The Early Papacy: To the Synod of Chalcedon in 451 [Paperback]

Adrian Fortescue (Author), Alcuin Reid (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2008

Adrian Fortescue, a British apologist for the Catholic faith in the early part of the 20th century, wrote this classic of clear exposition on the faith of the early Church in the papacy based upon the writings of the Church fathers until 451. No ultramontanist, Fortescue can be a keen critic of personal failings of various Popes, but he shows through his brilliant assessment of the writings of the Church fathers that the early Church had a clear understanding of the primacy of Peter and a belief in the divinely given authority of the Pope in matters of faith and morals.

Referring to the famous passage in Matthew 16:18 where Jesus confers his authority upon Peter as the head of the Apostles, and the first Pope, Fortescue says that, while Christians can continue to argue about the exact meaning of that passage from Scripture, and the various standards that are used for judgments about correct Christian teaching and belief, "the only possible real standard is a living authority, an authority alive in the world at this moment, that can answer your difficulties, reject a false theory as it arises and say who is right in disputed interpretations of ancient documents."

Fortescue shows that the papacy actually seems to be one of the clearest and easiest dogmas to prove from the early Church. And it is his hope through this work that it will contribute to a ressourcement with regard to the office of the papacy among those in communion with the Bishop of Rome, and that it will assist those outside this communion to seek it out, confident that it is willed by Christ for all who would be joined to him in this life and in the next.

Product Details

• Paperback: 121 pages
• Publisher: Ignatius Press; 4 edition (May 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1586171763
• ISBN-13: 978-1586171766
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #538,480 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good introduction to the topic, May 22, 2008

By 

James M. Green "James M Green" (Arizona) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Early Papacy: To the Synod of Chalcedon in 451 (Paperback)

This book is a brief defense of the papacy from common patristic sources prior to the Council of Chalcedon in 451. Fortescue wrote this book as a response to Anglicans and the date 451 was chosen because of the seemingly arbitrary inconsistency of Anglicans in the date ranges they will accept evidence from for something being a "practice of the Ancient Church." Depending on the time of day and the Anglican in question those of a mind to accept patristic evidence accept the first two, three, four or seven Ecumenical Councils or any number in-between. Most all accept Chalcedon so it was used as the criteria by the Anglicans Fortescue was responding to.

This book is a good introduction to the patristic evidence for and a very good explanation of the disputed papal powers. Fortescue does a good job of explaining how the big question is really the universal jurisdiction of the pope and how the primacy (less disputed) and infallibility (very disputed) stem from it. Because this book was written toward Anglicans the quoted Fathers are probably too Western for use with the Eastern Orthodox. At the same time the brevity will probably not convince an obstinate Anglican either. However, it does give a good explanation and introduction on the subject and is a good place to start for those who have honest questions on the matter and especially for those ignorant of the most common ancient sources.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A CLASSIC LOOK AT THE PAPACY, May 31, 2008

By 

Robert L. Reynolds "Bob R" (Sacramento CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Early Papacy: To the Synod of Chalcedon in 451 (Paperback)

Fortescue argues the essential Catholic doctrines of the early understanding of the papacy with great authority and learning. This reviewer found much I didn't know and reinforced many things I knew but could never have said so elegantly. The volume is detailed and comprehensive but mercifully short, and not full of jargon -- it was witten at a time when brevity and style were still in favor. If you're curious about the traditions and customs of the early Catholic church and the pope, this is the book you need.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The remedy for shallow history, July 21, 2010

By 

Stratiotes Doxha Theon "2 Thes 2:15" (Richmond, Missouri) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Early Papacy: To the Synod of Chalcedon in 451 (Paperback)

It is not often a book can pack so much detail in so few pages as this one does. All the more reason to challenge the early church history revisionists who have attempted to downplay references to the papacy in the earliest documents of the Church. With something so accessible, organized, yet brief, there is little excuse for the continued claims to prove the negative. Again and again we encounter those who say the papacy, in its current form, is an invention foisted upon Christendom at some point after the year X - X being any of the arbitrary dates that have been chosen. Fr. Fortescue responds to one such challenger in a series of articles later gathered together into this book. He begins by challenging presuppositions that often shape the debate and prevent either side from hearing what the other says. He continues with 4 primary points made about the papacy and proceeds to reveal how clearly they existed, perhaps in seed form but still there, in the earliest documents of the Church. Some will still try to claim no such references exist, Fr. Fortescue's response is still the best remedy for such shallow historical claims.

Schism is a crime against the unity of the Church and a blight on our witness. It is time for reunion between East and West but it can only be accomplished with lasting affect through an honest and clear understanding of how we came to this place of imperfect communion. Let us celebrate our diversity but not at the expense of our ultimate unity or historical truth. May the saints we share as a common heritage pray for us.