Customer Reviews for Baker Academic Reading the Apostolic Fathers: A Student's Introduction, Second Edition

A succinct, comprehensive introduction to the documents commonly referred to as the "Apostolic Fathers". Ideal for students just gaining a footing in church history or theology, Reading the Apostolic Fathers: A Student's Introduction for ten key documents written in the church's apostolic period, roughly covering the first and second centuries.

Jefford provides the basic historical information on each text including its provenance and associated problems while also discussing manuscript evidence. Each chapter is arranged in a question-answer format, and near the end of each chapter an outline is given and any connection to the biblical material is noted. Lastly, Jefford also provides a succinct but quite helpful bibliography for extended reading on each letter. Supplemental charts and maps round out this volume nicely.

Documents Covered:

• The Letter of Barnabas
• The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles
• The Letters of Ignatius
• The Fragments of Papias
• The Letter of Polycarp to the Philippians
• The Martyrdom of Polycarp
• The First Letter of Clement
• The Second Letter of Clement
• The Shepherd of Hermes
• The Letter of Diognetus