This report (a review is too generous a term for my words) seeks to familiarize Christian laypeople about early Christian authors during the intervening time between the last canonical texts (Gospel and epistles of John, Revelation) and the Council of Nicea. Another label for these writings is the “Ante Nicene Fathers.” The term “Apostolic Fathers” has only mainly been used since the 17th century. Foster maintains that the reference is dual, firstly, denoting a group of individuals who were prominent a generation or two after the Apostles, and secondly, their writings.

Paul Foster, editor, states that the growth and development of Christianity during this timeframe is opaque and that these eleven texts (letters of Ignatius are treated as one) give a “snapshot” at certain points during this time. And this is all they do: give a snapshot. Foster says that neither individually nor collectively do these writings permit us any attempt of a holistic reconstruction of Christianity during the second century.

The stated and intended purpose of this volumn is for readers to become more aware of these writings and the schorlarly issues that surrond them. The arrangement of the book is divided into two parts where the writings themselves are discussed individually and according to a general template (individual authors will loosely follow the plan according to their assigned text). The second division of the book deals with topics found in these second century texts and covers Christology, soteriology, ecclesiology, eschatology, women and gender, ethics and education, martyrdom, and the use of the New Testament.

Foster, in his introduction, notes that a significant geographical shift occurred for the Christians as the result of the several Jewish revolts. Christians were either displaced or left Judea during the first revolt of 66-70 CE, the Trajan series of revolts (115-117), and the Bar Kokhba revolt (132-135). He notes that the Christians distanced themselves from fellow Judeans and consequently settled in different parts of the Roman Empire and organically promulgated the faith among the pagans.

This collection of texts has always been regarded as artificial and even arbitrary. However, when all these texts are considered together, they give a greater insight of the early Jesus Movement of the second century than any one text individually. Foster reminds us: These disparate groups and multiple authors do not provide a full undersanding of Christianity in the second century. However, as a collection, together they provide the surviving evidence from that period.

This volumn has a bibliography section for the book while the individual authors provide their own chapter bibliography as well. Additionally, there are “Subject” indices as well as “Author” and “Scripture and Other Ancient Literature.”

I’m almost done with the first half of the book (though I did jump around a bit to read certain authors and their contributions). I will finish the essays and do one or two more reports on this book and what I learned (Lord willing).