Desert fathers

[tstumf]

Desert fathers.Who were they? What did they contribute to the Christian faith. They keep getting brought up in some of the ministries I listen to. Is there any good reliable reads about these ancients that anyone could suggest? I hit google search and it’s overwhelming and don’t want to get steered into the wrong path.

 

[Aerials1978]

Have not heard of them. Anything that stands out about them?

 

[Nehemiah6]

Desert fathers.Who were they?

"The Desert Fathers emerged in Egypt. Perhaps as early as the late 200’s AD, these Egyptian Christian men left the pagan cities, the persecutions and the distractions of life to live as hermits in the Sahara Desert. Their purpose was to live a solitary life solely dedicated to God."
https://earlychurchhistory.org/who-were-the-desert-fathers/

 

[tstumf]

"The Desert Fathers emerged in Egypt. Perhaps as early as the late 200’s AD, these Egyptian Christian men left the pagan cities, the persecutions and the distractions of life to live as hermits in the Sahara Desert. Their purpose was to live a solitary life solely dedicated to God."
https://earlychurchhistory.org/who-were-the-desert-fathers/

Do you think they are worth studying or should your average Christian believer stick to studying the Gospels. I don’t want to dive off the deep end into stuff that a person graduating Seminary school might have a hard time understanding.

 

[Nehemiah6]

Do you think they are worth studying or should your average Christian believer stick to studying the Gospels. I don’t want to dive off the deep end into stuff that a person graduating Seminary school might have a hard time understanding.

While reading about them can do no harm (and you could learn much), one should focus on Bible study (which is very demanding in an of itself).

 

[tstumf]

While reading about them can do no harm (and you could learn much), one should focus on Bible study (which is very demanding in an of itself).

Agreed, it can be very demanding. I had just never heard about these guys till one of the online ministries I follow mentioned them so it sparked some curiosity into just what they were speaking about.

 

[p_rehbein]

FYI: Some study material for you


Who Were the Desert Fathers? - Early Church History


John 6:31 KJV - Our fathers did eat manna in the - Bible ...

]How the Desert Fathers “Meditated”

]the wisdom of the desert fathers and mothers

 

[JStates]

"The Desert Fathers emerged in Egypt. Perhaps as early as the late 200’s AD, these Egyptian Christian men left the pagan cities, the persecutions and the distractions of life to live as hermits in the Sahara Desert. Their purpose was to live a solitary life solely dedicated to God."
https://earlychurchhistory.org/who-were-the-desert-fathers/

Egypt, Alexandria in particular, was a cesspool of early heresies and counterfeit Scriptures in the first couple centuries AD.

The Bible does not suggest that permanent aceticism offers any spiritual benefit. In fact, considering how important the CHURCH is, I'd say hermits are experiencing the negative consequences of their own bad doctrines.

To put it another way, how much practical spiritual wisdom can these hermit dudes, who have no families or real interactions in society, actually offer?

And if they were in fact, uh, "Desert FATHERS" then it sounds like they abandoned their families, which would make them worse than a heathen in the Bible's own words.

I've never heard of them. Honestly given the mountains of knowledge I have to sift through... they are kinda low priority.

 

[Gideon300]

Desert fathers.Who were they? What did they contribute to the Christian faith. They keep getting brought up in some of the ministries I listen to. Is there any good reliable reads about these ancients that anyone could suggest? I hit google search and it’s overwhelming and don’t want to get steered into the wrong path.

An unbelieving neighbour has given me "The Wisdom of the Desert" to read. He gave me a brief rundown. I only took it so that I could witness to him. I think there is vastly more edifying and Bible based teaching to study and read.

 

[tstumf]

Egypt, Alexandria in particular, was a cesspool of early heresies and counterfeit Scriptures in the first couple centuries AD.

The Bible does not suggest that permanent aceticism offers any spiritual benefit. In fact, considering how important the CHURCH is, I'd say hermits are experiencing the negative consequences of their own bad doctrines.

To put it another way, how much practical spiritual wisdom can these hermit dudes, who have no families or real interactions in society, actually offer?

And if they were in fact, uh, "Desert FATHERS" then it sounds like they abandoned their families, which would make them worse than a heathen in the Bible's own words.

I've never heard of them. Honestly given the mountains of knowledge I have to sift through... they are kinda low priority.

An unbelieving neighbour has given me "The Wisdom of the Desert" to read. He gave me a brief rundown. I only took it so that I could witness to him. I think there is vastly more edifying and Bible based teaching to study and read.

That’s precisely why I’m asking. The rabbit hole goes pretty deep into that stuff and being the cannon is closed one probably should be careful how he approaches that stuff. Not sure if I’ve built enough spiritual insight and Bible knowledge yet to sift through their wisdom or what
could even be gained by doing so versus sticking to the Bible strictly. There must be something important they contribute because there appears to be a hundred books written regarding them and their wisdom and knowledge over the years. Maybe someday I might grab a published book that walks me through what their significance is.

