Knowing Christianity SERIES V# • THE CHRISTIAN FATHERS By Maurice Wiles Dean of Clare College and Lecturer in Theology, Cambridge University >hi**i* An how illuminating account of the basic doctrines of Christianity were developed and of the profound thinkers who formulated them. THE CHRISTIAN F/ by Maurice Wiles Almost all modern theological thought is either derived from, or is a reaction against, the body of doctrine and organization de- veloped by early Christian leaders, known collectively as “the Fathers.” In this book, Maurice Wiles provides the modern reader with an intensely interesting how explanation of Christianity “got that way.” He discusses the problems which the early church had to face, the intellectual climate, the social environment, and how the Christian Fathers resolved the many conflicts which beset the infant church. Students particularly will value Mr. Wiles’ approach: instead of taking up the Fathers one by one, and explaining the thought of each, he approaches his subject from the standpoint of each idea, showing how the individual Fathers contributed to it in the church’s early growth and develop- ment. In chapters on Christology, sin and salvation, the sacraments, and the church, the author shows how each of these ideas was developed in the thought of such men as Origen, Justin Martyr, Augustine, Basil, Athanasius and others who created the nucleus of Christian doctrine which has changed remarkably little since their time. MAURICE WILES was born in London and received his early education at the Tonbridge School. After three years’ service in British Army Intelligence during World War II, he attended Christ’s College, Cambridge, and in 1950 was ordained a minister in the Church of England. He served four years on the faculty at the University College of Ibadan, Nigeria, and is now Dean of Clare ff '^ege and Lecturer in Theology at Canif% k ’ , ..f ir ik.. KNOWING CHRISTIANITY THE CHRISTIAN FATHERS KNOWING CHRISTIANITY A series edited by Dr. William Neil to provide for think- ing laymen a solid but non-technical presentation of what the Christian religion is and what it has to say. Thefirst titles are: THE CHRISTIAN FAITH THE OLD TESTAMENT THE LIFE AND TEACHING OF JESUS GOD THE NEW TESTAMENT IN THE EARLY CHURCH THE CHRISTIAN FATHERS FAITH AND PHILOSOPHY KNOWING CHRISTIANITY The Christian Fathers by MAURICE WILES LIPPINCOTT COMPANY B. J. Philadelphia and New York Q'do Copyright 5 1966 by Maurice Wiles ( ) Printed in the United States of America Library of Congress Catalog Card No.: 66-25412