I am considering purchasing the Ancient Christian Commentaries - actually I know I want it - I just haven't convinced my wife yet. I was wondering for those who have it - how do you like it?
Thanks,
Ron
I'm really enjoying it. One of my seminary professors recommended it as an accessible way to get perspective from a different time. I decided to try it out and have loved it. One of the better additions to my library lately.
I've enjoyed dipping into it a little bit. Hard to say how much I'll use it in a big way, but the serendipty once in a while will be delightful.
I love it. But then, I am very interested in what the Church Fathers thought, and I really respect Thomas Oden's work.
how do you like it?
Lukewarm. Many of the entries are not taken from commentaries so they often deal with the text in a secondary way (perhaps using it to make another point). I suppose this can't be avoided, but it means that in many ways it isn't actually a commentary on the text. (Some Bible books have been given commentary treatment by the ECF so in those there is more actual commentary.) If you can get it for an especially good price (as I did) then it is probably a worthwhile addition.
It is a fine set to get a taste of the early church's writings. It seems to me some editors are more inclined to some of the fathers than others. As a commentary you might be disappointed because the time period writing style is very different from our own. They tend to read more like homily snippets, than what we might consider commentary, and that seems true even when the extracts are from ancient commentaries. I think it is valuable to hear the ancients speak, I don't use it every day but love it every-time i do use it.
-Dan
PS: The Volume on the Apocrypha is incomplete, Tobit, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch/Letter Jer. and the Daniel Additions are the only ones covered. I am not too sure if the other books were considered to spartan's quoted to do but it does offer information on all of the books in the introduction.
Thanks for the input.
I too like to hear the thoughts and opinions of the early church fathers.
I will be purchasing the commentaries soon.
Available Now
Build your biblical library with a new trusted commentary or resource every month. Yours to keep forever.
