The Church Fathers: 5 Books to Start With

Here are 5 books from the church fathers that are great starting points for those seeking to grow in their knowledge of church history.
1) Augustine's Confessions: www.amazon.com/Confessions-Pe...
2) Athanasius' On the Incarnation: www.amazon.com/Incarnation-Sa...
3) Irenaeus' On the Apostolic Preaching: www.amazon.com/Apostolic-Prea...
4) Gregory the Great's Book of Pastoral Rule: www.amazon.com/Book-Pastoral-...
5) John of Damascus' Three Treatises on the Divine Images: www.amazon.com/Treatises-Vlad...
See Trevin Wax's comment on Sarah Ruden's new translation of Augustine's Confessions: www.thegospelcoalition.org/bl...
Truth Unites is a mixture of apologetics and theology, with an irenic focus.
Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) serves as senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Ojai.
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00:00 - Introduction
01:07 - 1) Augustine
02:48 - 2) Athanasius
04:02 - 3) Irenaeus
05:24 - 4) Gregory the Great
07:21 - 5) John of Damascus

[@costa328]

More books to buy .I can hear my wife yelling right about now 🤣🤣

[@mitromney]

It bothers me you only have 18k subscribers. You should be in the hundreds of thousands at least, your content is so much worth it!

[@ProfYaffle]

They are going up. Last June they were only at 12k

[@No_auto_toon]

26k

[@lausdeo4944]

For real. His videos are some of the best protestant doctrinal discussions out there. 37.7K

[@isaacarnold3708]

44k

[@kurtgundy]

February '24. 53k. Glad to see it growing.

[@joshtraylor4891]

Please do more of these 5 book recommendation videos! I would love to have your insight on starting material for medieval, reformation, puritan, and other eras as well!

[@thecatechumen]

St. Athanasius' "On the Incarnation" is what I started with (while I was still Baptist). Such a beautiful book to read during Advent!

[@AristocraticCommoner]

What are you now?

[@Jackson-ev5hp]

@@AristocraticCommonerjudging from his name i would assume he’s a catholic, the catechism is the catholic doctrine. Hope this helps.

[@justanotherbaptistjew5659]

@@Jackson-ev5hp Lutheran, Baptists, Episcopalians, Anglicans, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Orthodox all have catechisms.

[@TheScholarlyBaptist]

@@Jackson-ev5hp no baptists have catechism's too. and other denominations as well.

[@TheScholarlyBaptist]

so many people leave the baptist tradition just to find something more trendy. you can appreciate all backgrounds of theology and still remain baptist I personally don’t see a problem with it. one of the best parts about being Baptist is that you when it comes to medieval theology you can have an whatever opinion you like (obviously as long as its not heretical.).

[@meatballofall]

Oh great. I just saved up and then bought 2 of this guy's books just this morning to try to get into the church fathers. And now here he is telling me to go read something else. That was a tricky move there Dr. Ortlund. You win this time.

[@TruthUnites]

*cackles evilly

[@aperson4057]

I just wished more Church Fathers were translated into modern English because I hate reading in Old English. But these are good starts.

[@WhitneyR.]

Thanks for these!

[@Jackie.2025]

Thank you for the suggestions!

[@TLL418]

Thanks for this!

[@michaelg4919]

Nice, thanks for this video!!

[@rb8954]

Thank you for the suggestions.

[@gmphiljuth]

Those kind of content is awesome!! Would love to see this series continue

[@ajpalazuelos3831]

I literally asked you in a tweet about this a few days ago. Thanks!

[@mattwilliams3902]

Definitely would love more videos like this

[@wtsreads]

Love the book recs!

[@TheB1nary]

John of Damascus is my favourite theologian of the past by far - his 'Treatises on Divine Images' is fantastic; the 'Exact Exposition' is my most-read book. For a general historical overview, I don't think Jaroslav Pelikan can be beaten...

[@adamheida8549]

Definitely continue doing these 5 book recommendations videos! Medieval, reformation, Puritan, and other authors could be shared to a wider audience that might not know them yet. It would be a great way to expand our knowledge of our Christian forebears!

[@dagwould]

Thin Puritan books would be good. None of these 250,000 word jobs, please!

[@michaelhebert5334]

Thanks. Appreciate your suggestions. You’re a blessing!

