Ancient Wisdom in Modern Verse: Based on Texts from Greek and Latin Poets, Philosophers, Playwrights, Historians, and Apostolic and Early Church Fathers/Mothers

By S T Kimbrough Jr. and John Erickson

The wisdom of ancient sages, many of whom predate the Christian era, particularly historians, philosophers, playwrights, and poets of Greece, but also many of the wise early church fathers and mothers continue to be a source of insight into life well lived. This book of poems gleans some of their gems of wisdom and views them through the lens of contemporary language and experience.

In addition to the wisdom of early Greek sages, there is here a significant number of quotations from the apostolic fathers and the post-apostolic fathers/mothers: Justin Martyr, Irenaeus of Lyons, Clement of Alexandria, and Origen. From the so-called "Golden Age" of Christianity (fourth to eighth centuries) there are comments from Basil (bishop of Caesarea), Gregory (bishop of Nazianzus), Gregory (bishop of Nyssa), Isidore (bishop of Pelusium), and Maximus the Confessor. From the Latin fathers of the same period there are selections from Tertullian, Augustine (bishop of Hippo), and from the Syriac fathers Ephrem the Syrian and Isaac (bishop of Nineveh). From the desert fathers and mothers there are excerpts from Symeon the New Theologian and Amma Theodora.

These poetic paraphrases of ancient wisdom are shared with the hope that they are faithful to these servants of knowledge and faith, and that they will continue to enhance life's meaning today.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Release date: Oct 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9781666785463

S T Kimbrough Jr.

S T Kimbrough, Jr. is a Research Fellow of the Center for Studies in the Wesleyan Tradition of the Divinity School of Duke University and founder of The Charles Wesley Society. He is editor of its journal Proceedings of The Charles Wesley Society and author/editor of several books on Charles Wesley including: The Unpublished Poetry of Charles Wesley, 3 vols., and The Manuscript Journal of the Reverend Charles Wesley, M.A., 2 vols.

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