[DonaldC]

This is indeed needed. Some baptist circles believe Jesus was baptist because he was baptized by John the baptist. And I am not kidding!

[vladimir998]

“Today, one of our problems in the evangelical church, which no doubt reflects our larger culture, is that we do not know history, let alone church history and historical theology well,” Wellum writes.

It’s so good to see a Protestant admit this.

[american colleen]

"Wellum sets forth two reasons why a study of the church fathers is crucial for modern-day Christians: it helps to remind believers of the rampant pluralism that leaders of the early church faced, and it serves to remind believers that it was the church fathers who hammered out the orthodox expressions of the faith in crucial areas such as Christology and the Trinity."

Wouldn't most Baptists have a problem with that statement because it sort of refutes 'the Bible only' belief?

This was a pretty interesting article, btw, thanks for posting it.

[ladyL]

I hope they study the Nicene Council in 325 AD and see how the Hebrew faith that was left to the Believers was remixed with paganism to satisfy Constantine and his countrymen. That is how we have all been worshiping Mithra, with all of his accutrements, for the past 2000 yrs.
,

[NYer]

“Knowing this era of church history will not only enable us to be alert to trends in our own day that basically re-invent ideas from the past, but it will also help us better to live and proclaim the gospel faithfully today, for God’s glory and our good.”

You will definitely enjoy this book! I could not put it down.

Available through Amazon.com

What was the early Church like? Contrary to popular belief, Rod Bennett shows there is a reliable way to know. Four ancient Christian writers—four witnesses to early Christianity —left us an extensive body of documentation on this vital subject, and this book brings their fascinating testimony to life for modern believers. With all the power and drama of a gripping novel, this book is a journey of discovery of ancient and beautiful truths through the lives of four great saints of the early Church—Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, and Irenaeus of Lyons.

Good to see you in the forum, Colleen! Hope and pray all is well with you.

[PAR35]

Ping.

[VOA]

bump

[markomalley]

Knowing church history, particularly as it relates to the early years of Christianity and the theological issues which faced leaders in that age is important for all believers, essayists in the summer edition of the Southern Baptist Journal of Theology argue. The latest SBJT examines the early church and encourages Christians to learn from important church fathers such as Athanasius, Augustine and Irenaeus.

Marvelous!

The use of patristic writings as a record of how the early Church understood the revelation of Christ and how the early Church practiced this faith can only be a good thing!

My congratulations to these essayists!