New Church Fathers Expansion Libraries
Logos has released their Library expansion collections and while, unfortunately, they have not created a specific Catholic collection, as in years past, the "Church Fathers Expansion Library" is filled with the CUA Church Fathers Series, which has been recommended to me in the past. I am currently limited to the Schaff Fathers series and so all the resources in these new expansion libraries would be new to me. As someone who would like to become more familiar with Church Fathers in a general sense, I'm wondering how people feel about the specific resources that Logos has chosen for these expansion libraries. Is there a specific "size" that would seem to be the best bang for the buck? At first glance, it seems that the resources are being offered at a pretty good discount. The "small" collection by itself has enough of St. Augustine, St. Gregory, and St. Ambrose to keep me busy for a while. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!
https://www.logos.com/product/128320/logos-7-church-fathers-library-expansion-s
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The CUA Church Fathers and Ancient Christian Writers series are far, far superior to the older translations. I think you would be very pleased with the collection you are considering. I purchased one of the other collections to augment my library. It was a great deal and, upon initial review, I'm very pleased.
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After reading the CUA translations you'll never be tempted to use Schaff again. [;)]
Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."
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MJ. Smith said:
After reading the CUA translations you'll never be tempted to use Schaff again.
Agreed!
The ACW series also seems to be a substantial improvement on Schaff.
“The trouble is that everyone talks about reforming others and no one thinks about reforming himself.” St. Peter of Alcántara
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MJ. Smith said:
After reading the CUA translations you'll never be tempted to use Schaff again.
CUA = Catholic University of America?
Thanks to FL for including Carta and a Hebrew audio bible in Logos 9!
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Thanks everyone. Your enthusiasm has convinced me! Do you feel that the medium or large expansion sets contain any works that you would consider essential reading beyond what's offered in the small collection? I'm realizing that the Schaff translation really did put me off of reading the fathers for a time. I started reading a sample of one CUA Fathers book (Augustine's City of God) and had a far better experience than I did as I struggled through the Schaff translation. It's too bad that St. Augustine isn't better represented in these expansion collections but I suppose they want to entice us to buy the bigger base packages. I don't have the kind of money necessary to upgrade to the gold level (which really seems to be where the Church Fathers take off) and so I would like to string some of the more essential works together and spend some time on those before going any further.
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From what this Lutheran sees:
Small has 8 volumes:
1) St. Gregory's Dialogues - including the Life of Benedict, a work (with Benedict's Rule itself) is one of the prime works of Western Monasticism. Strongly recommended
2) St. Leo the Great's Letters - Another of the great Latin Doctors. Recommended, but I would read the Gregory first
3 & 4) St. Ambrose Letters and Theological/Dogmatic Works: Early Latin Doctor, Recommended, but again would read the Gregory first.
5) Gregory Naz Orations: A peak into how Eastern thought "works"
6) St. Augustine Faith, Hope and Charity - I assume this is the Enchridon - a short summary of the mature thought of St. Augustine on these theological virtues. Near essential. I know it from the New City Press edition, not this one, however.
7) St. Augustine Faith and Works - St. Augustine wrote a few treatises on this topic, and would need to look up exactly which one is included here. Of course this whole topic has been argued quite extensively since the Reformation. This is from the ACW set, and in general, this set would have some of the best annotations to place the work within St. Augustine's other thought, and a good start at how it fits in with other treatments on this topic over the history of the church.
8) Justin Martyr Apologies - I have this in print, and if you are interested in the 2nd century apologists and the growth of pre-nicene theology, this is a quite important work, and a very solid translation of it.
So, all in all, a good selection.
Medium adds Ascetical works of Gregory of Nyssa (important eastern ascetical works), Origen's treatment of Romans, a volume of John Chrystostom, Leo's Sermons, Cyprian's treatises (vital for Ecclesiology) and John of Damascus's works (the "last" church father of the East and one of the great thinkers of the faith)
All of these are good, important additions. But nothing as important as the St. Gregory the Great volume or the St. Augustine Enchiridon though, IMHO. Large adds more good stuff, but again, nothing quite as vital.
The Gospel is not ... a "new law," on the contrary, ... a "new life." - William Julius Mann
L8 Anglican, Lutheran and Orthodox Silver, Reformed Starter, Academic Essentials
L7 Lutheran Gold, Anglican Bronze
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Thanks for the analysis Ken- very helpful!
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