I've been reading a lot of books recently about the Bible and the early Church. In order to affect a much sought-for authority, the church in Alexandria relied on their ancestry, allegedly going back to St. Mark. Of course a quick glance at the appendix reveals a larger list of characters who are inevitably enveloped in this historical narrative (and one should reserve the need to access this appendix often if they are to make their way through to the end of this somewhat disorganized material). While Jenkins is most comfortable with the theology, he is clearer in the socio-political context of the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Centuries. In late antiquity, the tongues of opponents, even if they were bishops, were cut off, as were right arms. While it is good to learn about the post-First Council of Nicea history of the Catholic Church (back when “Catholic” meant basically everybody who was Christian), with all its colorful clerics, Emperors, Princesses and barbarians who affected the development of same, as well as the various Christian Heresies which read like hair-splitting on the sub-atomic level, I guess I was looking for more of a philosophical exploration of the ramifications of the Heresies themselves. This is a fantastic, thorough, and fairly neutral historical run through the 3rd-6th centuries of the Christian church. Not because the content is (always) enjoyable, but because Jenkins’s passion for historical detail paints episodes of church history with such crude colors that the good, decent and respectable, no less than the corrupt, depraved, and even ruthless comes through in vibrant shades. “In any theological struggle, the first thousand years are always the bitterest.”, “Ironically, the same church gathering that had denounced Paul of Samosata back in 268 had explicitly condemned the term homoousios, which that earlier council had regarded as one of Paul’s heretical innovations. Alexandrian theologians, influenced by the Egyptian culture and the Greek philosophical heritage, read the Bible allegorically, and fought for a One Nature Christ. The formative years of Christianity, when malicious political maneuvering, murder, mob incitement, mayhem, martyrdom, and armies of militant monks split the church, and emperors and empresses helped determine the beliefs we take for granted today. Who knew that the process looked more like a poorly run political convention? But the attention is clear. I read a lot about Christian history and what most strikes me how hard it was to go from the Jewish cult of Jesus - which sort of made sense in its apocalyptic message, to the post-Jewish cult religion that took shape among the non-Jews. Mary is the Theotokos, the God-Bearer! This book details how the political maneuverings in the 5th century affected what is officially thought and taught about Jesus. Still, he admits that the Scriptures in general and the Gospels in particular are inconsistent in their narratives about Jesus’s life. Jenkins shows us why loyalty to, say, Monophysite ideas could inspire violence, treason and martyrdom. In Jesus Wars, highly respected religious historian Philip Jenkins (The Next Christendom) reveals in bloody detail the fifth century battles over Christianity’s biggest paradox: the dual nature of Jesus Christ, as both fully human and fully divine. Refresh and try again. It is a jumble. John Philip Jenkins was born in Wales in 1952. The result is a book that appears to be both digestible and indigestible. As someone looking for more history than philosophy, this didn't work for me. This is a vigorously objective account of the fifth century ecumenical church councils, with the primary emphasis on Chalcedon. The complex issues of Christology are addressed comprehensively by mashing up the various theological councils from the fourth though seventh centuries and their resulting creeds. While the subject matter may seem to be a rebuff to religion in general pointing to violence engend. Theology, however, was not the only, or perhaps not even the primary cause of this war. What an accomplishment! The One Nature crowd, using violent gangs and forceful intimidation at this council, thought they were triumphant. He is also a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Baylor University's Institute for Studies of Religion. In Jesus Wars, he explains the origins of some little-known (to Westerners) branches of Christianity, including the churches of Ethiopia, Egypt, Syria, Armenia, and … His talent in story-telling makes this book easy to read, yet still provokes us to place our world in a world full of disputations. The history is convoluted, involving dozens of religious, civil and military leaders over hundreds of years, and the intricate political machinations are dizzying and difficult to keep track of, not to mention the complicated theological disputes about the Trinity, Christology, and Mary. I admit that I was extremely skeptical when I first saw it, assuming it to be some sort of modern nonsense on how Constantine created Christianity or something like that. Dr. Jenkins includes maps at the beginning and several appendices that list the dramatis personae, briefly explain the outcomes of the several councils, and define the beliefs of various groups, but a more visual representation of the timeline would have been helpful, too. That, probably, was the level at which the baker and the money changer carried on their debates.” (p. 66). He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces; He burns up the chariots. Jenkins is always profound in rewriting history. Finally, there is a great nugget on the development of Islam for those who are patient enough to read through to the end. Before you pass on that Whatsapp message about some future knowlege that someone got from their insider cousin, rea…, The Disciple’s Vocation, Part 2: Kingdom Sowers, The Disciple’s Vocation, Part 1: Image Bearers, How Prophecy Reveals a God who is in Control, Reimagining Adventism: The Gifts of the Spirit and Absurdity, Part 2. (For those not wishing to read further, I loved the book, although it’s hard to keep track who is what at a few points without a scorecard.). Two of the most important church councils were held at Ephesus in 431 AD and Chalcedon in 451 AD, and had clear winners and losers? I skimmed forward and found that vari. Adelina Alexe is a Ph.D. student in systematic theology at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary. It is a bit typical of modern (Western) Christians to narrow in on the Council of Nicea while missing the grander picture. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published John Philip Jenkins was born in Wales in 1952. But in a world where it was sincerely believed that believing the, I had seen a review of this book, and duly checked it out of the library; who knew that Church controversies of the 5th century could be so interesting, and so much fun to read? Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now. She became leader … of an extravagant cult devoted to Mary, and together with her following of virgins and holy women, she played a visible role in the public liturgies.” (p. 117-118). The winning and so called orthodox doctrines adopted by the church (or, at least the western half of t. Jenkins reviews in great detail the history of Christian doctrinal infighting from the first century through the middle-ages, and even currently. If the victorious Emperor or Queen happened to like your Christology, then you got more support and votes at the council. For several hundred years, especially in the 400s and following centuries, the whole world revolved around literal and figurative wars over who Jesus was. And their holy places the author describes the Chalcedonian Council as it it were a particularly Party. Enough to read through to the Chalcedon Creed and beyond ; the book touches! Say, Monophysite ideas could inspire violence, treason and martyrdom only touches on. 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