

ecclesiastical approval.

Early church Fathers Ping!

5 posted on 06/14/2011 5:37:24 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

This will be a short series.

6 posted on 06/14/2011 5:40:22 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

7 posted on 06/14/2011 5:42:59 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

Qualifications of the Early Church Fathers:

First, their antiquity.
holiness of life.
orthodox doctrine. (true doctrine)
ecclesiastical approval.

We thank you Lord for sending us these men who acted as Your stewards for the fledgling Church.

8 posted on 06/14/2011 5:43:29 PM PDT by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so..)

And just think of it. Most of them knew the apostles, knew the Blessed Virgin Mary, knew the disciples — maybe they even were some of the first disciples.

And some people doubt them?

9 posted on 06/14/2011 5:50:43 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

“And just think of it. Most of them knew the apostles, knew the Blessed Virgin Mary, knew the disciples — maybe they even were some of the first disciples.

And some people doubt them?”

The first church father is Clement of Rome, who wrote his letter around the year 96 AD

The golden period of the fathers runs from the fourth to the sixth century. Most date the end of the age of the Fathers of the West with the death of Isidore of Seville in 636, and the age of the Fathers of the East with the death of John Damascene in 749

Not trying to be antagonistic, but:
How old were the apostles, Mary and the disciples at their deaths if most of the the Church Fathers knew them?

Will

10 posted on 06/14/2011 6:05:21 PM PDT by will of the people

And just think of it. Most of them knew the apostles, knew the Blessed Virgin Mary, knew the disciples — maybe they even were some of the first disciples.

And some people doubt them?

No, they hate the Church. If they admit that the Church was right, then they have to re examine all of their deeply held beliefs which usually consists of the premise of self-held and developed doctrine. And that now moves into the emotional world, out of the spiritual one. Being wrong is emotionally upsetting to most people. Therefore, if you don't admit you're wrong, you're not upset...

11 posted on 06/14/2011 6:11:16 PM PDT by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so..)

And just think of it. Most of them knew the apostles, knew the Blessed Virgin Mary, knew the disciples — maybe they even were some of the first disciples.

And some people doubt them?

12 posted on 06/14/2011 6:11:20 PM PDT by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so..)

Most of them knew the apostles, knew the Blessed Virgin Mary, knew the disciples

No, I don't think most of them knew the apostles, Mary and/or the disciples.

Very few of them did.

13 posted on 06/14/2011 6:14:31 PM PDT by what's up

To: Salvation; Elendur; it_Ã¼rÃ¼r; Bockscar; Mary Kochan; Bed_Zeppelin; YellowRoseofTx; Rashputin; ...

Freep-mail me to get on or off my pro-life and Catholic List:

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Please ping me to note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of general interest.

14 posted on 06/14/2011 6:17:55 PM PDT by narses ("Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashions." Chesterton)

To: what's up; Salvation

have to agree with what’s up, which kills me since i don’t think i have ever disagreed with salvation before!

15 posted on 06/14/2011 6:22:20 PM PDT by one Lord one faith one baptism

To: one Lord one faith one baptism

OK, so I said “most” How about “some”

Supposed St. John died around the year 90 AD.

16 posted on 06/14/2011 6:26:45 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

Pretty much sums up The Mass.

CHAPTER LXV — ADMINISTRATION OF THE SACRAMENTS.

But we, after we have thus washed him who has been convinced and has assented to our teaching, bring him to the place where those who are called brethren are assembled, in order that we may offer hearty prayers in common for ourselves and for the baptized [illuminated] person, and for all others in every place, that we may be counted worthy, now that we have learned the truth, by our works also to be found good citizens and keepers of the commandments, so that we may be saved with an everlasting salvation. Having ended the prayers, we salute one another with a kiss. There is then brought to the president of the brethren bread and a cup of wine mixed with water; and he taking them, gives praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and offers thanks at considerable length for our being counted worthy to receive these things at His hands. And when he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all the people present express their assent by saying Amen. This word Amen answers in the Hebrew language to genoito [so be it]. And when the president has given thanks, and all the people have expressed their assent, those who are called by us deacons give to each of those present to partake of the bread and wine mixed with water over which the thanksgiving was pronounced, and to those who are absent they carry away a portion.

CHAPTER LXVI — OF THE EUCHARIST.

And this food is called among us Eukaristia [the Eucharist], of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined. For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh. For the apostles, in the memoirs composed by them, which are called Gospels, have thus delivered unto us what was enjoined upon them; that Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, said, “This do ye in remembrance of Me, this is My body;” and that, after the same manner, having taken the cup and given thanks, He said, “This is My blood;” and gave it to them alone.

17 posted on 06/14/2011 6:27:24 PM PDT by HighlyOpinionated (I am a US Citizen, A Patriot, A TEA Partier, An Oath Keeper, A Voter, An Auburn Fan!)

other than Ignatius, Clement and Polycarp, i can’t think of any other. how about “very few”? :)

18 posted on 06/14/2011 6:30:20 PM PDT by one Lord one faith one baptism

To: one Lord one faith one baptism

And the other side of the coin is “How many of them knew the apostles and Mary intimately through prayer and revelation?”

We don’t know the answer to that one, do we? In some cases we have some hints, but not always.

19 posted on 06/14/2011 6:32:42 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

To: one Lord one faith one baptism

OK, I givr......LOL! I goofed in my words.....oh, horrors. LOL!

20 posted on 06/14/2011 6:34:56 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

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