christianity

Quasten's Patrology is a four-volume scholarly survey of writings by the church fathers in the first several centuries of the Christian era. Some online reviews give the impression that the Patrology is an anthology of those writings. In fact, it is a survey that includes many excerpts (in English), often a page in length, to give a fair idea of what the author under discussion is like. The bibliographies are also extensive. Like the Literary History of England, it's more of a reference book than something you would sit and read straight through.

On the plus side, the Patrology is thorough and well written and has an excellent reputation. On the minus side, it is expensive (for a softcover) and needs to be supplemented for the study of heresies that have come to light since 1970. The texts discovered at Nag Hammadi, for example, are very important for the study of Irenaeus.

Something of such enduring value as Quasten's Patrology deserves to be published in hardcover. It should be on the short list of must-haves for the library of any seminary or university that teaches church history, patristics, theology, or philosophy.

Quasten's Patrology is a four-volume set. If you are considering buying any of them, you may find the following ISBN numbers handy: 0870610848, Patrology v1, Beginnings from Apostles' Creed; 0870610856, Patrology v2, Ante-Nicene after Irenaeus; 0870610864, Patrology v3, Golden Age Greek; 0870611275, Patrology v4, Golden Age Latin (from Nicea to Calcedon); 0870611410, set of four volumes. When ordering online, confirm the volume by ISBN number. Online vendors get the volumes confused with each other. Some are identified by the series title alone; others by the volume title; the cover art displayed may be for the wrong volume; and so on.

This Amazon page is about Volume 2 of Quasten's Patrology, a four-volume scholarly survey of writings by the church fathers in the first several centuries of the Christian era. Some reviews give the impression that the Patrology is an anthology of those writings. In fact, it is a survey that includes many excerpts (in English), often a page in length, to give a fair idea of what the author under discussion is like. The bibliographies are also extensive. Like the Literary History of England, it's more of a reference book than something you would sit and read straight through.

On the plus side, the Patrology is thorough and well written and has an excellent reputation. On the minus side, it is expensive (for a softcover) and needs to be supplemented for the study of heresies that have come to light since 1970. The texts discovered at Nag Hammadi, for example, are very important for the study of Irenaeus.

Something of such enduring value as Quasten's Patrology deserves to be published in hardcover. It should be on the short list of must-haves for the library of any seminary or university that teaches church history, patristics, theology, or philosophy.

Quasten's Patrology is a four-volume set. If you are considering buying any of them, you may find the following ISBN numbers handy: 0870610848, Patrology v1, Beginnings from Apostles' Creed; 0870610856, Patrology v2, Ante-Nicene after Irenaeus; 0870610864, Patrology v3, Golden Age Greek; 0870611275, Patrology v4, Golden Age Latin (from Nicea to Calcedon); 0870611410, set of four volumes. When ordering online, confirm the volume by ISBN number. Online vendors get the volumes confused with each other. Some are identified by the series title alone; others by the volume title; the cover art displayed may be for the wrong volume; and so on.

Quasten reviews the life and works of every Christian writer from the apostolic fathers to the end of the Patristic period. An extensive bibliography is given, containing editions of the work, translations and studies. Attention is also paid to manuscript traditions for the works. The detail is fullest for the earlier writers - later ones are still treated in a lot of detail, but volume constrains the data somewhat.

Vol I - From the Apostolic Creed to Irenaeus.

Vol II - The Ante-Nicene Literature after Irenaeus.

Vol III - The Golden age of Greek Patristic Literature.

Vol IV - The Golden Age of Latin Patristic Literature.

The first three volumes date to the mid-1950's - the last to 1986. Consequently the bibliography for the earlier volumes needs to be updated by reference to a comprehensive bibliography such as L'Annee Philologique for each author and work.

The work is a triumph of detail and essential as a starting point and reference for anyone interested in the Fathers. It is easily the quickest way to discover what works were written by which father, and where to get an edition/translation of it. Even for specialists, it will be useful as a first point of investigation. A book to return to again and again. Recommended, with the only qualification being the age of the first 3 volumes.