It’s not too late to register to join our 2021 Patristics Reading Group. Please review the following reading list (subject to change).
* = Likely to be discussed in our monthly video meeting.
** = Highly recommended. May also be discussed in the monthly meeting.
Most of the reading is available for free at ccel.org or in The Complete Ante-Nicene & Nicene and Post-Nicene Church Fathers Collection ($2.99 on Kindle). Other primary and secondary resources are included for further study.
Introductory & Companion Guides
- Gavin Ortlund, Theological Retrieval for Evangelicals: Why We Need Our Past to Have a Future (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2019). 224 pages.
- Eusebius: The Church History (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2007), edited by Paul L. Maier. 368 pages.
- Everett Ferguson, Church History, Volume One: From Christ to the Pre-Reformation (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2013), Second Edition. See especially Chs. 3–14. Scribd.
- [Video] Scott Harrower, “Scott Harrower on the Apostolic Fathers,” Holy Joys. This lecture provides a bridge from the New Testament to the writings of Irenaeus.
- Bryan M. Litfin, Getting to Know the Church Fathers: An Evangelical Introduction (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2016), Second Edition. 290 pages. Scribd.
- Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger), The Fathers of the Church: From Clement of Rome to Augustine of Hippo (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2009). 189 pages.
- Boniface Ramsey, Beginning to Read the Church Fathers (New York / Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2012), Revised Edition. 320 pages.
- Christopher A. Hall, Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 1998). 223 pages.
January — Irenaeus (130–202?)
- *On the Apostolic Preaching
- Paperback: Popular Patristics Series (SVS Press). 121 pages. $25.
- Digital: ccel.org (free).
- **Against Heresies (Books III–V)
- Paperback: Ex Fontibus Co. 347 pages. $22.
- Digital text (free): ccel.org.
- Against Heresies (Books I–II)
- See above.
- See also Irenaeus on the Christian Faith: A Condensation of Against Heresies (Pickwick Publications, 2011), edited by James. R. Payton Jr. 234 pages.
- Secondary resources:
- [Video] Brian Shelton, “Irenaeus,” Holy Joys. Dr. Shelton wrote the chapter on Irenaeus in Shapers of Christian Orthodoxy (IVP, 2010). He spoke to our Ad Fontes group on February 4, 2021.
- John Behr, Irenaeus of Lyons: Identifying Christianity, Christian Theology in Context (Oxford University Press). 248 pages.
- Eric Osborn, Irenaeus of Lyons (Cambridge University Press, 2008). 328 pages.
- Denis Minns, Irenaeus: An Introduction (T&T Clark, 2010). 192 pages.
- [Video] John Behr, “Synchronic and Diachronic Harmony: Saint Irenaeus On Divine Simplicity.” Behr provides valuable insight into the way Irenaeus and the premodern church reads Scripture.
- [Podcast] “Irenaeus,” Beeson Divinity School Podcast. Timothy George interviews patristics scholar Jeffrey Bingham about the life and theology of Irenaeus.
- [Podcast] Matthew Emerson and Brandon Smith, “Theology Classics: Irenaeus of Lyon,” Center for Baptist Renewal.
- [Article] A. Poncelet, “St. Irenaeus,” The Catholic Encyclopedia (New York: Robert Appleton Company). Retrieved September 15, 2020 from New Advent.
- [Article] Simonetta Carr, “Irenaeus of Lyon: Passionate Apologist to the Gnostics,” Christianity Today.
- See the relevant sections in the introductory and companion guides above.
February — Tertullian (155–240?)
- *Against Praxeas
- Paperback: Aeterna Press, pp. 5–58 (54 pages). $13. This volume includes Against Praxeas and numerous apologetic and practical treatises.
- Digital: ccel.org. Free.
- *Apology
- Paperback: Aeterna Press, pp. 81–143 (63 pages).
- **On Baptism
- Paperback: Aeterna Press, pp. 249–278 (30 pages).
- **On Prayer
- Paperback: Aeterna Press, pp. 278–298 (21 pages).
- Paperback: Popular Patristics Series. $19. This volume includes treatises on the Lord’s Prayer from Tertullian, Cyprian, and Origen.
- Secondary resources:
- [Video] Chris Bounds, “Tertullian,” Holy Joys. Dr. Bounds spoke to our Ad Fontes group on February 26, 2021.
- [Article] Kyle R. Hughes, “Tertullian: A Critical Biography.”
- See the relevant sections in the introductory and companion guides above.
March — Origen (184–253)
- *On First Principles
- Paperback: Oxford University Press. 448 pages. $34. Translated by John Behr. For this work, we do not recommend the translation in the Ante-Nicene & Nicene and Post-Nicene Church Fathers Collection.
