Who Were the Church Fathers?

Short Review: This is a good introduction to the history and writing of the early church fathers (those just after the apostles until about 600AD). D'Ambrosio does a good job of putting these pastors, bishops and lay people in context. When I have read some other survey history of this era I either got to much history and not enough writing or vice versa (or too much look at topical issues.) But for me this hit a sweet spot for introducing me to more of what the early church taught and practiced.

D'Ambrosio is Catholic and I think a few times he stretches to make connection with modern Catholicism and the early church fathers, but other than that issue, I highly recommend the book. I think I will be reading more of the early church fathers soon. This is also a good follow up to John Michael Talbot's memoir-ish look at how the early church fathers led him to Catholicism (my review - http://bookwi.se/ancient-path-old-lessons-church-fathers-new-life-today-john-michael-talbot-mike-aquilina/ )


My full review - http://bookwi.se/when-the-church-was-young/