Christians Reading Classics

Christians Reading Classics, Nadya Williams. Zondervan Academic (ISBN: 9780310171072) 2025.

Summary: A reading guide to the Greek and Latin classics and why Christians should read them and how they may benefit.

There has been a renewed interest in the Greek and Roman classics, fueled in part by Great Books programs, homeschoolers, and private classical education. The recent Christopher Nolan rendering of Homer’s Odyssey, and the associated sales of The Odyssey in translation have further fueled that interest. It seems that there is an awakening to a cultural heritage of which many of us are ignorant.

But why should Christians read these works, written by writers who were mostly nonbelievers? And if we choose to do so, what benefit may we hope for? Furthermore, is there a guide Christians might use to selecting, reading, and reflecting upon these works? Nadya Williams’ Christians Reading Classics is that guide. And she offers good reasons for why we might read and benefit from such reading.

Here are three that Williams proposes.. Firstly, reading these texts will enhance our joy in scripture. As we see the challenging questions these writers beautifully address, we come to appreciate the ways scripture address those deep questions. Secondly, when we read these texts we understand the world of thought and art of the first Christians. And thirdly, many of these texts were used in character formation, and we may benefit, enrich by the gospel and the Spirit.

Williams organizes the book more or less chronologically into five parts. “Longing for Eternity” considers that longing in the works of Homer, Hesiod, the Odes of Pindar, and in historians like Herodotus and Thucydides. “The Formation of Virtuous Citizens” explores the ever present tension between the individual and the state. Williams reflects on how this parallels our striving for autonomy versus trusting God. She introduces us to Aeschylus, Sophocles, Aristophanes, Euripedes, Plato and Aristotle.

“Words of Power and Power of Words” develop the classical focus on training in rhetoric, used for everything from manuals to politics, as well as the love poets. We meet Cicero, Caesar, and Ovid, among others. Then Williams turn to “Heroes and Role Models.” She introduces us to Cato, Livy, Vergil, Tacitus, Suetonius, and Petrarch. Finally, “Virtues and Vices in the Age of Anxiety” consider those writing in the wake of Rome’s decline and fall. Here we encounter not only Marcus Aurelius and Apuleius, but also the response of Christians including Augustine, Prudentius, and Boethius.

Throughout, Williams offers background, synopses of books and reflections on themes. At the conclusion of each chapter, she offers brief reflections her perspective as a Christian on the particular classic works. Each chapter concludes with recommended translations and several reflection questions.

While scholarly, Williams relates topics to contemporary life and sometimes with a bit of tongue in cheek, as in this description of Ovid, the love poet:

“While reading these poems, we can imagine Ovid as an immature emo youth of a very modern sort who lives in his parent’s basement, mooched meals and snacks off them, plays the dating scene, and refuses to get a job, all while he tries to catch a break in his writing career.”

She also describes her husband as an example of a successful courtship letter, an example of rhetoric well-used!

She concludes with comments on the joys of re-reading, with the hope that these works become friends. But what she also does is introduce many to our first readings in the classics. Finally, she suggests that as we do so and make these works our friends, we, like C.S. Lewis may be “surprised by joy.”