Table of Contents
Preface vii
Acknowledgments xi
Selected Chronology of the Early Church Fathers xiii
Chapter 1 The Church Fathers: Who Is Included? 1
Chapter 2 Clement and the Corinthian Coup 5
Chapter 3 The Didache: Out of the Mist of History 11
Chapter 4 Ignatius: Prophet, Pastor, and Witness 18
Chapter 5 The Martyrdom of Polycarp 29
Chapter 6 Diognetus and the Mystery of Christian Newness 38
Chapter 7 Justin and the Philosophers Cloak 47
Chapter 8 Irenaeus and the Gnostic Threat 58
Chapter 9 Irenaeus and the Battle for the Bible 68
Chapter 10 Clement and the School of Alexandria 77
Chapter 11 Origen: Zeal and Genius 88
Chapter 12 The Tragedy of Tertullian 102
Chapter 13 Cyprian and the Unity of the Church 113
Chapter 14 Hippolytus and the Lex Orandi 125
Chapter 15 The Great Persecution 139
Chapter 16 Nicaea, the First Ecumenical Council 150
Chapter 17 Athanasius against the World 162
Chapter 18 Basil the Great 179
Chapter 19 Two Gregorys and a Council 192
Chapter 20 Ambrose of Milan: The Jonah of the West 210
Chapter 21 Augustine and Amazing Grace 223
Chapter 22 The Preacher with the Golden Tongue 243
Chapter 23 Jerome and the Bible 256
Chapter 24 Leo and Peter 266
Chapter 25 Gregory the Great 275
Chapter 26 The Voice in the Voices 286
Postscript: When the Church Was Young 295
Further Reading on the Early Church Fathers 297
