Faith in Formulae: A Collection of Early-Christian Creeds and Creed-related Texts translated by Wolfram Kinzig
Joel Kalvesmaki
Reviewed by: Faith in Formulae: A Collection of Early-Christian Creeds and Creed-related Texts translated by Wolfram Kinzig Joel Kalvesmaki Texts. Edited, annotated, Kinzig. 4 vols. [Oxford Early Christian Texts.] (New York: Oxford university Press. 2017. Pp. xxiv, 552, 420, 464, 509. $675.00. ISBN 978–0-1982–6941-0 [set]; 978–0-19–9609024 [vol. 1]; 978–0-19–960903-1 2]; 978–0-19–875841-9 3]; 978–019-875842–6 4].) Kinzig's Formulae is an essential acquisition for any research library with holdings early or medieval Christianity. It supersedes August Hahn's Bibliothek der Symbole und Glaubensregeln Alten Kirche (1842; 2nd ed. 1877; 3rd 1897) Philip Schaff's second volume Christendom a History Critical Notes (1877), which have shaped the scholarship last century half. book most naturally follows footsteps, so quite different from Valerie R. Hotchkiss Jaroslav Pelikan's Confessions Tradition (2003), covered entire tradition, and, being not focused on philology, printed only important creeds confessions prior to AD 814 (Charlemagne's death). That date provides his chronological terminus. His chief interests are ancient texts that preserve formulae faith (e.g., "I believe one God…") attest reception those formulae. For hundreds chosen, provides, if available, original Greek Latin best recent edition, followed English translation. Sources survive other languages, e.g., Coptic, Syriac, Armenian, given but reference edition provided, along modern translation (and perhaps retroversion). When editions do adequately subdivide text, he has done so, make citation easier. Quotations marked italics underlining. At end each text summation includes writing's provenance; bibliography noteworthy editions, translations, studies; brief notes. Those source texts—some obscure important—are grouped into 863 sections, author, event, work, generally arranged chronologically (according current scholarly consensus dating). Some sections short (one text), others long. example, §135, Council Nicaea (AD 325), creed itself (plus pointing readers thirty-two witnesses), (among others) seventy-two translations transliterations. After providing key Old Testament New passages, groups eight chapters. Two them—symbolum its meanings, baptismal interrogations—provide contextual background longest three—second-third-century formulae, eastern (fourth ninth-century), western eighth-century). Another three chapters—canon law eighth-century), liturgical daily life, [End Page 140] Carolingian reform—collect sources direct witnesses both themselves their reception. In some cases, textual cluster belongs more than chapter, case cross-references provided. writing clear graceful, engaged questions about authorship dating. Christopher M. Hays, sound unstilted. many they started older Ante-Nicene Fathers Nicene Post-Nicene as beginning; all been thoroughly corrected, revised, updated. There no subject index, cannot easily find discussions filioque at vol. 1, p. 15 n. 71), identify topical overlap §4a §6a, quote similar pagan formula initiation). And there concordance terms. But indexes—Scripture, works, manuscripts scripta— immensely helpful, lengthy...
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