Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers by Christopher A. Hall Book Review

Christopher Hall’s Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers is a fantastic introduction to how the early Church understood and interpreted the Bible. The book opens up the world of patristics—the study of the early Church Fathers—and helps readers learn how they approached hermeneutics (the theory and method of interpreting Scripture) and exegesis (the close, careful explanation of a biblical text in its original context).

Hall highlights several key Church Fathers and their unique approaches to reading Scripture:

Origen is known for his deep spiritual and allegorical interpretations. He believed that Scripture had multiple layers—literal, moral, and spiritual—and that mature believers should press beyond the surface to find deeper truths.
John Chrysostom emphasized the literal and historical meaning of Scripture, especially in his sermons. He believed that clarity in understanding God’s Word could lead to moral transformation in the listener’s life.
Augustine of Hippo (I actually have his biography!) blended both spiritual and literal readings. He believed love was the ultimate goal of biblical interpretation—any correct reading of Scripture should lead us to love God and our neighbor more.
Athanasius focused on how Scripture reveals Christ. He saw Jesus not only in the New Testament but foreshadowed all throughout the Old Testament, showing a Christ-centered view of interpretation.
Irenaeus emphasized the “rule of faith”—the core teachings passed down from the apostles—as the guide for proper interpretation. He fought against heresies by interpreting Scripture within the boundaries of orthodox Christian teaching.

One of the key themes Hall explores is the balance between literal interpretation and allegorical or analogical (spiritual) readings of Scripture. The Fathers didn’t see these approaches as competing but complementary. The literal sense provided the foundation—what the text meant historically and grammatically. But many Fathers believed that beneath the surface lay analogical meanings, pointing to Christ, the Church, or spiritual truths. For example, the Exodus wasn’t just a historical event—it also pointed to Christ delivering us from sin. Hall shows that while some Fathers (like Origen) leaned heavily into allegory, others (like Chrysostom) focused on the literal, yet all saw Scripture as a living Word, rich with depth and unity. Hall helped me understand that the Church Fathers didn’t read the Bible in isolation—they read it in community, with prayer, and with deep reverence.

Reading this book has made me excited to learn more about the Church Fathers, and also to dig deeper into Scripture using solid exegesis, faithful hermeneutics, and thoughtful homiletics (the art of preaching). I want to keep growing—not just in knowledge, but in wisdom and love—as I study how the early Church taught and preached God’s Word.