Tradition, Scripture, and Interpretation: A Sourcebook of the Ancient Church (Evangelical Ressourcement: Ancient Sources for the Churchs Future)

One of a series that helps modern church leaders return to the wisdom and insight of the early church fathers in order to apply their ancient understandings of Christian belief and practice to ministry in the 21st century. This sourcebook gathers key writings from the first through sixth centuries that illustrate the ways in which the church's confessions, teaching and worship were expressed during that time. More than an anthology, this sourcebook introduces the primary sources of Christian antiquity. The writings are arranged thematically, covering such topics as the rule of faith, baptismal formulations and instruction, creeds, and biblical interpretation. Within each theme, the writings are arranged chronologically, revealing how the Christian tradition on a given topic developed over time. The anthology begins with a chapter examining the close interplay between Scripture and tradition in the thinking of the early church.--From publisher description.