Customer Reviews

The First Seven Ecumenical Councils (325-787): Their History and Theology (Theology and Life Series 21)

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In this valuable book Leo Donald Davis, a Roman Catholic priest takes an objective look at the history of the Church and the theological story of the council meetings during the first seven ecumenical councils. Each chapter of the book is dedicated to one council; the circumstances that led to the council, the convening of the council, the actual deliberations and the aftermath of the council. The seven ecumenical council dealt with are the councils of Nicea I, Constantinople I, Ephesus, Chalcedon, Constantinople II, Constantinople III and Nicea II.

The life of the Church during these councils was very much intertwined with secular history. Secular politics and theological controversieis were often intermingled. The eccelsiastical rivalries were sometimes much worse than the political ones. The author deals with history in an objective manner and is preoccupied with showing the gruesome facts without taking any sides. The faithful people need to note that the Holy Spirit worked through all these persons and situations.

It is a delightful book. After having read this, our outlook on the Church and her doctrines will no more be the same.

I know of no equivalent to this book. It does exactly what one would expect from its title. Even though, as has been pointed in previous reviews, Fr. Davis is a Roman Catholic and assumes a good many more Councils to be Ecumenical. The sub-title, 'Their History and Theology' is absolutely accurate. Fr. Davis gives ample historical and doctrinal introduction to each of the 7 Councils. The necessity and significance of the theology laid down by the Councils is very clearly expressed. Reading this book will definitely help you to gain, maintain, or further inform a sound and orthodox (if not Orthodox ! ) personal theology. Iow it may help you grow in your faith, as an Orthodox or a Catholic, and even a Protestant will walk away with a significant boost to his/her life of faith.

After having read this book, and having familiarized yourself with its contents you will have a good and balanced understanding of the theology of the Councils and you will understand the theology from its historical context which helps understand and underscore the necessity of the doctrinal decisions of the Councils to safeguard and make possible a salvific relationship to the All-Holy Trinity. But the book is not just a good personal read, I would put it to any teacher of theology that this book could very well serve as THE textbook for a Dogmatics 101 course.

Indispensible for those who want to have a good and balanced grasp of the history of doctrine and its relevance for today. I gave it 4 stars because it fails to refer to the Oriental Orthodox as such, the incorrect and derigatory term 'monophysite' is used instead. It also portrays a clear Roman Catholic tendency in its title and its emphasis on the role of the Pope of Rome.

IC XC

Grigorii

The author has written a superior brief but informative summary of the most significant meetings of the early church. This book is a concise description of the social and political background of the Late Roman Empire, and an admirable synthesis of the complex and bewildering theologies that were rampant at the time. Davis also has a quite useful bibliography for those interested in more depth, but frankly I think you need a divinity degree if you want to exceed this account. In short, if you only want one book on the early heresies in the Christian religion, this is the volume.

. . . of the "Age of the Councils" -- that 450 year period which gave the Church the first Seven Ecumenical Councils.

This is the single best one-volume treatment of this extensive subject that I have ever seen. An in-depth introductory chapter sets the historical, political, and religious stage, with the ending of the Diocletian persecution, the conversion of Constantine, and the beginning of the toleration of Christianity.

After the introduction, an entire section is devoted to each Council, beginning with the historical and political milieu, and the various reasons for the various controversies. Fr. Davis then continues each section with an account of the Council itself, a detailed description of the proceedings, major personalities involved, etc. Following the conclusion of each section is a timeline and a detailed bibliography.

I highly recommend this book for undergraduates studying higher level theology and for graduate students -- as well as for the informed layman who wants a greater level of understanding -- both historical and theological -- of this very important era in Church history.

While not many scholars have pulled this sort of thing off well, Davis does it with amazing detail (though not cumbersome) and lucid style. It is welcome to have such a work in English. I recommend that the reader would see my review of Kelly's "Early Christian Doctrines" for a list of other works of relevance, especially Allison's "The Cruelty of Heresy". Enjoy!

I own a number of books and resources relating to the seven ecumenical councils and this is by far the most helpful. Davis attends particularly well to the historical context of each council. This book is thorough and thoughtful. Highly recommended.

When you are studying the history of the christian faith you face that the History of the Councils is but very few pages. The truth is that the Ecumenical Councils had positive and negative results in the history of Christianity. The definition of the two natures in Christ was reached in Council. The Divity of Christ was defended in Council. The three Divine Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit weas defined in Councils. Even the old differences detween believers and the jewish sinagogue can be understood better by reading some of the definitions of the first seven Ecumenical Councils. This book is a valuable tool for Seminarians, Pastors, Teachers, Sunday School teachers, Evangelists. If you do not understand the past, how do you think are going to understand the present and the future of the Church of the Lord.