[@jayakare]

Thank you sooo much Augustines Confessions has been on my to-read list for a long time, and this video just brought it back to mind🙂

[@securetheharvest]

Thank you, Gavin! This is a goal for me as well. Incredible conversations I've experienced since digging into the ECFs.

Great! Thank you so much. And yes, videos of other periods would be great too!

[@TheNinjaInConverse]

Good reminder for me to finish _Confessions_

[@paulsmallwood1484]

Yes please more videos on book recommendations. Thanks!

[@natebozeman4510]

You constantly have my book wishlist growing Dr. Ortlund, but my spiritual walk thanks you, as do I.

[@sherir6335]

Would definitely love to see other book recommendations!

[@TravelingGhost]

Would definitely love more recommendation videos!

[@lordwilmore8775]

Love this, please do it for the other periods in church history!

[@marianhreads]

This is so helpful! Saving for future reference. I had recently started your book on Augustine and Creation, and felt inspired to pick up a copy of Confessions. Hopefully will be reading both, this year.

[@psalm1readers]

Thank you for this! I emailed you asking for this. You clearly get the question a lot. Thank you again for helping. God bless.

[@joshuareeves5103]

This was so helpful!!

[@margarettownley1870]

Very helpful video, thanks! Can confirm, any videos you do in a similar vein I will absolutely lap up. Now all I have to do is manage to get around to reading them 😅

[@devintarr]

I love this video! And I'd love if you did a recommended 5 books from other periods in Church History :)

[@dagwould]

Thanks, I've read Confessions, but the others are now in my magazine, locked and loaded.

[@giruumfidaa712]

Thank you Gavin! Your follower from Ethiopia.

[@brandonredin]

Yes! Bring on the book suggestions!

[@Somebody122]

More videos like this pleaaaase!

[@JohnVianneyPatron]

"Four witnesses: The Early Church in her Own Words" by Rod Bennett - Ignatius Press is a helpful first start to the work of Clement of Rome / Ignatius of Antioch/ Justin Martyr / Irenaeus of Lyons. Its one book - great for the broke student!

[@wonderingpilgrim]

@ashleyfrank8203 Thank you for suggesting this book! I will have to check it out!

[@thecatholictypologist5009]

So glad to see Irenaeus’ On the Apostolic Preaching on the list. Basil’s On the Holy Spirit is also a great read.

[@justinhurley7337]

Yes, other videos with suggested books from some of the categories you discussed would be great!!

[@skyscraperphilosopher8476]

Thank you for this! Been looking to get into the church fathers after watching your videos so this is perfect. Would be great if you could do more of these book recommendations! If you get a chance do at least one on the reformers and one on the puritans

[@digitalbabylonaustin]

My first class in seminary was church history, and my very first paper was on John of Damascus' Three Treatises of Divine Images. It got me hooked on studying patristic theology and *especially* the Popular Patristics series. I cannot describe how much I've come to love these books, and I've now amassed a decent collection of them. These are super underrated and under appreciated among Protestants!

[@williamstein5125]

Please do more more videos on book recommendations! I would love your picks for other eras like you said during the medieval period and the reformation.

[@pamelashropshire7298]

I’m about 75% through the Confessions, the Thomas Williams translation. It is so profound, and yet as you said, so relatable. The parts on the Mind and on Time have been my favorite so far! Definitely recommend! I’ve also read On The Incarnation, but it’s been awhile and could do with a reread. I would love more recommendations, particularly in the Medieval period.

[@pappywinky4749]

a 5 books series would be super nice. Considering that some subjects can be difficult to study or just so vast it's seems impossible to settle on something, lists like that are just so useful. Especially when they come from scholars and specialists on the subject.

[@careybryant7]

I try to read On the Incarnation during advent each year. Such a great book.

[@bobleroe3859]

Years ago I read Augustine's Confessions, and recently Peter Kreeft's I Burned for Your Peace, a helpful commentary on it.

[@jrponce3732]

Reading Bryan M. Litfin’s introduction to the Church Fathers. I’ll jump into ur recommendations once I’m done. Thank you!

[@MissMariaBennet]

Confessions got me hooked. At first I didn't dare rereading it, because I was scared it wouldn't be as amazing as the first time I read it and it would ruin the memory. But then we read it in a book club and it just keeps blowing me away, it's almost like falling in love!

