This study focuses on how Puritans in England and especially New England used the church fathers when reading the Bible and defending Congregationalism. The analysis of a variety of textual genres and largely unedited sources written between 1592 and 1728 shows that patristic sources are often cited. Contrary to the widespread assumption that they embraced a fundamentalist Biblicism, Puritans prove to be fully engaged in the rich traditional theological discourse and display a remarkable knowledge of the church fathers. Their authority was that of close witnesses of the primitive age rather than conclusive evidence that would compromise the sola scriptura principle. The church fathers were an integral part of the professional training of Puritan ministers, who relied on them as interpretive aids in exegesis and as model homilists. The findings also suggest that Puritans perceived of New England in terms of typological continuity, with early Christians as models to be imitated regarding church membership, baptism, church office and discipline as well as endurance in times of persecution and dissent.
| ISBN: | 9783631607442 |
| Publication date: | 19th January 2012 |
| Author: | AnnStephane Schäfer |
| Publisher: | Peter Lang an imprint of Peter Lang GmbH, Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften |
| Format: | Hardback |
| Pagination: | 449 pages |
| Series: | Mainzer Studien Zur Amerikanistik |
| Genres: |
Literary studies: c 1400 to c 1600 Literary studies: c 1800 to c 1900 Western philosophy from c 1800 Christianity Regional / International studies Society and culture: general |