Ancient Commentary on the Christian Scriptures Value

Justin Gatlin
Justin Gatlin Member, MVP Posts: 2,331
edited November 2024 in English Forum

I am evaluating the worth of different upgrades to me. Since my passage guide already finds patristic references, what value is the ACCS? Does anyone consider it a major element of their study, and if so, why?

Using Logos as a pastor, seminary professor, and Tyndale author

Comments

  • DMB
    DMB Member Posts: 14,635 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Depends on your study needs.

    I have both side by side (CitedBy against the Fathers and ACCS).  ACCS tends to be 'crafted', so it's probably more useful for sermon prep. The Fathers, more blurbs (in CitedBy) that need to be tracked down for how appropriate.

    Also, ACCS is quite readable on larger sections.

    "If myth is ideology in narrative form, then scholarship is myth with footnotes." B. Lincolm 1999.

  • RyanB
    RyanB Member Posts: 686 ✭✭✭
    https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/842773#Comment_842773

    Thank you for taking the time to answer Denise (and for posting the original question Justin). I too was wondering about this and appreciate finding the answer here.

  • Mike Childs
    Mike Childs Member Posts: 3,135 ✭✭✭

    This is just my experience and opinion.  I love the Church Fathers, and I have both the Church Fathers and also the Fathers of the Church series in my library, along with the ACCS.

    I love the ACCS best of all.  It works like a commentary and has helpful quotes you are unlikely find any place else.  Just today while working on a sermon on Psalm 4, I found this jewel in the ACCS from Augustine:

    “What are the lies you are seeking? I will tell you right away. You all want to be happy, I know. Find me someone, let him be a robber, a villain, a fornicator, a sorcerer, sacrilegious, defiled by every imaginable vice, up to his neck in misdeeds and crimes of all sorts, who does not want to live a happy life? I know you all want to live happy lives. But what is it that makes a person’s life happy? That is something you are not all seeking after. You are seeking gold, because you imagine you will be happy with gold; but gold does not make one happy. Why seek after lies? Why do you want to get to the top in this world? Because you imagine you will be happy with honor from people and worldly triumphs; but worldly triumphs do not make one happy. Why seek after lies? And whatever else you may seek after here, when you seek it in a worldly way, when you seek it by loving earth, when you seek it by licking the dust of the earth, the reason you are seeking it is in order to be happy; but nothing at all that is of the earth will make you happy.… What you are seeking is deceptive; what you are seeking is lies.”

    I am a big Tom Oden fan, and he edited the ACCS.  With the ACCS, you get Tom Oden's years of experience and great scholarship in selecting the best of the Church Fathers.  Oden's expertise is worth the price.


    "In all cases, the Church is to be judged by the Scripture, not the Scripture by the Church," John Wesley

  • mike
    mike Member Posts: 2,117 ✭✭✭
    https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/842938#Comment_842938

    Its just feels nice sometimes to be able to quote old theologians when preaching... It gives the congregations the sense that we're still true to the old. Plus, it'd also sounds like we've done some homework-reading.  (30yo+ congregations can appreciate this)

    So bottom line.. I wouldn't read the whole chapter. I'd just use them for a quote. For real commentaries, I'd go with the more recent-published commentaries.

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