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The Early Papacy: To the Synod of Chalcedon in 451

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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.

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.

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.

"The Early Papacy: To the Synod of Chalcedon in 451" is an excellent look by Adrian Fortescue at the topic of papal supremacy but the fourth edition published by Ignatius is seriously flawed. The book provides a very detailed but short look at the subject and Fortescue leaves no room for doubt that papal supremacy was clearly established in the first decades of Christianity. Fortescue is a graceful and solid writer who makes his points easily and moves on to the next one.

But this book is not edited well. The Ignatius edition is the fourth version of the book--yet it contains numerous inconsistencies in punctuation. Alcun Reid offers an excellent introduction but this book is--when all is said and done--around 85 pages of actual text. Ignatius could have easily added another work or essay to this book. The tipping point for me was the notes. The book contains endnotes from both Fortescue and Reid--but leaves the reader to determine who wrote what. While some are easy to figure out, such as if the subject of the note is Benedict XVI then clearly the note is by Reid, not all of them are that simple. This is unacceptable to say the least. The book's bindings were poor as well--all in all, a great book marred by an awful package and presentation from a publisher I have a high opinion of.