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The Early Church (The Penguin History of the Church) | 
 enlarge | Author: Henry Chadwick
Publisher: Penguin
Category: Book
List Price: $16.00
Buy New: $9.02
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Avg. Customer Rating:  23 reviews
Sales Rank: 9846
Media: Paperback
Edition: Revised
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 320
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5 x 0.9
ISBN: 0140231994
Dewey Decimal Number: 270
EAN: 9780140231991
ASIN: 0140231994
Publication Date: October 1, 1993
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| Customer Reviews: Read 18 more reviews...
 An Admirable Effort February 9, 2008
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
One might suggest that any short one volume history of the early Church is doomed to failure based on the magnitude of the project. That being said, this book in my opinion is more successful in accomplishing its task than any other of its type that I have encountered. Henry Chadwick now in his late eighties has long been a fixture in British and North American intellectual circles. He is a theologian, churchman, and historian and is an ordained priest in the Episcopalian Church of England. This in some ways makes him exceedingly suited to the task at hand, but in other ways it helps explain the shortcomings of this book. Chadwick is primarily a theologian and scholar of patristics. And, a history of theology amounts to an intellectual history of the Church. This is where this book shines and is at times magisterial. When fully engaged in the thought of the Church fathers, Chadwick's brilliance and ability to clearly explicate the material he is dealing with is breathtaking. Conversely, when dealing with certain nuts and bolts issues of history one might well wish for more. And lastly, it is my opinion that his Anglican orthodoxy makes him well suited to write an evenhanded appraisal of the history of the early Church.
Chadwick quickly moves through the earliest history of the Jesus movement. I was struck by his straight forward gloss of scripture concerning the trial of Jesus which is still a matter of continuing scholarly debate. Moving from there he engages Gnosticism in counterpoint to early orthodoxy. The sub-apostolic period as the author titles the era of the early Church fathers is less well covered although it crops up in bits and pieces throughout the book. Thereafter, approximately twelve pages are devoted to the success and expansion of the early Church in the first two Centuries. The next sixty or so pages is devoted to what I consider to be the finest section of the book. It is concerned with the development of Christian thought, doctrine and Church history from Justin Martyr through Origen. The Arian controversy and the council of Nicaea are well covered. The interaction of Church and Empire during the fourth century is less well explained. In essence, sometimes orthodoxy is assumed where there is scholarly debate and Chadwick's engagement with a topic under consideration tends to vary with its relevance to doctrinal formation. This pattern persist throughout the book.
Interestingly, beyond the fall of the western Roman Empire, there is a gradual attenuation of interest in the East. After Nicaea, the issue of the person of Jesus is well handled through the council of Chalcedon. Justinian the Great and the fifth general council receive far less attention than they deserve. Maximus the Confessor and the sixth ecumenical council receive scanty attention at best on two pages!! In a book of this length one would suppose that such choices must be made. However, the predictability of these choices may be disconcerting to some readers. A fine chapter on Augustine is included which provides a clear explanation of the "filioque" clause and its rational. An interesting section on the development of papal authority from 350 CE through the pontificate of Gregory the Great and the mission to the western barbarians follows. The book closes out with a section on the liturgy which is adequate and a short discussion of Church art and music which unfortunately engages the iconoclastic controversy in a remarkably truncated fashion.
The subtraction of two stars is for the variable depth of coverage that permeates this work. An additional one star is added back on for a total of four stars because of the brilliance of Chadwick's intellectual history of the Church up and through the fifth Century CE. As I have said previously but must emphasize, when the author is engaged in the history of development of doctrine and the events and personalities surrounding it, this is a remarkable book. It may seem to some that I have been very hard on this book, and I will assume that the length of the book was a decision of the publisher who commissioned it rather than that of the author. However, I believe I have fairly described what a potential reader can expect to find in this book. Ultimately, an intellectual history of the early Church is primary in my opinion to the understanding of the broader topic. Therefore, I highly recommend this book to anyone with at least a cursory knowledge of the history of antiquity and Christianity. For advanced students and laymen, some of Chadwick's insights will challenge and inform all but the most well read on the history of the early Church.
 Understand The Names You Recognize! January 6, 2007
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
"The Early Church" provides the reader with an excellent history of the first six centuries of Christianity. Author Henry Chadwick covers structural and doctrinal development, along with the rise and fall of heresies and introductions to the leading characters of the period.