[@toddvoss52]

Great suggestions and thanks for being a good sport and listing John of Damascus on Divine Images. I read an earlier version of confessions and bought Ruden last year but have not gotten to it yet (always reading and buying books - help! 😅) . you’re right that Irenaeus On the Apostolic Preaching is neglected including by me! I read his Against Heresies but you have to slog through a lot of his description of various Gnosticisms to get to the great stuff in that text. Have read a chunk of Gregory’s letters but will check out your recommendation . The Athanasius is a classic and the CS Lewis essay is gold as you say.

[@davidtfrederick]

I read Sarah Rudin's translation and found it really accessible. Her intro was also helpful.

[@derekmchardy8730]

Great list thanks. For those just starting in this delightful study I highly recommend Tony Lane's ' Concise History of Christian Thought.' He provides brief and accessible summaries covering over one hundred important Christian thinkers from all periods along with short quotations. Of course many from the patristic period are included.

[@wyattfuchs6839]

I needed this! And I would definitely like to see other book recommendations. And God bless from an Ojai local!

[@TruthUnites]

cool, hope to bump into you some time!

[@petergoodwinbailey1]

I loved these suggestions! I’ve read the confessions and was blown away. On The Incarnation has been on my radar for a while. This finally convinced me to read it! Anyway, you should definitely do a similar video for puritans. And I would like to see a list for foundational Baptist books/documents as well!

[@JohnVianneyPatron]

The Confessions is a prescribed text at every seminary I've seen (Protestant or Catholic). If you enjoyed his work The City of God would be great reading.

[@BrianLassek]

Yes! Period history book recommendations and overview would be interesting and appreciated.

[@DigitalTheologian]

I’ve found The First Thousand Years by Robert Louis Wilken to be a wonderful and accessible overview of the first Christian millennium. It considers East and West as the Gospel spreads and covers the contours without getting bogged down in details.

[@davidcates2639]

I've been working my way through Augustine's The City of God recently - it's been so edifying even though the first section wasn't necessarily written with that in mind. I have so many books to read, and now you've added even more to that list! Would definitely enjoy getting more recommendations, although it may overload my already-full reading list....

[@malachi7948]

If you know, I’m curious as what objection Augustine had toward the North African brethren who were in fellowship with brother Donatus Magnus. I believe that brother Magnus was fully correct in his position that apostates and hereticks cannot be regarded as Christians or as Christian bishops and that they cannot confer the bishoprick. Neither can a Christian be called a bishop or a deacon if he does not conform to this standard: “This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 3:1-13

[@IC_XC_NIKA]

Great list Dr.Gavin. St.Ignatius would be a recommendation of mine. ☦️

[@TrojanPiper]

Thanks for the recommendations. It has been my experience that people enjoy these types of videos. My collection of books to read is probably some proof! As a Protestant I joke with my Catholic wife (she doesn’t share the same enthusiasm I have about books) that maybe I will be able to take my collection to purgatory to have time to actually read! She has a good sense of humor but then I thought, geez… what if purgatory is real and God calls me out on it 🫢 Anyway, I love what you do as it has had a tremendous impact in my life as it helps me to stay focused.

[@Matty-Boy]

Thanks for this video. I've been toying with getting Gregory the Greats book since you mentioned it in your book. I'm a far cry from a pastor but encouraging/cajoling my peers at church in a good way would be nice. As far as other videos like this go, I don't know maybe this would be tough but it'd be interesting to see if there were polemic books across the two millennia that were all responding to the same claims (e.g. gnosticism and New Age)

[@Robert-Beaty]

Yes, please make videos recommending five books from each of other significant eras in church history, like medieval, puritans, etc.

[@sawyerlake10]

More of these!! Interested to hear your top 5 systematic theologies

[@juliegoyette9238]

Hi pastor Ortlund! Fabulous video. I am fascinated with the Historical theological gap I have of the era between Christ early church, the early church to medieval, Renaissance, til Anglican/ Catholic chisme. These will surely remedy and redeem some of it! Yes! Please add chrono Historical sequence to it Renaissance into early modern or anything else pertinent 😀 Thrilled! Books at hand: Augustine's Confession, Eusebius, Consolation of Philosophy, Reformation selection of Saints: men and women. Etc. 😉

[@Flobbyoiboyz]

Enjoyed this video, thanks! If you're looking for suggestions from a lazy viewer.... it would be interesting to hear a ten-minute summary of some of these books you recommend, so I can feel like I know more of what they're about, without reading them myself. But mainly I'd like to see videos of whatever you feel inspired to talk about, because you have your own perspective that adds to internet discourse.

