Rev. Dr. Geoffrey Boyle, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church and Grace Lutheran Church in Wichita, Kansas, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about why we read the Church Fathers, how we regard their writings, and where we find our Lutheran theology in these writings from Church Fathers. He also gives us an exemplary summer reading list:
- Polycarp of Smyrna, Epistle to the Philippians, Martyrdom (d. 155)
- Ignatius of Antioch, Letters to the Churches, Martyrdom (d. 108/140)
- Epistle of Barnabas (70-132)
- Justin Martyr, First Apology (100-165)
- Irenaeus, Apostolic Preaching (130-202)
- Melito of Sardis, On Pascha (d.180)
- Hippolytus, Apostolic Tradition (170-235)
- Cyprian of Carthage, Unity of the Catholic Church (210-258)
- Athanasius, On the Incarnation (296-373)
- Cyril of Jerusalem, Lectures on the Sacraments (313-386)
- John Chrysostom, Marriage & Family Life (347-407)
- Augustine, Confessions, On Christian Teaching, Enchiridion (354-430)
- Cyril of Alexandria, Unity of Christ (376-444)
- Leo the Great, Sermons (beginning at XXI, especially 73-74) (400-461)
- Gregory the Great, Pastoral Rule (540-604)
You can find many of these writings for free at ccel.org/fathers, and you can also purchase several of them in the Popular Patristics series from St. Vladimir Press at svspress.com. Share your progress with us on social media! Find us @KFUOradio on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Find the Lutheran Witness online articles referenced in this episode at witness.lcms.org.
The Coffee Hour is underwritten by Concordia University Wisconsin. Live Uncommon. Learn more at cuw.edu.
Have a topic you’d like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact Andy Bates at andrew.bates@kfuo.org or call 314-996-1519.
