So we had a great conversation in The Piazza tonight, and one of the questions was asking what would be my top 5 books of the Church fathers. Now, when the question was asked, I thought it meant, books about the Church fathers, but after looking up the video that inspired the question, I now see that it meant top 5 books or writings BY the Church fathers. So with that in mind, I can't really choose just 5 because you need to get the trajectory or overview of the big picture of the history of the Church and the development of doctrine - so these are in chronological order (unlike the other guy's list), with links to read them free online (also unlike the other guy):
1) Clement of Rome, I Clement
https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1010.htm
2) Irenaeus of Lyons, On the Apostolic Preaching (it goes by various titles)
https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/irenaeus_02_proof.htm
3) Tertullian, Against Praxeas
https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0317.htm
4) Athanasius of Alexandria, On the Incarnation of the Word
https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/2802.htm
5) Ambrose of Milan, On the Mysteries
https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3405.htm
6) Cyril of Alexandria, On the Unity of Christ
https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/cyril_christ_is_one_01_text.htm
Now, I understand why the other guy recommended Augustine's Confessions, and it is that good, but for me it's secondary to these others.
Let me know if you have questions...
I'm back, up and running, and ready to go - I should have a new JOURNEY episode within the next week or so - and because you are my loyal peeps, here is an exclusive, just-for-you, behind the scenes SNEAK PEEK into my new office:
This was for March 24th, recorded for the Ascension App
Thanks for your patience - here is our next installment of The Journey - it's session # 96, but I'm also calling it PART 1 of a "miniseries" on John chapter 6.
Whoever watches it first, please let me know if it looks good or if there are any problems with it - I get through the first two sections of the text on the feeding of the 5,000.
Enjoy!
I mentioned in The Journey that I wrote a song based on Isaiah 2, which is one of my favorite OT passages:
In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain, and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it. Many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us go up to the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, That he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations, and set terms for many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. House of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
I hope you like the song!
