This edition of my church fathers paraphrases comes from someone who is not generally considered a church father. Rather, he was closely associated with many of the church fathers and one of the most important figures in Christian history. That man is Emperor Constantine the Great.
read moreThis installment of my paraphrases of the early church fathers comes from St. John of Damascus, also known as St. John Damascene or The Damascene. John was born in Damascus around AD 676 to Mansur, a Christian who was the chief financial officer of the caliph in Damascus. John’s father wished for him to have…
read moreThis edition of my early church father’s paraphrases comes from St. Irenaeus of Lyons. Irenaeus was born sometime in the early 2nd century A.D. and was a disciple of St. Polycarp, who himself was a disciple of St. John. Irenaeus was sent to Rome during the persecutions under Marcus Aurelius to Pope Eleutherius with a…
read moreThis installment of my early church fathers paraphrases comes from St. Hilary of Poitiers. For more information on his life, please visit my previous paraphrase from him. This selection comes from the tenth book of his work “On the Trinity.” ——————————————————————– Understanding God comes about by faith. The search into his mysteries is bounded by…
read moreThis installment of my church fathers paraphrases comes from St. John Chrysostom. St. John was born in Antioch around A.D 347. In his early life he was engaged in classical studies, but the influence of the bishop Meletius caused him to turn to the ascetic and religious life. He began as a lector in Antioch,…
read moreThis latest installment in my series of paraphrases by the early church fathers comes from St. Ambrose of Milan. Ambrose (Ambrosius) was born around A.D. 340 to an old Roman family which also had ancient ties to Christianity. His father (also named Ambrosius) held the prefecture of Gallia, and Ambrose was set to follow in…
read moreThis installment of my church fathers paraphrase series comes from St. Peter Chrysologus. Not much is known of Peter’s early life or even his death. He was ordained a deacon by Cornelius the bishop of his hometown Imola. In A.D. 433 he was appointed to the bishopric of Ravenna by Pope Sixtus III. Peter had…
read moreThis is another is my continuing series of paraphrases of the Early Church Fathers. Today’s selection comes from St. Gregory of Nyssa, who lived in the 4th century, dying sometimes around A.D. 386. He was brother to another of the church fathers- St. Basil the Great, and is one of the three Cappadocian Fathers. Evidently…
read moreThis installment of my church fathers’ paraphrases comes from the ascetic writer John Cassian. He was born around A.D. 360 and died around A.D. 435. Little is known of his early life, but he was instrumental in introducing Eastern monastic practices to the West. He was raised by an affluent family, but at a relatively…
read moreThere is probably no more enigmatic author in church history than Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite. This anonymous author’s works exerted a profound influence on theology and philosophy within the early church, St. Maximus the Confessor and St. Thomas Aquinas notably among those within their purview. From the earliest days of this work its authorship was open…
read moreThis edition of my church fathers paraphrases comes from St. Gregory Nazianzus. Gregory was born around A.D. 325, right as the Council of Nicea was in full swing. His father Gregory had been a pagan but had converted due to the influence of his wife Nonna. The elder Gregory became bishop of Nazianzus in 329…
read moreThis installment of my church fathers paraphrases comes from Clement of Rome, who is considered the first of the ‘Apostolic Fathers.’ Clement I was the fourth bishop of Rome (after Linus and Cletus) and lived within the lifetime of the apostles. St. Irenaeus reports that he “saw the blessed Apostles and conversed with them, and…
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read moreThis installment of my church fathers’ paraphrases comes from St. Hilary of Poitiers. Hilary was born to pagan parents sometime around AD 310, but early in his life his study of the scriptures led to his conversion. He was well beloved and respected and in 353 was elected to the bishopric of Poitiers. Hilary’s life…
read moreThis edition of my Church Fathers paraphrases comes from Hippolytus. Little to nothing is known of his early life, although it seems that he was a disciple of the famous bishop of Lyons, Irenaeus. Hippolytus may have been his disciple in either Lyons or Rome, but he later became a presbyter in Rome. There are…
read moreThis is the first of what I hope to be a continuing series of paraphrases of the church fathers. Ever since college I have had a fascination with historical theology, and particularly the writings of the ante-Nicene and Nicene church fathers. The English translations that I have, however, were translated in the late 19th century,…
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Protestations