Defenders of the Faith

Dr Matthew Knell is the lecturer in historical theology and church history at the London School of Theology, writing and teaching on the history of Christian thought from the Church Fathers to the modern day with a special focus on the medieval period. Prior to this he was a missionary for six years in Belarus and Austria, and also worked as an intercultural consultant.

• CONTENTSAcknowledgments 8Introduction 10Chapter 1Defence against Cultural Attack:Irenaeus of Lyon 16Chapter 2Defence against Theological Attack:Basil of Caesarea 46Chapter 3aDefence against Political Attack:The Church in China 77Chapter 3bThe Church in China:Considerations from Within the Context 99Conclusion 122Epilogue 132Further Reading 156Picture Acknowledgments 158

“With a keen eye for detail, a passion for truth, and a desire to probe into the valuable lessons we can learn from the past, Matthew Knell has given the church a wonderful resource in Defenders of the Faith. He pushes us to ask tough questions and to reflect deeply on what it means to be committed to living faithfully for Christ today as we stand in the shadows of those who have gone before us. There is more to this book than history, however. As all good historians do, Matthew challenges our assumptions of today by teaching us to think deeply about yesterday. If we will heed its lessons and follow its trajectory, Defenders of the Faith will help us to remain faithful while helping us avoid the pitfalls of the past that present themselves today in new guises, but with the same dangers as they have always held.”