The Early Christians: In Their Own Words by Tertullian (PDF)

Description

In these firsthand accounts of the early church, the spirit of Pentecost burns with prophetic force through the fog enveloping the modern church. A clear and vibrant faith lives on in these writings, providing a guide for Christians today. Its stark simplicity and revolutionary fervor will stun those lulled by conventional Christianity.The Early Christians is a topically arranged collection of primary sources. It includes extra-biblical sayings of Jesus and excerpts from Origen, Tertullian, Polycarp, Clement of Alexandria, Justin, Irenaeus, Hermas, Ignatius, and others. Equally revealing material from pagan contemporaries – critics, detractors, and persecutors – is included as well.

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: Review This welcome anthology of writings from the first two centuries of Christendom is full and practical – and fervent. — America MagazineIf you hold, like Arnold does, that Christianity is no longer Christianity if it departs too radically from its beginnings, you must read this book. — Roland H. Bainton, Professor Emeritus, Yale UniversityThis selection will not only help readers understand early Christianity intellectually; it will also challenge them to live more fully, abundantly, and even radically. — Justo L. Gonzalez, Emory UniversityA compelling, fascinating, and direct account of one of the most important periods in the history of modern man. — James Luther, Adams Harvard Divinity School About the Author Eberhard Arnold (1883–1935) studied theology, philosophy, and education and was widely sought as a speaker at student conferences and other gatherings. In 1920, leaving a promising career as a writer and the privileges of upper-middle- class life in Berlin, he moved with his wife and children to Sannerz, a small village in central Germany, where they founded a Christian community on the basis of the Sermon on the Mount.

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐This is Catholic, I didn’t realize this when I purchased, so shame on me. But at least I can warn others.

⭐Despite the reviews of individuals who obviously did not read this book it is not Catholic. Eberhard Arnold does an excellent job illustrating the culture at the time of the early Church in order create context for the letter of the early Church Fathers

⭐I believe this book reveals the truth of what it really means to be a Christian. The Christian busy work of modern times did not exist in the first two centuries of Christianity. To read the actual writings of early Christians makes me wonder how we have strayed so far away from what God first intended.

⭐This idea of a actual Christian Community really has started to appeal to me. All of Eberhard’s books are very good. I have purchased quite a few.If there is such a thing as a “real christian”, I think Eberhard Arnold fits the description. Certainly one to emulate.Again, older writer and older book. Back when books had meat in them. Not just selling a few nice ideas and extending it to a 100 to 200 page book.

⭐Enlightening and encouraging, but also staggering to read such ancient documents.

⭐Always good to hear from the people who were there at or around the time. Good insight.

⭐I have often heard or read references to early Church writings that are not included in the Bible. Gnostic writings come with a caution, Church Fathers taught with authority and holy men and writings that did not “make the cut” have been alluring but seem too remote, too overwhelming, too much work to undertake their study. “The Early Christians In Their Own Words” provides introductions to many of these writers in easily readable selections.This work is divided into six chapters: The Witness of the Early Church; The State, Society and Martyrs; Self-Portraits and Portrayals; Creed, Confession and Scripture; Sayings of Jesus and the Apostles; Meeting, Worship and Church Practices; and Proclamation and the Prophetic Spirit.Some entries purport to be historical accounts not recorded in the Bible, either because they occurred later or just were not included, but are interesting none the less, such as the martyrdoms of James and Polycarp. Others teachings of the early Church, condemning “shocking acts, males with males; who defile in every way just the most graceful and beautiful bodies; who drag the glorious handiwork of God’s creation in the dust” and identifying with “we who call those women murderers who take drugs to induce an abortion” are reflected in Church teachings down to this very day. Charges leveled against the early Christians, infanticide, incestuous dinners, godless feasts, indiscriminate intercourse and atheism seem absurd, but are the any more serious than the claims made against twenty-first century Christians?The names of the authors are many of whom we have heard: Clement, Polycarp, Justin, Tertullian and Origen, but their quotes put their reputations into words. The life rules found in the selection from the Didache are good for any Age. Language bearing on contentious theological arguments merits reflection. Justin, seemingly rejecting justification by faith alone tells us “Anyone who is not found living in accordance with his teachings should not be regarded as a Christian even if he confesses to Christ’s teaching with his lips. For he said that only those shall be saved who do not just talk but who also do the corresponding works.” Tertullian wrote “he sends the Holy Spirit…proceeding from the Father”, in accord with Orthodox teaching, but in contradiction to the Catholic Creed that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. I have heard it said that Tertullian drifted into heresy. Perhaps this is an example.This tome was assembled by editor Eberhard Arnold in a search for the guiding principles of the early Christians by which he and his followers strive to live. Those who believe that the Church drifted from the original teachings may find confirmation of their beliefs on the pages of this book. I generally found consistency between the words of the early Christians and the faith taught by the Catholic Church today. I value this volume for the introduction it provides to the early Christian writers and it encourages me to overcome my reticence and delve more deeply into the legacy they have left us.