[@guyrainey3758]

Thanks for the suggestions Dr Gavin, I have been deeply enriched in my walk with Christ since I found your Purgatory video. As for another era, I would love to see a list from the Reformation era

[@TruthUnites]

Thanks for sharing!

[@HappyFern07]

@@TruthUnites Hi Dr Gavin, do you happen to have any videos or material you can point me to regarding confession of ones sins in the Catholic church and why that is not done in the protestant churches (at least not as far as I'm aware)?

[@TruthUnites]

@@HappyFern07 hello! I don't have anything thorough that comes to mind, but I address it somewhat at around 5:10 of my video, "Cameron Bertuzzi's Conversion to Rome: Protestant Response"

[@davidwatson9064]

More videos like this! Plz!

[@Robert-vv6qp]

I think these 5 book videos are a great idea

[@RhenishHelm]

I'm reading Vol. 7 of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Cyril of Jerusalem and Gregory Nazianzen. Cyril gives catechetical lectures and Gregory has "orations" (sermons/speeches). Both are approachable and excellent reads.

[@brandonclark908]

Yes do more book recommendations! I’d really like to hear your take on the desert fathers and Thomas and their ideas of demons. And how that turned into the nuns and monks of today.

[@sp33dyb2]

Love the suggestions! A few of my personal favorites include “On Prayer” by Origen, Cyril of Alexandria’s “On the Unity of Christ,” and “First Refutation of the Iconoclasts” by Theodore of Studios. I would also love to see you do more recommendations in different eras later down the line!

[@martinabdalla8766]

On prayer of Origen isn't good at all. About Cyril idk but seems based

[@arttyree4504]

Yes, do some more vids on books and authors.

[@godsgospelgirl]

This is really helpful!

[@godsgospelgirl]

And I would love a list of Puritans too

[@TheCarpentersDesk]

Hi Pastor Gavin, I just finished your book 'Why God Makes Sense in a World that doesn't' today, and needless to say, I just loved it, brilliant work! I have been following your channel for some time now and I do enjoy listening to you; your style and perspective on apologetics is fresh. I started looking into the church father's writings, inspired by your talks and I am currently working through Justin Martyr's 'Apologies' as it resounds well with the current persecution faced by the churches in India. Thanks once again. God bless you and the work that He has entrusted you!

[@TruthUnites]

Thanks so much, so glad my videos have been of use! God bless!

[@BornAgainRN]

@@TruthUnites what do you think about Eusebius’ Church History? Or do you think that might be too difficult for the average late person to read? I read it several years ago, and not only did it not support the papacy nor the perpetual virginity of Mary, but it actually seemed to teach the opposite. What are your thoughts?

[@TruthUnites]

@@BornAgainRN great book to read! Fascinating and helpful.

[@ProfYaffle]

I bought that book for my dad, a non-believer, for Christmas. Hoping it will make a difference to him

[@renlamomtsopoe]

Please make this a series 🙏

[@danielxadams]

Reading and loving On Christian Doctrine rn. But I think I might include Justin Martyr’s First Apology perhaps? Good stuff. Admittedly haven’t read any of Gregory the Great or John of Damascus yet.

[@verwesne8121]

Definitely a must read is „Eusebius history of the church“. Gives fascinating insights and details how the apostles were organizing and handling their business, you get a feeling for what is considered orthodox and heterodox, you can deduce from its clear statements multiple points that confirm that from the earliest time the church always was in its infant roots consistent with what Catholics say, and definitely is not compatible with a Protestant paradigm.

[@willcunningham7049]

I was surprised at first when you recommended John of Damascus on the veneration of icons but then I’m glad that you encourage people to be fair in listening to some of the best arguments in favor of views they might not agree with. I agree that it’s very important to truly understand where someone with an opposing view is coming from and why they believe what they believe. And I know John of Damascus, as you said, is probably the foremost proponent of icon veneration. In listening to Orthodox theologians speak on this subject, I noticed that no proponent of icon veneration is referred to more than John of Damascus. Someone not thoroughly grounded in what Scripture has to say in opposition to John’s view might be influenced in the wrong direction though.

[@justinarnettestudent4613]

A video detailing a reading list for the Reformation would be really helpful! I think everyone knows the obvious popular places to start (Luther or Calvin), but I’d Ike to see (similar to this video) what are some essential reads from the Reformation era that are popularly neglected.