This excellent book provides an overview of so many things which casual students of Church history probably heard of but may not have really understood. From my reading of this book I have a better understanding of early heresies including Arianism (Jesus was not co-eternal with the Father), Donatism (no reconciliation with apostates) Manichaeism (a secret, gnostic type sect) and Pelagianism (denial of original sin). The role of councils, such as Nicaea, in combating heresy and guiding the development of orthodoxy is made clearer. A greater understanding of the roles of the Church Fathers such as Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Origen, Tertullian, Theodore of Mopsuestia, St. Jerome and St. Augustine is gained by the reader of this book.
From a theological or historical perspective this book is a treasure. One test I apply to books is whether they inspire me to study more. This one does. I am confident that it will do the same for you.
Concise and interesting January 5, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is a great introduction to the early church. While it provided an interesting history, the stories of the early church leaders and martyrs also were inspirational. Reading about these early heros renewed my faith in what the Catholic Church is really about. Jesus did matter and is just as relevant today.
Concise, readable overview. January 20, 2006
17 out of 18 found this review helpful
In very few pages, the author manages to give an excellent recap of the key events and forces which shaped church history in the first 6 centuries. He goes into enough detail, howwever, that I'll bet even avid readers of church history will still find here material previously unknown to them. His organizing the material according to topics rather than by a strict chronological order makes it particularily easy to understand how the church grappled with its' earliest issues and crises. He does not seem to hold any partisan view: he even seems to regret that Arianism did not take hold in the mainstream church!
This book can be recommended for readers at any level who wish to learn about church history.
A Cool and Reserved account of Early Church History January 16, 2006
25 out of 27 found this review helpful
"[Eusebius of Caesarea] was tempted to see evidence of the power of Christianity in its social or worldly triumphs, expressed in ... or in the adherence of distinguished intellectuals like Origen. Towards such triumphalist assumptions a 20th-century Christian is likely to be cool and reserved." H. Chadwick
Chadwick's Integrity:
This is what makes Chadwick's approach analytically reflective and more sound in his deductive interpretation than the famous first early Church Historian.
Most of the reviews evaluated this comprehensive 'History of the Early Church' in general terms, or compared it with other available works, based on reconstruction of ecclesiastic events, and controversies. Without a concise 'Search Inside this Book,' prospective readers could not relate most reviewers evaluation with the book thematic treatment, author's methodology, or style.
Topical Approach:
The book contents reflect the eminent patristic scholar and early Church historian approach to history implied in his book does evoke ecumenical impartiality and underlines that the early Church was most active in its eastern informed centers in Alexandria and Antioch. He advances his case, in first book quarter, from its Jewish background emerging from the Apostolic age to the foundation of the Roman Papacy. On his engaging account, the genuine historian advances from the earliest Church to the Gentile assembly (Ecclesia), and its encounter with the Roman Empire. He then explores the bonds of unity, and Gnostic diversity, elaborating on the Bible and forms of Ministry subjecting faith to order. The geographical expansion of the church is linked to early defense of faith as a cause of growth and success.
Church Fathers:
In the next three chapters the reader enjoys Chadwick's masterful expertise in patrology, encountering through Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, and Origen, early controversies. He then ably interprets Third Century society, Pagan revival, persecutions and their consequences. Constantine and the first Council of Nicaea, are discussed within the serious Arian controversy and the conflict of Paganisam with Christianity, covering the Fourth Century and Church State and society in the first half of his essay.
Monasticism to Papacy:
In 'The ascetic movement' the author attempts to find reasons for the attitude of detachment by monastics after the virtual capture of society by the Church, and the rise to eminence of the Bishops in the Fourth century. He follows that with Chrysostom's tragedy, a consequence to the controversy about Origenism, and his advocates against aging Epiphanius fundamentalism. Meet with Diodore, Theodore, and Appolinaris to the Christological controversy between Alexandria and Antioch represented by Cyril and Nestorius, and its aftermath. The author then develops Latin Christianity, started by Augustine. He ends his study with theological issues, The Trinity, the Donatist schism, and Pelagian controversy. At the end he gives a fascinating condensed review of Worship in liturgy, daily office, and Church music. He gives a glimpse of Christian Art, with a brief account on icons and their veneration in the Byzantine Church.
Historic Conclusion:
Chadwick concise conclusion summarizes his findings on the apostolic church continuity with Israel, authority in second-century church, evolution of Christian doctrine in opposition to heretical thought, Christian penetration among the educated and elite, Christianity as religion of the empire, and ascetics withdrawal. He concludes with the rise of papacy by Gregory the great, and separation from Greek speaking churches.
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