New edition with a brief discussion on the Pythagorean tetractys and some notes on Maximus the Confessor.
New book reviews:
Donald E Archey
5 out of 5 stars
Thought-provoking and intellectually rewarding
Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2026
David presents a detailed examination of how educated Christians in the early centuries of the Church interacted with the philosophical ideas of their time. Rather than simply presenting historical facts, the book invites readers to think critically about how doctrine developed over the centuries. I especially appreciated the discussions surrounding personhood, salvation, and psychology, all presented with extensive historical context. This is an excellent resource for pastors, theology students, historians, and readers who enjoy exploring the intersection of faith and philosophy.
DrR Ray
5 out of 5 stars
A fascinating exploration of early Christian thought
Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2026
This book offers a fresh perspective on the historical development of Christian theology by examining its relationship with Greek philosophy and Hellenistic culture. I appreciated the depth of research and the way the author connects historical events with theological ideas that continue to influence Christianity today. It's not a light read, but for anyone interested in church history, biblical studies, or philosophy, the effort is well worth it. The book encouraged me to reconsider the origins of concepts like free will and human nature in a much broader historical context.
Troy C. Giersdorf
5 out of 5 stars
The origins of Western thought: ethics - good & evil; God & man; science & psychology - everything.
Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2025
We take for granted everything we think we know or think about the world. We don't even realize how our thoughts and opinion have been shaped by those who came before us. This is especially true when it comes to the idea of virtue or morality. In Western Civilization, almost everything we think started with Socrates or Plato and then got tweaked during the first 400 years after the birth of Christ by the great Scientific and Philosophical minds of the Mediterranean region. David Elliott's Book gives us a clear analysis of the evolution of the ideas that have completely shaped our understanding of good and evil for the past 2,500 years. It provides the references to the works of the great minds whose ideas shaped our views of the body, the soul, God, the physical world - including energies and elements, all of which were hot topics 2,000 years ago. These ideas framed our conceptions of God, Man, the World, Science, and Psychology. To really understand ourselves, we ought to understand how we came to think the way we do. David Elliott's book gives us an intelligible map to chart our course as we seek to understand what it means to be a member of Western Civilization. I am only half way thorough it, so far, and everything I have been looking for as to the origins of Western ethics are right here at my fingertips.