[@ProfYaffle]

Hope you get your book back. I feel your pain 😔

[@jfitz6517]

Thank you for the suggestions! I read Irenaeus’ “On Apostolic Preaching” when I lived in Utah, because I was so often having irenic debates/discussions with the LDS missionaries. It was a great read!

[@IAmisMaster]

irenic...ha get it. For real though, Irenaeus' Proof of Apostolic Preaching is a life changing book. He destroys false modern definitions of Trinity, the idea that Christians cannot stop sinning, that prophecy of the Holy Spirit ceased, and other false doctrines that make a mockery of the Scriptures.

[@jackdaw6359]

@@IAmisMaster did you read his Against Heresies?

[@IAmisMaster]

@@jackdaw6359 Yes, which is also just as life changing, especially books 3-5. I even own a Greek/Latin/Armenian text of it.

[@jackdaw6359]

@@IAmisMaster nice.

[@KnightFel]

@@IAmisMasterso you stopped sinning?

[@ReaganAndLincolnFan]

Dr. Ortlund, I’ve been doing a lot of investigation of Catholicism lately, and I’ve found your channel to be an invaluable resource. I would love to hear a response to the Catholic teaching of invincible ignorance, the Protestant position(s) on salvation apart from faith in Jesus Christ, and what Christ meant when he said “forgive them, they know not what they’ve done.” My initial reaction to this teaching is that it is wholly unsound. But if your channel has taught me anything, it’s that I am often surprised that historical Protestant views are much different than what I’ve learned at the nondenominational churches I’ve attended. I have searched for a rebuttal to this doctrine, but I have yet to find a Protestant perspective on these issues (at least on KZbin). Any book reference would also be greatly appreciated!

[@johncolburn6441]

Agree with all these. Told me I need to read more John of Damascus. As far as additional recommendations: I thought that the 5 Theological Orations of Gregory of Nazianzus was tremendously helpful for reflecting on the divinity and identity of the Holy Spirit amongst other things. You can get it packaged with two letter to Cledonius. Excellent little book.

[@mmbtalk]

I also recommend homolies by John Chrysostom on any portions of scripture. good expositor and very edifying. If possible, it's good to get hold of an Ancient commentary where the various fathers comment, can be pricey, but I acquired mine during one of those bargain periods. Alternatively, a mobile Bible App, Catena, which I haven't used long enough apparently provides similar kind of access to ancient father's commentaries on scripture.

[@IAmisMaster]

Most important are his Homilies on Romans, which along with Origen’s Commentary on Romans, refute Augustine/Luther/Calvins false interpretations on Paul sinning in Romans 7, fatalistic determinism in Romans 9, and other false doctrines.

[@rolandovelasquez135]

Thanks 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@Polarbeardueck]

The life of Moses by Gregory of Nyssa But I would really recommend reading the Apostolic Fathers first

[@anniebanderet]

Good choices

[@PaulPavao]

It only took me three months as a Christian to figure out that the Bible was not the sole rule of faith and practice for my brothers and sisters in Christ and their churches. It took me another year to figure out that I should try to find out what was taught in the beginning by the apostles' churches. It took seven more years to find our that I could read the early church fathers and get my questions answered. Since, as an evangelical with evangelical questions, Justin's _First Apology_ quenched my thirst so well I would have to include it in the top 5. I didn't know about Irenaeus' _Proof of the Apostolic Preaching_ because I only had the ANF series. I read _Against Heresies_ instead--yes, the whole thing, and then books 3-5 a second time. The shorter "Proof" or "Demonstration" is much easier to consume, so kudos on that choice. Thank you for doing this at all. Very helpful.

[@IAmisMaster]

Amen! Books 3-5 of Against Heresies are life changing.

[@PaulPavao]

@@IAmisMaster Have you read "Proof of the Apostolic Preaching"? It's much shorter, so you do get a lot of bang from your time in that shorter work.

[@IAmisMaster]

@@PaulPavao Yes, it's one of my favorite Christian books ever. It destroys all these modern Augustinian false doctrines like Christians must fatalisticallysinning every day, that the One God is the Trinity and not the Father as the Bible says, and other false doctrines.

