Abbott, Rev. Edwin A. [Silanus the Christian.] *$2.60. Macmillan.
7–25561.
Dr. Abbott addresses himself to readers who are not ready to accept the miraculous element in the New Testament and who at the same time do not reject the doctrine of Christ’s divinity. He shows that the belief is not rendered impossible by the disbelief. The book is in the form of an autobiography of an educated Roman. “The gist of its teaching—and it is solely intended to teach—is summed up in the words of Clemens. It has been said, he tells Silanus, that the religion of the Christians is a person—and nothing more. ‘I should prefer to say the same thing differently. Our religion in a person—and nothing less.’” (Spec.)
“Dr. Abbott’s writing is itself interesting on account of the literary skill with which he presents innumerable points of exposition and criticism, and on account, too, of the beauty and strength of many of its passages.”
| + − | Ath. 1906, 2: 766. D. 15. 1040w. |
“While the book aims to be popular, the author’s wide knowledge and competent scholarship lift his efforts entirely above the level of the usual endeavor to teach Biblical and Christian history by means of fiction.”
| + | Ind. 63: 575. S. 5, ’07. 210w. |
“The book is interesting; it is ably written; it is in parts striking; and yet one feels that somehow it misses effect as a whole. And we think that the reason is obvious. Dr. Abbott in writing it had two diverse ends in view and each interfered with the other.”
| − + | Lond. Times. 6: 25. Ja. 25, ’07. 740w. | |
| + | Nation. 84: 180. F. 21, ’07. 560w. | |
| Outlook. 84: 633. N. 10, ’06. 180w. |