When reading Phillip Schaff’s work you sometimes forget that the writer did not have the benefit of 21st century research tools. No Internet, carbon dating, etc. Can you imagine the amount of study and diligence it must have taken to do this volume and quality of work?
Schaff captures not only the writing of the Church Fathers but the spirit and feeling behind these men. As a Catholic, these writings only confirmed for me the validity of the Catholic Church as the original church started by Jesus Christ around 30 A.D. That being said, Schaff was not a Catholic himself and ,to his credit, he thoroughly discusses both the wonderfully positive contributions made by the Catholic Church and the hideous atrocities committed by that same Church.
To make this history as interesting and vibrant as Schaff does is a testament to his skill as a writer and his love for the subject.
Any reader who wants to truly understand how the Christian Church was founded and grew over the centuries, should take advantage of the ridiculously low price of this Kindle Edition and buy this set of books. Catholics and Protestants alike will find plenty of reasons to relate their own experiences to the early church. Both will also find just as many reasons to have a new appreciation for the traditions of their fellow christian brothers and sisters who happen to worship differently.
(Amazon Customer)