Customer Reviews

Early Christian Creeds

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When we lost JND Kelly a couple of years ago (he was in his 90's), the theological world, both Catholic and Protestant, lost a giant. "Ancient Christian Creeds" demonstrates a part of Kelly's genius. It is an invaluable resource for the graduate level or seminary student in theology (and was, in fact, one of the texts used in my Historical Theology class when I was a seminarian). Kelly describes the evolution of creedal thoughts and ideas, as well as the development of the various formulae themselves, beginning with the Old Roman Baptismal statement through the Creed of Nicea/Constantinople.

I can't recommend this book highly enough.

I am a graduate student in theology and have been doing research for a few years now in early medieval church history, concentrating on corruption and controversy. While recently studying the filioque controversy, I had come across many many bits and pieces about this, but had never found an outline in one place until I came across this book. Kelly writes in a clear and easily understood manner. This text should be on the shelf of any pastor, historian, or theologian.

INTRO:
A CREED in short is a basic formulation of ones faith.

J.N.D. Kelly is the premier writer in the area of early Christianity (few Church historians reach his depth and width ... worthy mentioning here is Jaroslav Pelikan). Any Christian (lay or clergy) will be blown away by this book, as their faith in Christ and the Apostles will be strengthened.

CONTENT:
This is not a fast read (many chapters and much detail) but J.N.D. Kelly starts our slow enough where anyone can see that he is approaching this topic with an open mind (did the early Christians of the first century have a CREED)? In the end we learn that history does not give us enough evidence for an answer, BUT we can see even from the New Testament extant manuscripts and texts that there are remenants and hints about CREEDAL statements.

CONCLUSION:
This invaluable resource is also used for seminary students and graduate work in theology (such as Historical Theology courses). In this book one learns the evolution of creedal thoughts and ideas, as well as the development of the various formulae themselves, and both Eastern Church and Western Church statements and creeds are well represented (especially the oecumenical one - Nicaea-Constantinople).

I concur with the previous two reviewers that this is a book that I cannot recommend enough, and one that should be on the shelf of any pastor, historian, or theologian.