The Early Church Collection Volume 4


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This volume of the Early Church collection begins with Gregory of Nyssa's defense of the divinity of the Holy Spirit and Eusebius' account of the conclusions of the council of Nicaea. Next comes a poem (rendered in prose) on Easter by Lactantius, full of imagery from nature. Cyprian's exposition of the Lord's Prayer draws on passages from all over the Bible for its short chapters and is followed by an address, occasioned by a plague, reminding Christians that death is not to be feared but longed for. The canons of the second council held at Orange were occasioned by the Pelagian controversy. Gregory Thaumaturgus' 'metaphrase' of Ecclesiastes is a literal translation (in contrast to a paraphrase) intended to clarify the meaning of the book. Augustine disputes about the nature of good and evil (whether evil even has a nature) in opposition to the Manichaeans. In 'Concerning Two Souls', Augustine, having just left the Manichaean sect recounts his errors in accepting their dualism, followed by a record of a public dialogue with Fortunatus the Manichaean. Gregory of Nyssa's 'sermon for the day of the lights' treats both the baptism of Christ and of Christians. Chrysostom's homily touches not only the value of private admonition but also a discussion of prayer from the example of Isaac. Gregory of Nyssa next handles a delicate topic with great rhetorical flourish followed by an older English translation of Chrysostom's advice on raising children. The next three pieces address widowhood (including 'On Continence' - that is, self-control). In 'On Care to be had for the Dead', Augustine answers the question whether 'whether it profits any person after death that his body shall be buried at the memorial of any saint'. Athenagorus, an early Christian apologist, defends the reasonableness of believing in a general resurrection and Athanasius ends the collection with a catalog of psalms for all situations. (Summary by InTheDesert) (14 hr 14 min)

Chapters

On the Holy Spirit against Macedonius 50:31 Read by InTheDesert
Council of Nicaea 8:27 Read by InTheDesert
Poem on Easter 7:20 Read by InTheDesert
On The Lord's Prayer 49:42 Read by InTheDesert
On the Mortality 32:11 Read by InTheDesert
Canons of the Second Council of Orange, A.D. 529 18:14 Read by InTheDesert
A Metaphrase of the Book of Ecclesiastes 40:43 Read by InTheDesert
Concerning The Nature of Good, Against the Manichaeans 1:05:45 Read by InTheDesert
Concerning Two Souls, Against the Manichaeans 57:43 Read by InTheDesert
Acts or Disputation Against Fortunatus the Manichaean 50:56 Read by InTheDesert
On the Baptism of Christ 34:06 Read by InTheDesert
Homily against Publishing the Errors of the Brethren 34:30 Read by InTheDesert
On Infants' Early Deaths 46:32 Read by InTheDesert
The Golden Book of St. John Chrysostom Concerning the Education of Children 55:03 Read by InTheDesert
Of Continence 1:09:40 Read by InTheDesert
Letter to a Young Widow 34:36 Read by InTheDesert
On the Good of Widowhood 1:02:43 Read by InTheDesert
On Care to be had for the Dead 55:33 Read by InTheDesert
Resurrection of the Dead 1:02:42 Read by InTheDesert
A Treatise made by Athanasius the great, wherin is set forth, how, and in what … 17:36 Read by InTheDesert