Customer Reviews

We Don't Speak Great Things - We Live Them

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In 'Greek and Roman Philosopy After Aristotle', there is and extended excerpt from 'Octavius' by Marcus Minucius Felix. Its summary of pagan Roman views on Christianity was so dead-on accurate, I just had to read the whole thing. Unfortunately, the Christian response isn't as incisive as as the attack. It is primarily a defense of the idea of a single creator god, coupled with the idea that Christians are restrained, ethical and good people. Jesus is not really menitioned at all. Felix's view might be called "Ethical Monotheism". The second work in the book, Justin Martyr's 'First Apology' is very revealing of 2nd century Christian thought, and touches on many practical and philosophical issues, not only regarding Christian practice and paganism, but Jewish uses of Greek philosophy. This book is quite a find. While it is not a new translation, it is a modern, idiomatic, if somewhat oversimplified, rendition of the translations contained in the hoary, 130-something year-old 'Ante-Nicene Library'. Portions of 'Octavius', and Justin Martyr's 'First Apology" are rearranged, to a degree, on a paragraph-by-paragraph basis, and other portions are relegated to appendices, but both works are present in their entirety, and a bit more logical, to modern readers, than the originals. At the price of $..., you'd be silly not to check these accessible, yet ancient works out. See what they were thinking in the 2nd century. They won't bite!

I picked up this book almost by accident, but once I started reading it, I didn't put it down until I finished it that night. It's compelling and powerful, and inspired me a lot to live more like Christ and to share fearlessly about that life.

One of the top ten best books that I've read.

This is a book of words of courage. These faithful men stood up to the powers of darkness in a time of tribulation and persecution for the faith and they were SHARP! You will not only learn of early Christian teachings and philosophies but you will also find yourself agreeing with their tactics in reasoning to uncover truths about life and ultimately God.

My 2 other favorite early Christian writings are sold as books called "The One Who Knows God" and "A Glimpse of Early Church Life" by Clement of Alexandria and Tertullian. Read what these men wrote, learn your spiritual ancestral history and what they persevered through to receive the goal of their faith. You will see that ancient man was probably smarter than any of mondern man when it came to philosophy and reasoning.