- **On Prayer
- Paperback: Popular Patristics Series. $19. This volume includes treatises on the Lord’s Prayer from Tertullian, Cyprian, and Origen.
- Secondary resources:
- [Video] Jonathan Morgan, “Origen,” Holy Joys. Dr. Morgan spoke to our Ad Fontes group on April 1, 2021.
- [Podcast] John Behr, “Origen and the Early Church, Pt. 1,” OnScript.
- [Podcast] John Behr, “Origen and the Early Church, Pt. 2,” OnScript.
- [Article] “Origen: Biblical Scholar and Philosopher,” Christianity Today.
- See the relevant sections in the introductory and companion guides above.
April — Athanasius (295–373)
- *On the Incarnation
- Paperback: Popular Patristics Series. 110 pages. $17.
- Digital: ccel.org. Free.
- Secondary resources:
- Peter Leithart, Athanasius (Baker Academic, 2011). 222 pages.
- See the relevant sections in the introductory and companion guides above.
May — Hilary of Poitiers (310–367)
- *On the Trinity
- Paperback: The Catholic University of America Press. 555 pages.
- Secondary resources:
- See the relevant sections in the introductory and companion guides above.
June — Basil of Caesarea (330–379)
- *On the Holy Spirit
- Paperback: Popular Patristic Series. 128 pages. $17.
- Digital: ccel.org. Free.
- **On Christian Doctrine and Practice
- Paperback: Popular Patristic Series. 324 pages. $20.
- Sermons on the Psalms
- Sermons on Creation
- Secondary resources:
- Marvin Jones, Basil of Caesarea: His Life and Impact (Christian Focus).
- See the relevant sections in the introductory and companion guides above.
July — Gregory of Nyssa (335–395)
- *Catechetical Discourse.
- Paperback: Popular Patristics Series. 171 pages. $25.
- Digital: ccel.org. Free.
- **On the Soul and the Resurrection.
- Paperback: Popular Patristics Series. 126 pages. $16.
- Secondary resources:
- See the relevant sections in the introductory and companion guides above.
August — Gregory of Nazianzus (329–390)
- *Five Theological Orations (Orations 27–31)
- Paperback: Popular Patristics Series. 175 pages. $17.
- Digital: ccel.org. Free.
- **Festal Orations
- Paperback: Popular Patristics Series. 194 pages. $17.
- Secondary resources:
- John McGuckin, Saint Gregory of Nazianzus (SVS Press, 2011). 436 pages.
- See the relevant sections in the introductory and companion guides above.
September — Jerome (347–420)
- *Selected Letters
- Hardcover: Loeb Classical Library. 528 pages. $28.
- Digital: ccel.org. Free.
- Secondary resources:
- [Article] “Jerome: Bible Translator Whose Version Lasted a Millennium,” Christianity Today.
- See the relevant sections in the introductory and companion guides above.
October — John Chrysostom (347–407)
- *Paschal Homily
- Digital: oca.org (free).
- *On the Priesthood
- Digital: ccel.org (free).
- Paperback: Popular Patristics Series. 160 pages. $17.
- **On Wealth and Poverty
- Paperback: Popular Patristics Series. 140 pages. $16.
- Homilies on the Gospel of St. John
- Secondary resources:
- Gerald Bray, Preaching the Word with John Chrysostom (Lexham Press, 2020). 120 pages.
- See the relevant sections in the introductory and companion guides above.
November — Augustine (354–430)
- *On Christian Teaching
- Paperback: Oxford University Press. 168 pages. $13.
- Digital: ccel.org. Free.
- **Confessions
- Paperback: Oxford World Classics. 311 pages. $8.
- Digital: ccel.org. Free.
- On the Trinity
- Paperback: New City Press. 470 pages. $31.
- Digital: ccel.org. Free.
- The City of God (especially Book 19)
- Paperback: Cambridge University Press, 1278 pages. $42.
- Digital: ccel.org. Free.
- Secondary resources:
- Augustine Through the Ages: An Encyclopedia (Eerdmans Pub Co., 1999), edited by Allan Fitzgerald. 902 pages.
- The Cambridge Companion to Augustine (Cambridge University Press, 2014), edited by David Meconi and Eleonore Stump. 404 pages.
- Philip Cary, Inner Grace: Augustine in the Traditions of Plato and Paul (Oxford University Press, 2008). An introduction to Augustine’s doctrine of grace and the development of his thought.
- See the relevant sections in the introductory and companion guides above.
December — Cyril of Alexandria (376–444)
- *On the Unity of Christ
- Paperback: Popular Patristics Series. $17.
- Kindle. $1.
- Audio: That Christ is One (podcast). Free.
- Secondary resources:
- John McGuckin, Saint Cyril of Alexandria and the Christological Controversy (SVS Press, 2010). 428 pages.
- See the relevant sections in the introductory and companion guides above.