Originally published in 1954, this book presents a detailed study regarding the early Christian theologian Origen, focusing mainly on his doctrine of tradition and its relationship with his interpretation of the Bible. The text was written by Richard Patrick Crosland Hanson (1916-88), a notable Anglican bishop, theologian and historian of antiquities. A bibliography is included and detailed notes are incorporated throughout. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in theology, biblical studies and the works of Origen.

It will be the aim of this book to distinguish the nature and function of different sorts of tradition within the historic Christian faith. The main task which the book will set itself will be to examine as fairly and as fully as possible the likelihood of the survival of original, authentic tradition within the Christian Church outside the Bible, to see whether there are solid grounds for concluding that independently of the New Testament any considerable or significant amount of original and trustworthy information about Jesus . . . could have survived, and whether it actually has survived. --From the first chapter, Oral Tradition

In this classic work in patristic studies, R. P. C. Hanson elucidates the views of the third-century theologian Origen on the nature and interpretaion of Scripture. The introduction by a leading Origen scholar sets Hanson's work in its context and explores its significance to Origen scholarship.

Essays on scripture, tradition and reason; at the heart of every major issue confronting the life and thought of all the Christian Churches today, in honour of R. P. C. Hanson

"A history of doctrines of the early Church, written and arranged with exceptional clarity by a leading patristic scholar, the principal of St. Edmund Hall, Oxford. Canon Kelly describes the development of the principal Christian doctrines from the close of the first century to the middle of the fifth, and from the end of the apostolic age to the council of Chalcedon. His book thus covers the great doctrinally creative period in the Church's history, the centuries in which there was a constant upsurge of fresh ideas before the settled formalism of both the East and West. He gives the student and invaluable outline of Church history and patrology against which to place the evolving theological doctrines which he summarises and expounds" -- Back cover.

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First published in 1997. What's new in the Second Edition: Some 250 new entries, twenty-five percent more than in the first edition, plus twenty-five new expert contributors. Bibliographies are greatly expanded and updated throughout; More focus on biblical books and philosophical schools, their influence on early Christianity and their use by patristic writers; More information about the Jewish and pagan environment of early Christianity; Greatly enlarged coverage of the eastern expansion of the faith throughout Asia, including persons and literature; More extensive treatment of saints, monasticism, worship practices, and modern scholars; Greater emphasis on social history and more theme articles; More illustrations, maps, and plans; Additional articles on geographical regions; Expanded chronological table; Also includes maps.