Sources
First, the "Ante-Nicene Fathers," translated by eminent scholars and published by Scribner, New York; "The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers," published by T. and T. Clark, Edinburgh, Scotland, and obtainable likewise at Scribner's. The latest edition of these sets numbers thirty volumes altogether. They contain much church history in addition to the theological discussions contained therein. They must be read with discrimination and caution because they "blow hot and cold," as Martin Luther expressed it. They cover the period from the close of the apostolic age to the fifth century.
We have also the church histories written by Eusebius, Socrates, Sozomen, Theodoret, and Evagrius. They likewise cover the same period, and are considered by scholars as reliable authorities.
Councils
Subsequent to the first apostolic council held in Jerusalem, 52 A. D., and onward to the Roman Catholic council held in the Vatican, 1870, over three hundred councils of prominence were held in Western Europe, Africa, and Asia Minor in the Catholic Church, including the early apostolic church before the days of Constantine. Many of these were provincial councils which regulated the discipline of the clergy in the various provinces of the Roman Empire. Whenever serious doctrinal disputes arose, an endeavor was made to call a general church council to settle the doctrine by such authority.
During these centuries, nineteen general councils were held. -The first four held--were as follows: Nica, 325; Constantinople, 381; Ephesus, 431; and Chalcedon, 451. These councils reached a conclusion on the doctrine of the Trinity for the early church. The councils of Vienne (1311), Pisa (1409), Constance (1414), and Basel (1431) demanded a reform of the church. This was favored by some popes, but was finally rejected by the Roman Curia under Pope Pius II, who, in the year 1459, issued the bull, "Execrabilis," against the authority claimed by the general councils.
Then came the Reformation, and to offset the reform movement the Council of Trent was begun in 1545 and lasted to 1565. This council dealt with most of the major doctrines in the church by the passing of one hundred twenty canons and a number of decrees. The last general council was held in the Vatican at Rome in 1870, when the decree on papal infallibility was issued.
The canons and decrees passed at these councils form an invaluable storehouse of sources for the student of church history. The standard authorities on these councils are found in "The History of Church Councils," by Labbe and Cossart, by Mansi, and by Harduin. These authors have not been translated into the vernacular of different countries, and therefore are not accessible to the average student of church history.
However, a very good translation has been made into English from the German "History of Church Councils," written by Bishop Hefele, and published by T. and T. Clark, Edinburgh. Five volumes have been published, covering the history up to the ninth century. This is a very fine work, and is used in theological seminaries in English-speaking countries. The work is valuable for the source material it contains.
A number of smaller volumes have been written by different authors who have drawn from the sources. And among the sources we must not forget to mention the Code of Justinian, which is an invaluable collection of decrees issued by the Christian emperors from Constantine to his own day, or to 565 A. D. The Code is still in the original Greek and Latin, but many of the decrees have been translated by authors of church histories. One of these authors, Dr. J. C. Ayer, has written "A Source Book of Ancient Church History," published by Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. This book of 707 pages is a veritable storehouse of original sources translated into English.
Another very valuable book is "A Source Book for Medieval History," by Thatcher and McNeal, also published by Scribner. Another, "Selected Documents," by Henderson, is of great value. Bingham's "Christian Antiquities," two large volumes, contains a great amount of source material. It is out of print, and can only be had second-hand. "The Dictionary of Christian Antiquities," by Smith and Cheetham, is also very valuable to the history student.
Church Histories
Strictly speaking, such works as those of Fisher, Newman, and Walker are not church histories. They are, at best, surveys of church history, and are used as such in seminary lower classes as textboaks. They form the ground work for advanced studies in the graduate schools of theology. A number of these manuals and compendiums have been published in German and translated into English. Several of them have been written in England and a few in America.
The general church histories accessible to the English reader and which have endured scholarly criticism, are as follows: Neander's "General Church History," translated by Dr. Torrey and revised by Morrison, ten volumes; Mil-man's "History of Christianity," three volumes; Milman's "Latin Christianity," eight volumes; Mosheim's "General History," three volumes, translated by Murdock and revised by Soames and later by Archbishop Stubbs; Schaff's "History of the Christian Church," eight volumes; Robertson's "History of the Church," eight volumes. Each one of these authors shines in his own sphere of influence. Mosheim is clear and logical. Neander is profound and abstract. Schaff is thorough and verbose. Milman is elegant and accurate.
For more advanced and critical studies we have histories of Christian dogmas. Among the leading works easily accessible to the student are Shedd's "History of Christian Doctrine," two volumes, a standard textbook in many divinity schools; Neander's "History of Christian Dogmas," two volumes; Hagenback's "History of Christian Dogmas," three volumes (good for Latin and Greek students only); Harnack's "History of Dogmas," eight volumes. The latter is the most complete and exhaustive of them all.
In addition to these books we may mention "The History of the Popes," three volumes, by Ranke, and "Bower's History of the Popes," three volumes (out of print).
These books mentioned and enumerated above constitute the sum and substance of the sources in church history, which is a branch of the Department of Sacred Sciences in our schools, and should receive a full and thorough study by our students before leaving school.
The future destiny of our church depends to no small degree upon a correct understanding of our doctrines, both evangelical and prophetic. Church history is the most profound as well as interesting study for a theological student. The purity of the apostolic church, the rise of the Papacy, the development of the Reformation, the modern apostasy, and the final triumph of the remnant church, are subjects which should be thoroughly mastered by our ministry in the field.
Washington, D. C.
