The Contemporary Church and the Early Church

Case Studies in Ressourcement

Paul A. Hartog, Hartog

• Publisher: Pickwick Publications
• Year: 2010
• Print ISBN:
  9781606088999
  9781498254359
• eBook ISBN:
  9781498271851
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Theology

As "evangelicals" face future challenges, many are turning back to the ancient church for inspiration. But these ancient-future approaches remain diverse and sometimes even at odds with one another. This volume demonstrates and analyzes the complexity of such contemporary church-early church engagements. Six scholars share diverse insights from the Patristic period, including lessons on evangelism and discipleship, community formation and maintenance, use of the "rule of faith," the preaching of social ethics, responses to cultural opposition, and Christological development. The volume closes with two critical responses, from confessional Lutheran and Baptist perspectives. These collected essays will remind contemporary readers of the importance of a reflective and responsible ressourcement of Patristic wisdom. With contributions from: Rex D. Butler  Francis X. Gumerlock  Bryan M. Litfin Brian J. Matz W. Brian Shelton Edward Smither Glen L. Thompson

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Acknowledgments
• Abbreviations
• Contributors
• Chapter 1: The Complexity and Variety of Contemporary Church —Early Church Engagements
• Chapter 2: Learning from Patristic Evangelism and Discipleship
• Chapter 3: Learning from Patristic Community Formation
• Chapter 4: Learning from Patristic Use of the Rule of Faith
• Chapter 5: Learning from Patristic Responses to Cultural Opposition
• Chapter 6: Learning from Patristic Preaching of Social Ethics
• Chapter 7: Learning from Patristic Christology
• Chapter 8: Evangelicals and the Quest for the Historical Church —A Lutheran Response
• Chapter 9: Evangelicals and the Tensions of Ressourcement —A Baptist Response
• Bibliography