The First Pastors: Early Christianitys Vision for Ministry / Leland Brown.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Brown, Leland, Author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Christian leadership--History of doctrines--Early church, ca. 30-600.

Christian leadership.

Pastoral theology--History of doctrines--Early church, ca. 30-600.

Pastoral theology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (277 p.)

Place of Publication:

Piscataway, NJ Gorgias Press, [2026]

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

Most accounts of Christian leadership in the first two centuries focus on the diversity of leadership structures and the various cultural influences that impacted it. This book demonstrates that within these structures and contexts early Christians shared a clear set of theological convictions about pastoral leadership. Through literary and theological analysis of relevant passages in the Apostolic Fathers and New Testament, The First Pastors demonstrates four shared convictions about pastoral ministry: (1) the necessity of a particular kind of virtue for pastoral leaders, (2) the authority of pastoral leaders, (3) the essentials of pastoral work, and (4) the reality of pastoral suffering. These shared convictions emerge from the variety of communities represented by these texts and are so well attested to that they suggest a much greater degree of unity than is presently assumed in the field. Moreover, even with the various dating issues surrounding the Apostolic Fathers and New Testament, the agreement between these sets of texts show second-century Christians carrying forward the convictions of the first century. Finally, they present an interesting example of the coexistence and interaction between unity and diversity in early Christianity: theological unity persisted in diverse communities with varying practices and contexts.

Contents:

Frontmatter

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

Chapter One. Your Blameless Face: Pastoral Virtue in the Apostolic Fathers

Chapter Two. As Though He Was the Lord: Pastoral Authority in the Apostolic Fathers

Chapter Three. Do Justice to Your Office: Pastoral Work in the Apostolic Fathers

Chapter Four. An Anvil Struck: Pastoral Suffering in the Apostolic Fathers

Chapter Five. Pastoral Virtue, Authority, Work, and Suffering in the New Testament

Conclusion: An Apostolic Vision for Ministry?

Bibliography

Index of Scripture and Ancient Authors

Notes:

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed March 17 2026)

ISBN:

9781463249823