Patristics Roundup- March 16-22, 2007

I'm still running a little late and behind from my vacation, but I think I'm caught up now. It has been another busy week in patristics land with a lot of varied posts. Enjoy!

New Blog

Announcing a new Patristics blog: East to West A respository of thoughts on theology and history . Already there are entries on Irenaean soteriology, a book list of primary and secondary sources for Theodore of Tarsus, Irenaeus on Mary and Irenaeus on the Roman Church. So far, these are just quotes from secondary sources, but it will be interesting to see where the author, James Siemans, will go. His other blog, fides et ardor, is worth following as well.Hat Tip: Mike Aquilina. I'm going to have to get both of these on my favourites.


Patristics:

Mike Aquilina on The Way of the Fathers blog features St. Cyril of Jerusalem, and St. Joseph; the latter including patristics citations about St. Joseph and corrects the Smithsonians' neglect of Alexandrian Christians in their Alexandria exhibit.

William Weedon on Weedon's Blog features Patristic quotes on St. Ephrem Syrus, Ephrem again,Ephrem again, St. Ephrem again , St. John Chrysosthom and, finally, St. Ephrem.

Danny Garland on the Irish-Catholic and Dangerous blog features St. Gregory Nyssa on the persons of the Trinty, asks St. Gregory of Naziansus about the image of the invisible God and the difference between the wills of the Son and the Father. He continues his promise new feature, Ask the Father, with St. Augustine on the greatest of God's miracles and St. Aphraphat on Christ as the new Moses.

The God-Fearin' Fiddler on The God Fearin' Forum features articles on whether the Catholic Church is like the Early Church, Mathetes to Diognetus on Christian behavior and St. Augustine on sola scriptura.

Antony Hanson on the Coming to the Quiet blog quotes his professor talking about Origen's attitude of the relationship between the intellect and the spirit.

Jason Engwer on Triablogue reflects on a fellow blogger's shortcomings in Interpreting the Church Fathers. At least, there are some citations of the Fathers on Mary.

Paul Roberts on the Commonplaces blog sides with Origen and Jerome on the importance of extra-biblical literature.

Weekend Fisher on the Heart, Mind, Soul and Strength blog reflects on the similarites in Luther's, Jerome's and Athanasius' attitudes to the Apocrypha

This is a bit of a missed item, but Rick Brannon on his other blog, Pastroal Epistles, has started a series on the use of the Pastoral Epistles by the Apostolic Fathers. Here is his introduction, followed by the Epistle to Diognetus, parts one, two, three and four .

Fleming Rutledge, one of my favourite Anglican sermon writers, has some comments on her Generous Orthodoxy blog concerning the stabilizing influence of the Fathers in the historical Jesus debates. Hat tip to Nicolas Kingsley on the Entangled States blog.

James Swan on the Beggars All blog quotes St. John Chrysosthom on raising children in his Ancient Voices series.

Peter Leithart on Leithart.com explains why Alexandrian exegetical methods proved to be more important to the mediaeval theologians than Antionchene.

Mark Gordon on The Suicide of the West blog features Justin Martyr and on the Nicene Creed in his 40 Days, 40 Graces reflection on the "practices, doctrines, personalities, and moments that have been particularly precious to me during my ten years as a Catholic.". Both of these are late, but thanks to Mike Aquilina for directing me to it.

Patrick Hagman on the God in a Shrinking Universe blog announces the publication of his Swedish translation of 13 letters of St. Augustine. Congrats, Patrick!

Apocryphal Corner

Tony Chartrand-Burke on Apocryphicity features a discussion of the (rather dubious)employment of Christian Apocrypha in the Talpiot tomb controversy. This very thoughtful essay is well-worth reading now that the sensationalism around the Talpiot tomb controversy is beginning to lift.

Peace,
Phil