What books are you currently reading?

  • Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.

    You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Matthias

Well-Known Member
May 3, 2022
9,245
4,213
113
Kentucky
Faith
Other Faith
Country
United States
Rise of the Fourth Reich was excellent. I have it in mind to reread several chapters soon.

Baseball is in the air! I’m currently reading a sports book (something which I don’t do very often) - The Miracle Braves, 1914-1916 - written by Charles C. Alexander.
 

Matthias

Well-Known Member
May 3, 2022
9,245
4,213
113
Kentucky
Faith
Other Faith
Country
United States
I picked up a used book before the baseball game I attended on Friday - Will The Real Heretics Please Stand Up: A New Look at Today’s Evangelical Church in the Light of Early Christianity, written by David W. Bercot.

I’m reading it concurrently with The Miracle Braves.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mr E

Matthias

Well-Known Member
May 3, 2022
9,245
4,213
113
Kentucky
Faith
Other Faith
Country
United States
That sounds like a good one!

I’m a little over half way through. I don’t want to spoil the story for anyone but the the following quotation will give the reader of my post a pretty good idea of where the author - himself an Evangelical Christian, writing in 1989 - is leading his audience. He is comparing the Church of the 2nd and 3rd centuries with Evangelical Christianity in the 20th century.

”We label as heresy many of the doctrines they taught. They labeled as heresy many doctrines that we teach. Who are the heretics?”

(David W. Bercot, Will The Real Heretics Please Stand Up, p. 99)

I refer interested readers to the book for the nitty-gritty details.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nancy

Matthias

Well-Known Member
May 3, 2022
9,245
4,213
113
Kentucky
Faith
Other Faith
Country
United States
Inspired by Will The Real Heretics Please Stand Up, I’m returning now to my reading / rereading of the Ante-Nicene Fathers. I’m currently reading Epistle To The Philippians, written by Polycarp. It makes perfectly good sense to follow that up by reading The Martyrdom of Polycarp, author unknown.
 

Matthias

Well-Known Member
May 3, 2022
9,245
4,213
113
Kentucky
Faith
Other Faith
Country
United States
What to read after Polycarp’s epistle and the epistle about his martyrdom?

”The Epistles of Ignatius written by him to us, and all the rest [of his Epistles] which we have by us, we have sent to you, as requested. They are subjoined to this Epistle; and by them ye may be greatly profited; for they treat of faith and patience, and all things that tend to edification in our Lord.” - Polycarp, Epistle To The Philippians, Chapter 13.

Sounds logical to me to follow Polycarp with reading the works of Ignatius.

I read the Syriac version of Ignatius’ Epistle To Polycarp this morning. I’m currently reading the Greek versions of this work, both the longer and the shorter versions. After I finish that I’ll be reading Ignatius’ Epistle To The Philippians.

As always, readers are invited to join me.
 

Matthias

Well-Known Member
May 3, 2022
9,245
4,213
113
Kentucky
Faith
Other Faith
Country
United States
It is evident from reading the various versions of the Epistle To Polycarp that someone was editing his letter.

His Epistle To The Philippians is acknowledged by scholars as being spurious, as are seven others of the fifteen epistles bearing the name of Ignatius. I’ve decided to read the remainder in this spurious group before reading the remainder of his genuine letters.

I’ll be reading the spurious epistles in this order: Epistle To The Tarsians, Epistle To The Antiochians, Epistle To Hero, Epistle To Mary At Neapolis, Epistle To St. John, Second Epistle To St. John, and Epistle Of Maria The Proselyte To Ignatius.
 

Matthias

Well-Known Member
May 3, 2022
9,245
4,213
113
Kentucky
Faith
Other Faith
Country
United States
I unintentionally neglected to mention - but didn’t neglect to read - Ignatius’ Epistle To The Virgin Mary and the reply. That completes my reading of the spurious letters.

Today I’ll begin reading his genuine letters, starting with Epistle To The Ephesians.
 

Matthias

Well-Known Member
May 3, 2022
9,245
4,213
113
Kentucky
Faith
Other Faith
Country
United States
I’m currently reading Epistle To The Magnesians, written by Ignatius.

The long and short versions of his letters contain highly significant differences. Someone is either putting words in his mouth or taking words out of his mouth - after the fact. Who? When? For what purpose?

Read on with me, if anyone is.
 

Matthias

Well-Known Member
May 3, 2022
9,245
4,213
113
Kentucky
Faith
Other Faith
Country
United States
For example, what did Ignatius really write in the last sentence of his closing salutations to the Magnesians?

”Fare ye well in the harmony of God, ye who have obtained the inseparable Spirit, who is Jesus Christ.”

(Short version, Chapter 15)

”Fare ye well in harmony, ye who who have obtained the inseparable Spirit, in Christ Jesus, by the will of God.”

(Longer version, Chapter 15)

I’m currently reading Epistle To The Trallians.
 

Michiah-Imla

Well-Known Member
Oct 24, 2020
6,142
3,278
113
Northeast USA
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Well, I just completed the entire Bible that I started on November 2022.

I started again and I am up to Genesis 43…
 
  • Like
Reactions: Matthias

Matthias

Well-Known Member
May 3, 2022
9,245
4,213
113
Kentucky
Faith
Other Faith
Country
United States
I’m currently reading Epistle To The Romans, written by Ignatius. His remaining letters are pretty short, and have long and short versions. I’ll finish reading them in the following order: Epistle To The Philadelphians and Epistle To The Smyrnaens.

P.S. I haven’t decided yet what to read after I complete the works of Ignatius. Any suggestions?
 
Last edited: