Why Study the Early Church? - by David E Wilhite (Paperback)

About the Book

This short, accessible book provides a straightforward argument for the importance of studying the ancient sources of Christianity for a new generation.

Book Synopsis

Can reading early theologians such as Saint Augustine, alongside Scripture, inspire our faith?

For Christians formed by a commitment to Scripture alone, studying early Christianity and the writings of the saints may feel unnecessary--or perhaps even dangerously close to abandoning the ideals of the Protestant Reformation. Yet these ancient theologians have long served as vital guides for understanding Scripture and the life of faith.

Drawing on Hebrews 11-12, David E. Wilhite invites readers to include the saints of the early church in the great cloud of witnesses. Much like the biblical heroes of faith, these ancient figures provide wisdom and insights that can shape our imaginations and form our way of living, worshiping, and preaching.

This short, accessible book shows how engaging early Christian sources can deepen our encounter with the Bible and our faith, addressing spiritual disciplines, worship, theological guidance, and exegesis of Scripture. It offers a "big picture" approach to studying the early church.

About the Author

David E. Wilhite (PhD, University of St. Andrews) is professor of historical theology at George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University, in Waco, Texas, where he teaches courses on early Christian history. He is the author of The Gospel According to Heretics and Ancient African Christianity, coauthor (with Matt Jensen) of The Church: A Guide for the Perplexed, editor of The Cambridge Companion to Early Christian Theology, and coeditor of The Cambridge History of Ancient Christianity.