[@PaulPavao]

@@IAmisMaster I want to just tell you I love this, but we are online. I don't know what you might mean by "the one God is ... the Father as the Bible says," even though I know you are referring to 1 Cor. 8:6; 1 Tim 2:5; Jn. 17:3; etc., and you have read Irenaeus, AH, books 3-5. I certainly agree that it is not a given that we will sin every day, and I expect to rise every day and choose throughout the day not to sin willfully at any point. So, amen as far as I can say that online. Do you accept the Nicene Creed (which says the one God is the Father Almighty)?

[@IAmisMaster]

@@PaulPavao Right, those things are all I'm saying. God gives us the ability to cease all known/willful sin. The Nicene Creed is correct, and the way to correctly articulate the Trinity is monarchical Trinitarianism, like David Bercot and Beau Branson say. That makes the Father the One God, though Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are still each God by nature but in a different sense.

[@gburns9222]

Mr. Ortlund, I know this is not related, but I was recently recommended a channel of a man named Dan McClellan. I went down a rabbit hole and now I'm swimming (or drowning) in textural criticism of the Bible. I guess what I am asking for is some good supportive arguments that the Bible we have is accurate and divinely inspired. Maybe some authors to look at or some books to read. I know where Dan McClellan stands now, but I cant help but feel myself asking questions I am not comfortable with and do not know how to answer. Thank you once again for you and your families work, and may God continue to bless your ministry!

[@wonderingpilgrim]

@Truth Unites Thank you for these interesting suggestions, Dr. Ortlund. One thing I am curious about though is why you wouldn't suggest just going back to the earliest church fathers and beginning chronologically. Wouldn't that help us understand best how the Holy Spirit was leading the early church, and in what context we need to interpret the scriptures, especially in light of doctrinal issues like the Eucharist, Baptismal Regeneration, and other key matters that have been a source of disunity for far too long?

[@koyo3376]

I would love some book suggestions from each of the major Christian traditions.

[@Jondoe_04]

I love the idea of your book recommendations! I'd share this with so many people. If anyone also has recommendations please, feel free to comment on this comment. I'd love to hear your recommendations.

[@SotS1689]

The Enchiridion is a great place to start with Augustine. I found it more accessible than the Confessions.

[@ArkEleven1]

Would love to hear your recommendations for puritans, medieval, etc!

[@Flarwolf]

Always interested in book suggestions.

[@joshburks4079]

Would be great to have recommendation videos for different time periods

[@thecatechumen]

When I started reading Church history, I found the Eastern father's argumentation that the incarnation gives precedent for holy images very fascinating. I think one of the primary verses they point to is Colossians 1:15 - "[Christ] is the image (εἰκών) of the invisible God..." that word for "image" is where we get the word "icon" (when transliterated, the Greek word εἰκών sounds very similar. Something to the effect of "ey-kone" for those of you who haven't learned Greek). Nontheless, I am excited for your upcoming debate with Truglia.

[@kurtgundy]

Reformation history! Yes please.

[@benhyrne5073]

Great suggestions and I want to thank you for taking the time to put this together. However, while I would love to buy each of these books, and (eventually) I will, I cannot help but wonder if there might be one book that gives a helpful overview of all the early church fathers? Something like a reference book or dictionary or encyclopedia of the church fathers? Something that gives you a peak at who they were, what they believed, and any "problems" to look out for when reading. And, obviously, something from a non-Catholic perspective.

[@WildAnalog]

I often recommend Basil on the Holy Spirit and Nazianzus's theological orations. The Popular Patristics is a good way to go when just starting. Great recommendations! I especially agree with the particular work of Irenaeus you suggested. Most start with Against Heresies and get discouraged.

[@IAmisMaster]

Start with Books 3-5 of Irenaeus' Against Heresies. You won't be bored in the slightest. That's actually the greatest testimony of Christian theology outside the Scriptures. The first two books are harder to grasp with longer discussions of archaic gnostic beliefs.

[@DigitalTheologian]

Basil’s On the Holy Spirit is a wonderful text. I appreciate it’s more devotional reflections as compared to Athanasius’ Letters to Serapion on the Holy Spirit.

[@martinabdalla8766]

Ignatius of Antioch epistles are great, along with Ireneus, the councils are fundamental and even more reliable of the single authors

[@matthewbartko5255]

Would love to see your recommended reading list from the Puritans.

[@ArtReynoso]

Ignatius of Antioch wrote 7 short letters around 107 a.d. that will blow your mind. He was a disciple of the Apostle John. His letter to the Romans was written as he was being taken to be fed to the lions. His accepting of what would soon happen to him is truly inspiring and bone-chilling.