Suffering and Evil in Early Christian Thought - (Holy Cross Studies in Patristic Theology and History) (Paperback)

About the Book

Distinguished historians and theologians explore a range of early Christian views on the problems of suffering and evil.

Book Synopsis

Distinguished Scholars Explore Early Christian Views on the Problem of Evil

What did the early church teach about the problem of suffering and evil in the world? In this volume, distinguished historians and theologians explore a range of ancient Christian responses to this perennial problem. The ecumenical team of contributors includes John Behr, Gary Anderson, Brian Daley, and Bishop Kallistos Ware, among others. This is the fourth volume in Holy Cross Studies in Patristic Theology and History, a partnership between Baker Academic and the Pappas Patristic Institute of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. The series is a deliberate outreach by the Orthodox community to Protestant and Catholic seminarians, pastors, and theologians.

From the Back Cover

Distinguished historians and theologians explore a range of early Christian views on the problems of suffering and evil.

"In this exceptional volume, Nonna Verna Harrison and David Hunter have brought together some of the best thinkers of our time to look deeply into the patristic tradition and connect us once again with the wisdom of ancient Christianity. In the process, we see again the brilliance of the Christian refocusing of the 'question of suffering and evil' onto its true locus: the incarnation of God, the means by which all things are made new."
--George Kalantzis, The Wheaton Center for Early Christian Studies, Wheaton College

"The presence of suffering and evil is considered the major problem for a theistic worldview. The challenge is old. So is the Christian response to it. An all-star cast of writers, mostly Catholic and Orthodox, consider what early Christian thinkers had to say about suffering in its varying forms and expressions--illness, death, persecution, natural disasters--and the sorrow that accompanies these things, especially as they relate to the human condition. From an overview of patristic theodicies to a contemporary theologian's reflections on how God enters human suffering, there is rich theological perspective on display here. This volume will enrich one's understanding of the thought of early Christians, especially in regard to the passion of Christ, and will provide insights helpful for modern Christian philosophy and theology."
--Everett Ferguson, Abilene Christian University

"In an age where we seem to do anything we can to ignore the suffering of others and the reality of our own mortality, this volume offers a nuanced and thoughtful treatment of what were once the central themes of Christian theology and hope. This is an important volume that will have wide appeal to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of early Christian thought."
--George Demacopoulos, Orthodox Christian Studies Center, Fordham University

About the Author

Nonna Verna Harrison (PhD, Graduate Theological Union), an experienced patristics scholar, is the author of several books, including God's Many-Splendored Image. She lives in Chatsworth, California.

David G. Hunter (PhD, University of Notre Dame) holds the Cottrill-Rolfes Chair of Catholic Studies at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. He coedited The Oxford Handbook of Early Christian Studies.