Reasons to Study the Church Fathers

There have been several recent appeals at Reformation21 to study the fathers. Here is a synopsis of the article and posts.

Michael Haykin (Blog): Why Study the Fathers

1. Study of the Fathers, like any historical study, liberates us from the present.
2. The Fathers can provide us with a map for the Christian life.
3. The Fathers may also, in some cases, help us to understand the New Testament.

Carl Trueman: The Fathers

1. By tracing the controversies, we can learn how and why the creedal formulations of these doctrines are important.
   
2. The pre-Constantinian context of much patristic theology offers a paradigm of how Christians can operate as a minority in a hostile or indifferent society.
3. The very alien nature of the world in which the Fathers operated challenges us to think more critically about ourselves in our own context.
4. As Protestants, we cannot claim to understand the historical development of our own tradition unless we come to terms with patristic theology.

Phil Ryken: Three More Reasons to Read the Fathers

1. The Church Fathers have a more constant concern for the poor.
2. The Church Fathers placed a prominent emphasis on the resurrection.
3. The Church Fathers remind us how far the church has come in some areas of theology and exegesis.

In addition to the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (Logos | Accordance), you may want to check out this new volume: Ancient Christian Devotional.

Update:

• Carl Trueman adds:
  • Sources for studying the early church fathers
  • More on patristics
  • Yet more on patristics

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