⭐Eberhard Arnold’s collection of early Christian texts, The Early Christians in Their Own Words, is actually far more than a collection of texts from early Christians. Instead, Arnold’s book is an image of what genuine Christian communities might — and indeed must! — look like. The Early Christians in Their Own Words is a reflection of the Christian faith and its way of life aflame with uninhibited zeal and unwavering devotion. This is what life in the Spirit really must be.Arnold was the founding pastor of the Bruderhof Community, whose members strive to imitate what they understand to be the purity and devotion of the early Christian church, and compiled these writings some 75 years ago as a kind of guidebook for his community.The book begins with an opening essay from Arnold himself, that offers one of the best synopses of early Christian life I’ve ever read. That essay alone is a genuine treasure in this book. But the selections that follow are rich treasures that cover any number of issues for a genuine Christian community — The State, Society, Creeds, the Scriptures, Worship and Church Practices, and what Arnold here calls “the Prophetic Spirit”. Each chapter contains material ranging from apologetic writing and confessions of faith to aphorisms, parables and poetry. Represented here are writers like the third-century theologian Tertullian, the first-century epistle writer Clement of Alexandria and, of course, Paul of Tarsus, one of the earliest interpreters of Jesus’ life and ministry.The historical contextual notes also found in the text make The Early Christians in Their Own Words a genuine treasure.I plan to use this one in theology and church history courses to come. Because this book is more than history — it is a testimony to a clear and vibrant faith in Jesus Christ.__________________I received a free copy of this book from Plough Publishing in exchange for my honest review here.

⭐I have several anthologies like this on my bookshelf, some more recent than this one, some much more comprehensive – but this collection still gave me some gems I haven’t seen before.The introductory essay on the early Church felt a little bit dated (not surprising, for a book first published in the 1920’s!), but once the early Christians begin to speak for themselves the book really comes alive (dramatically so, for words first written nearly 2000 years ago!!!)Each chapter is arranged by general theme:The State, Society and MartyrsSelf Portraits and PortrayalCreed, Confession and ScriptureSaying of Jesus and the ApostlesMeetings, Worship and Church PracticesProclamation and the Prophetic SpiritThe quotations range from single sentences to several pages in length – mostly extracts, though a few works are quoted in full (e.g. The Didache) There’s far, far more of Justin Martyr than anyone else – the book occasionally felt just a tad Justin-heavy!Each section is followed by several pages of notes. This is quite nice, as it allows the reader to ‘listen’ to the early Christians (and some pagans) without the distraction of footnotes, but does provide useful additional info for anyone who wants it.I felt that sometimes the book was a little bit uncritical in accepting some of the writings, but I suppose that’s fair enough – it sets out to provide snapshots of early belief, not to offer scholarly theological/historical opinion on whether (for example) any of the extra-biblical sayings of Jesus might be genuine.All in all, I highly recommend this book to students, to anyone with an interest in the early Christians, and in fact this is stuff that just about every thinking Christian ought to read at least once.

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