 

[JStates]

That’s precisely why I’m asking. The rabbit hole goes pretty deep into that stuff and being the cannon is closed one probably should be careful how he approaches that stuff. Not sure if I’ve built enough spiritual insight and Bible knowledge yet to sift through their wisdom or what
could even be gained by doing so versus sticking to the Bible strictly. There must be something important they contribute because there appears to be a hundred books written regarding them and their wisdom and knowledge over the years. Maybe someday I might grab a published book that walks me through what their significance is.

Well, I won't tell people what they can and cannot read. A Christian should compare everything with the Scriptures however, as you say.

 

[Gideon300]

That’s precisely why I’m asking. The rabbit hole goes pretty deep into that stuff and being the cannon is closed one probably should be careful how he approaches that stuff. Not sure if I’ve built enough spiritual insight and Bible knowledge yet to sift through their wisdom or what
could even be gained by doing so versus sticking to the Bible strictly. There must be something important they contribute because there appears to be a hundred books written regarding them and their wisdom and knowledge over the years. Maybe someday I might grab a published book that walks me through what their significance is.

It's good to have a solid foundation first. Decades ago, I went to listen to a former JW who railed against his old religion. I got weighed down as he went through all the heretical teachings. I had to spend time refreshing myself with the truth. He meant no harm, of course. We need to be careful what we study.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable— if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think on these things.

 

[JStates]

It's good to have a solid foundation first. Decades ago, I went to listen to a former JW who railed against his old religion. I got weighed down as he went through all the heretical teachings. I had to spend time refreshing myself with the truth. He meant no harm, of course. We need to be careful what we study.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable— if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think on these things.

Good advice. Most falsehood has a good bit of truth mixed in, makes it easier to sell the lie. And with some of these religions and heresies, since they derive from distortions of Christian doctrine, they can get really confusing.

 

[GRACE_ambassador]

Do you think they are worth studying or should your
average Christian believer stick to studying the Gospels.

Precious friend:
Depends, are you studying just "for learning to have hope"?:

Rom_15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime
were written for our learning, that we through patience
and comfort of The Scriptures might have hope.

Or:

studying to show yourself Approved? See below...

It's good to have a solid foundation first.

Amen! As most (new-borns/average saints) are still Confused
about the foundational "fundamentals of the faith," Correct?
Is "studying the gospels" the way, or enough? Or, is it:

"Study to shew thyself Approved Unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, Rightly
Dividing The Word Of Truth!" (2 Timothy 2:15) ie:

God's Approval/TWO Different Gospels!

Distinctions In God's TWO Different Programs: Prophecy vs Mystery!

GRACE And Peace...

 

[Aaron56]

Maybe they are "dessert fathers" so they're busy making cookies?

 

[JStates]

Maybe they are "dessert fathers" so they're busy making cookies?

If that's the case, all their works should be sampled -- er, I mean studied -- in great detail. =)

 

[Snacks]

Do you think they are worth studying or should your average Christian believer stick to studying the Gospels. I don’t want to dive off the deep end into stuff that a person graduating Seminary school might have a hard time understanding.

Desert Fathers are inspiring. It’s worth your while reading about them. If I’m wrong please tell me otherwise.

 

[Pilgrimshope]

"The Desert Fathers emerged in Egypt. Perhaps as early as the late 200’s AD, these Egyptian Christian men left the pagan cities, the persecutions and the distractions of life to live as hermits in the Sahara Desert. Their purpose was to live a solitary life solely dedicated to God."
https://earlychurchhistory.org/who-were-the-desert-fathers/

do some refer to them as the sons of light ?

 

[Pilgrimshope]

Precious friend:
Depends, are you studying just "for learning to have hope"?:

Rom_15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime
were written for our learning, that we through patience
and comfort of The Scriptures might have hope.

Or:

studying to show yourself Approved? See below...

Amen! As most (new-borns/average saints) are still Confused
about the foundational "fundamentals of the faith," Correct?
Is "studying the gospels" the way, or enough? Or, is it:

"Study to shew thyself Approved Unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, Rightly
Dividing The Word Of Truth!" (2 Timothy 2:15) ie:

God's Approval/TWO Different Gospels!

Distinctions In God's TWO Different Programs: Prophecy vs Mystery!

GRACE And Peace...

“God's Approval/TWO Different Gospels!”

“But though we, ( the apostles ) or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

it seems like there’s just the one

“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:14

 

[Nehemiah6]

do some refer to them as the sons of light ?

No. Those were the Essenes, a Jewish sect in the Judean desert. Their writings were found in Qumran. The desert fathers were Christian hermits.