Leo Donald Davis makes Church history interesting. He has a fascinating way of relating all the intrigue and politics behind the councils and the theology that finally wins out and why. I don't know that this book could be highly enough recommended to a student of theology. He explains the theology, the personalities, the settings. I have found few books that do as thorough a job explaining the intricacies and necessities of the Trinity either.
After reading this book the Nicene Creed will never again be dead dogma, but living affirmation of the faith imparted to you by the Holy Spirit handed down through the Fathers.

"Fr Davis writes well and does his homework, but when you read, you must keep in mind that he is a Roman Catholic and puts in plugs here and there for the Pope, as if that is what made the council Ecumenical. Even the title reflects this, as if there were an 8th ecumenical council ! " ( John Q. Public , West Lafayette, Indiana)


The Church councils:
The Church held councils to resolve issues when non Conclave dialogue failed to come to a consensus. Most councils were local, although in some cases their decrees gained wide acceptance. The first council of the Church, referred to in Acts 6:1-7, was held by the Apostles in Jerusalem during the church first decades. It was Constantine who sought a Church synod with a similar Roman senate procedure and authority.

Seven General Councils:
The first General Councils of the entire Christian Church, acknowledged by the eastern church are known as the seven Ecumenical Councils. They were convened, by imperial edicts between 325-757 AD to solve conflicts or verify Orthodox belief, putting into force their doctrines and administrative directions. At these Ecumenical Councils many Canons, or laws governing the administration of the Church, that form the main existing canons of the orthodox Church were composed. Fundamental Christian doctrines, accepted by both the Eastern and Western Churches, were mostly reached in the first four, which Protestants positively consider. The decisions of these Ecumenical Councils were made under the direction of the imperial power, sometimes with heavy pressure from imperial representatives for the benefit of the political unity of Byzantium.

The Ecumenical Councils:
Even if councils were declared ecumenical (universal), this is not the case when the three founding Patriarchate were not represented, (in order: Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch, Constantinople and Jerusalem added later on). Furthermore contradiction of major dogmatic themes nullify them, and non acceptance by the main Churches put them in doubt. That is why the two ancient Oriental churches Alexandria and Antioch, only count the first three as ecumenical, anathematizing Chalcedon as the Council of schism. Meanwhile, the acceptance of the canons is not matching between churches. Roman Catholics regard councils as canonical (binding) only when a pope has subsequently ratified them, besides, canons of several councils have never been accepted by Rome as canon 28 of Chalcedon. Protestants recognize the authority of only the first four councils, although as first expressed by Martin Luther, do not regard neither councils nor their canons as binding, unless council decisions are in accordance with scripture, do Protestants consider them canonical.

First Seven Church Councils:
Fr. Leo Davis book is an overview of the Councils' history and theological milieu. The seven ecumenical councils dealt with, in which ecclesiastic decisions took place are the councils of Nicea I, Constantinople I, Ephesus, Chalcedon, Constantinople II, Constantinople III and Nicea II. If you are verifying for fine details, you have to examine it in comparison with the 'Early Church Fathers', volume on the Councils. In his condensed book Dr. Davis, SJ tries to synthesize an objective view, based on Roman Catholic dogma, of the history of the Church and the theological details encountered in all seven ecumenical councils meetings.
After a socio-political introduction, where he introduced the Roman world, he appropriated a chapter to each council; the circumstances that led to the council, convening of the council, a summary of deliberations, the outcome and resonance of the council. The life of the Church during these councils was much related with the social and political history of the empire, in Fr. Meyendroff's words: "Imperial unity and Christian Divisions," were often interacting. The ecclesiastical rivalries were at the bottom of some of the enduring problems that formed most emperors into able theologians.

Author Leo D. Davis:
The Jesuit Fr. integrated his theological learning in the Gregorian University, Rome, with a Ph. D. from one of the best schools in 'secular' history, but amended that by reference to authorities on eastern Christian history. He has been influenced by some of the corrupted theological and Christological views which have been recently corrected by eminent Catholic theologians, but this does not mean the book is less than outstanding.

An entertaining read on what sounds like a deeply intense topic. A great job in bring the time period, controversies, and theology to the everyday reader.