Short Review of "The Spirit of Early Christian Thought: Seeking the Face of God"
This was the first book I finished in 2019, and it was a great one to start the year on. Although Robert Louis Wilken writes from an academic perspective, the writing feels neither heavy handed or pedantic. Most of the book was refreshing, and it was clear the author wrote from a point of critical love for material.
In terms of early Christianity, Wilkens has written a book which focuses on pre-medieval Christian thought. This is neither a book of 1st or 2nd century thought, nor is it a book which follows every rabbit hole or minor figure in the first few centuries of Christian thought. Maximus the Confessor, Gregory of Nyssa, Origen, and Augustine are given the greatest coverage in the book. Some people may complain these figures are given too much coverage, but my experience was that this was a book showing the influence and confluence of these thinkers as they did much to sum up the thoughts of their time(s). For seminary, I had to read histories of the early years of the Church and although there is a bias to what Wilken has written, it is a bias which overall should not be disappointing to those who are orthodox.
In this point, it is clear much could be disagreed with in the writing of these authors and even the councils which are discussed in the book. For example, if nothing else, the manner of refutation could be a point of contention, as Christians after the time of Constantine may not always be seen in the kindest light as empire and faith mixed in religion. For me personally, I found the chapter on the early development of baptism strange and cultish as to how quickly the practices deviated in the second and third centuries from what the early first century church did. Also, although dealt with in a careful and thoughtful manner, it is easy to see how issues such as iconography could be unsettling to some readers (Wilkens appears to endorse the use of icons).
Overall though, Wilken seems to find a way to be charitable in his dealings with the Church and her leaders while it was forming a comprehensive theology. He doesn't stop there though. The book meets orthodoxy and orthopraxy gently and yet alluringly. The reader comes away with an appreciation for scripture and the earnestness of the early theologians of the Church.
I highly recommend this book, not because it is a comprehensive review of early Christian thought, but because it welcomes the reader into the first few centuries of Christian thought as an old friend would welcome you into their home. It is neither stodgy nor stainless in its presentation, and yet it is comfortable with the subject matter. The text compels the reader to ask for more, as does any good book.
In terms of early Christianity, Wilkens has written a book which focuses on pre-medieval Christian thought. This is neither a book of 1st or 2nd century thought, nor is it a book which follows every rabbit hole or minor figure in the first few centuries of Christian thought. Maximus the Confessor, Gregory of Nyssa, Origen, and Augustine are given the greatest coverage in the book. Some people may complain these figures are given too much coverage, but my experience was that this was a book showing the influence and confluence of these thinkers as they did much to sum up the thoughts of their time(s). For seminary, I had to read histories of the early years of the Church and although there is a bias to what Wilken has written, it is a bias which overall should not be disappointing to those who are orthodox.
In this point, it is clear much could be disagreed with in the writing of these authors and even the councils which are discussed in the book. For example, if nothing else, the manner of refutation could be a point of contention, as Christians after the time of Constantine may not always be seen in the kindest light as empire and faith mixed in religion. For me personally, I found the chapter on the early development of baptism strange and cultish as to how quickly the practices deviated in the second and third centuries from what the early first century church did. Also, although dealt with in a careful and thoughtful manner, it is easy to see how issues such as iconography could be unsettling to some readers (Wilkens appears to endorse the use of icons).
Overall though, Wilken seems to find a way to be charitable in his dealings with the Church and her leaders while it was forming a comprehensive theology. He doesn't stop there though. The book meets orthodoxy and orthopraxy gently and yet alluringly. The reader comes away with an appreciation for scripture and the earnestness of the early theologians of the Church.
I highly recommend this book, not because it is a comprehensive review of early Christian thought, but because it welcomes the reader into the first few centuries of Christian thought as an old friend would welcome you into their home. It is neither stodgy nor stainless in its presentation, and yet it is comfortable with the subject matter. The text compels the reader to ask for more, as does any good book.
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