Book Review: Hans Lietzmann

A History of the Early Church, by Hans Lietzmann

I had the great fortune of receiving this four volume set of early church history as a gift from a friend while working on my Ph.D. at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland. Honestly, I did not realize at the time what a valuable gift I had been given.

The four volume set is contained in this single volume: an English translation of the work of Hans Lietzmann. Lietzmann was an excellent German scholar, known mainly for succeeding the great Adolf von Harnack and serving as the Chair for divinity studies at the University of Berlin (1924-1942). Dietrich Bonhoeffer studied under Lietzmann, graduating in 1927 - my apologies if I seem overly nostalgic, but I can only imagine what it must have been like to be around Lietzmann, Bonhoeffer, Barth and others during this period. Lietzmann had the ability to communicate the problematic intricacies of early Christian history in a way that was easy to read and to digest. I do not read German, but have no doubt that Woolf's English translation reflects this excellent style. Lietzmann followed Harnack's liberal views, yet I do not detect skepticism in his work. What is obvious is his desire to bring every piece of historical data into the discussion. This history remains an excellent work for doing research as Lietzmann points the reader to original source documents and to solid secondary scholarship. A bonus and an indication is that WHC Frend has worked on this single volume. Frend's "Rise of Christianity" joins this set of Lietzmann as one of three essential texts on the first several centuries of Christian history. I would add Chawick's single volume to this list.

This work of Lietzmann begins with a splendid discussion of the Roman empire to give the reader an historical backdrop as he then discusses the church, the New Testament (including many extrabiblical writings), second century critics and the apologists, and concludes with chapters on the dominant regions of the second century (Asia Minor, Gaul, Africa, Rome, Syria, and Egypt).

Lietzmann allows the early christian writings to speak for themselves. This does not mean that he refrains from offering critical commentary, but he does not assume (as is common among more modern historians) the ancients to be simpletons, only politically motivated, or fabricators. He does offer data that goes against the Catholic view, but he also presents data that conflicts with the Protestant views as well. Lietzmann is a committed historian, presenting data.

To give a potential buyer a taste of Lietzmann, this is a selection I typically read aloud when lecturing on second century persecutions:

I want to end my review by stating that although Lietzmann followed the more liberal views of his tutor Harnack, the more conservative reader should not be afraid of this volume. You will be presented with historical data that any serious student of early Christianity MUST wrestle with - ALL data is good and must be faced. I would urge any serious student of early Christianity to purchase this volume. You will use Lietzmann for the remainder of your life - this work will stand the test of time.

R.A. Baker
Ph.D. Ecclesiastical History