Christopher Hall In Part 1 Summary

Introduction In the twenty first century, music and singing are the most identifiable means of worship in a church service. However, varieties of expressions in worship are found within the church. Some expressions like prayer are obvious, while others such as baptism, are subtle. Christopher A. Hall, the Director of Academic Spiritual Formation and distinguished professor of Theology at Eastern University, invites his readers to explore the possibilities. His background as the associate editor of the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture has provided him with a unique platform to publish three out of a four-volume set of books based on the church fathers’ approach to Scripture, theology, worship, and ethics. It is his third book in

In doing this, he provides the necessary background to reflect on the fathers’ view of baptism and the Eucharist. Hall then systematically leads the reader through the church father’s sacramental understanding of baptism through water, its link between the cross and resurrection, and the role of faith and repentance. Additionally, Hall draws attention to the Holy Spirit’s function in baptism and regeneration. Finally, Hall raises the question of infant baptism. Next, Hall moves to the Eucharist. Here he provides a backdrop to the fathers’ struggle with Gnosticism as well a short section about word and matter. By doing so, he makes a case for the fathers’ views of the incarnation within the Eucharist, the invocation of the Holy Spirit and the transformation of bread and wine. Hall concludes by explaining several ground rules concerning the

In dividing the topic of worship into three parts, he gives a clear presentation of the fathers’ perspective and practices on the sacraments, prayer and discipline. Additionally, Hall’s ability to offer a concise explanation of terms allows the reader the background to engage actively in his point of view before drawing a conclusion. Throughout the book, Hall shares his own experiences making the text personable and relative. In part one, Hall’s outline of fundamental principles of the sacraments (baptism and the Eucharist) is persuasive, as he uses the church fathers’ wisdom to reinforce these principles for the Church’s universal practice. Hall gives the most attention to part two on prayer and is arguably his best section of the book. His skillful summary on each segment of prayer delivers ancient time honored practices to equip the reader for a successful prayer life. Finally, in part three, Hall ably gives a prosaic picture of the purpose and intent behind the early monastics by expounding on the life of Antony. In addition, Hall’s choice of desert saying by the church fathers is both enlightening and