Early Christian Thinkers: The Lives and Legacies of Twelve Key Figures

Written by an international team of leading scholars, Early Christian Thinkers introduces the lives and works of twelve key Christians from the second and third centuries--a pivotal early moment in the history of orthodox doctrine. Each chapter includes a biographical and historical overview of the thinker, a detailed survey of his or her major writings and ideas, an in-depth discussion of each thinker's influence on the formation of the tradition, and a consideration of lasting significance in today's context. The text requires no prior knowledge of the thinker under discussion, making the book especially useful for students and for all with an interest in Christian origins or patristics.