Does anyone know if there's a resource(s) that parallels contemporary society with the Church Fathers up to the first 5 or 6 hundred years.
FF Bruce came out with a book Israel and the Nations, from the Exodus to the Fall of the Second Temple that deals with Israel from the standpoint of its historical interaction with its neighbors.
What I'm looking for is a book that deals with what was going on contemporaneously during the Church Father's age. Political, societal. Things like what was going on in Egypt or the Mediterrainian areas. What was the going price for a bushel of wheat, what was playing at the theaters in Ephesus or Corinth. Who was leading in the Isthmian games. What was the temperature in specific geographical areas etc........
I should probably add that there are many books that deal with the above subject, but I'm looking for Patristic-centered resources. For example: While Ignatius was being led captive to Rome, the weather was.... the Collesium was holding games or not, Caesar was vacationing or having a drink of wine (red or white) waiting for his mistress. Books that include the Fathers AND surroundings.
So if you know a resource either in Logos or otherwise, do let me know.
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Milkman:I should probably add that there are many books that deal with the above subject, but I'm looking for Patristic-centered resources. For example: While Ignatius was being led captive to Rome, the weather was.... the Collesium was holding games or not, Caesar was vacationing or having a drink of wine (red or white) waiting for his mistress. Books that include the Fathers AND surroundings.
I know of nothing quite like that, but...
Robert Wilken, The Christians as the Romans Saw Them is written to specifically bridge the gap between Classical scholars and Patristic ones. It speaks quite a bit about how we were viewed as Burial Societies, etc., and also on how some pagan critics saw issues about Creation and the Doctrine of God well before they became debates in the Church.
Geoffrey Dunn's volume on Tertullian from Routledge has a fair amount of cultural background - and the footnotes from it point to the work of Timothy Barnes (who I have not read) -- the link does not seem to catch all his books - some are Timothy Barnes, others Timothy David Barnes, or Timothy D. Barnes...
In Logos, the works of Judith Lieu would be a start, but she is focused on how Christians developed their Identity compared with both Pagans and Jews - not exactly what you are asking, but kind of in the area - and available in Logos...
The Gospel is not ... a "new law," on the contrary, ... a "new life." - William Julius Mann
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I have nothing useful to add to your query but the tittle made me think... "What's going on with the Church Fathers?" A: Still in glory with Christ, have not written anything new for over a 1000 years....
-dan
St. Jerome's House † Install
Dan Francis: I have nothing useful to add to your query but the tittle made me think... "What's going on with the Church Fathers?" A: Still in glory with Christ, have not written anything new for over a 1000 years.... -dan