Reviews

"Jefford's volume exhibits numerous strengths. He guides initiates into the fullness of relevant scholarship, including text-critical, historical, theological, liturgical, and socio-rhetorical studies. He masterfully surveys differing scholarly views concerning authorship, dating, provenance, audience, and occasion. His well-versed discussions summarize the major options in debated topics, interacting with the major arguments for each alternative view. The book contains valuable diagrams, tables, and maps. Another practical mechanism is the highlighting of important, new, or difficult words in boldface font. . . . Jefford's stated purpose was 'to be clear and concise, easy to read, intelligible, and suitable for review in short periods of time.' He has more than attained this admirable goal of composing a succinct primer. His book succeeds as both a student introduction and a reference tool. Through his expert and highly recommended survey, may the tribe of Apostolic Fathers readers increase."

Paul A. Hartog,

Southwestern Journal of Theology

"Jefford's first edition of Reading the Apostolic Fathers deserved the strong praise it received. Writing for a general audience, Jefford offered an approachable introduction to the writings of the Apostolic Fathers. . . . The revisions made to the text for the second edition do not change the overall approach or success of the original. Jefford's expertise, clear writing, and balanced approach to the various perspectives found in scholarship makes his revised edition valuable mainly to the intended audience, non-specialists. . . . The chief addition to the revised edition consists of an entirely new chapter on the fragments of Papias. . . . The revised edition also improves the text's layout. . . . Reading the Apostolic Fathers is an excellent introduction to this body of texts. It introduces the non-specialist to the necessary technical ideas related to the structure of the texts, the core theological themes, and important cultural contacts on which the authors of these writings depended."

Daniel Lloyd,

Catholic Books Review

"The second expanded edition of a highly commendable introduction by an acclaimed expert, with a new chapter on Papias and updated bibliographies."

Vigiliae Christianae

Praise for the Previous Edition

"An accessible introduction to the writings of the Fathers . . . that will be enormously useful to pastors, seminary students, and general readers. . . . An appealing introduction to a fascinating body of literature that lies at the foundations of the Christian traditions."

Publishers Weekly Religion BookLine

"With the growing interest in early Christianity, a need exists for concise introductions to post-apostolic Christian literature that are as readable and pedagogically astute as many recent NT introductions. Jefford's introduction to the Apostolic Fathers addresses this need admirably. . . . Written at a popular level, the book employs outlines, maps, charts, and a helpful glossary to aid the reader. Frequent illustrations from early Christian art and motifs enliven the pages. . . . The book accomplishes its aim of introducing the Apostolic Fathers to a non-specialist readership and is bound to prompt many to pursue their study of the Apostolic Fathers to a more advanced level."

Jeff W. Childers,

Restoration Quarterly

"[A] useful book. . . . The book seems best suited as a companion to the reading of the apostolic fathers in an undergraduate course. . . . The insightful background will help students navigate through unfamiliar literature. The discussions of current scholarly opinion on issues of authorship and context disclose the complexities of early Christianity, while the summaries of key themes and images focus the reader's attention on each text's contributions to the thought and practice of the emerging church."

Kenneth D. Snyder,

Church History

"Designed as a textbook to be used in conjunction with the primary texts, the treatments in this book are admirably clear, consistent, and user-friendly, even for someone with little background in Christian history or theology. . . . Jefford's book is a commendable text for undergraduate, seminary, and beginning graduate students. . . . This book might also serve, however, as a quick reference for scholars. . . . It is sufficiently straightforward to be of use to the interested pastor or layperson."

Shawn Madison Krahmer,

Anglican Theological Review

"This introduction to the apostolic fathers will be gratefully welcomed by those students who are fortunate enough to be exposed to these seminal writings, and by those instructors who are wise enough to see the immense value in these writings for captivating the imaginations of their readers, as well as illumining the early stages of the development of doctrine. The text is very competently written, both historically and pedagogically. It is marked by clarity and ease of reading. It is perfect for students who do not have much background in historical theology; they can turn to a substantial and accommodating glossary of important persons and theological terms at the end of the book. Also included are bibliographies for further reading, which extends the usefulness of the text for more advanced students. . . . Any remaining excuse to pass over the apostolic fathers in a course on early church history has now vanished."

Raymond A. Blacketer,

Calvin Theological Journal

"Students of early Christianity will find this volume a valuable primer on the apostolic fathers. . . . [Jefford] is thoroughly conversant not only with the ancient writings but also with modern critical discussion of them and reaches well-informed conclusions. . . . He has enhanced the usefulness of the volume by including numerous charts and two maps."

E. Glenn Hinson,

Review & Expositor

"A welcome addition to the field of early Christian studies. . . . Particularly useful are the diagrams, tables, and maps which help the reader place the author/document in his/its literary and historical context. . . . This study represents a useful introduction to the Apostolic Fathers which can be used as a beginning for a further, deeper study of the literature of the early church."

Roger S. Evans,

Journal of Early Christian Studies

"Well done and very useful."

Robert B. Eno, SS,

Catholic Historical Review

"This is an attractively produced paperback introducing beginners to the apostolic writings. . . . [A] serviceable introduction."

J. K. Elliott,

Novum Testamentum