Apostolic Fathers of the Church
Links to Writings of the Fathers of the Church
Catholic Christians believe that the promise of the Spirit of Truth to guide believers in truth is found in the constant faith of the Church preserved in the writings of the Apostolic Fathers. The term "Apostolic Fathers" applies to certain disciples and successors of the twelve apostles. In a more restricted sense, the term is applied to a group of Greek-language writers who were among the martyrs and major figures of the 1st and 2nd centuries in the Christian Church.
Clement I, St. (Clement of Rome) (Bio)
Personal
4th Bishop of
Place and dates
r. 92 - 101
Writings
I Clement or Letter to the Corinthians (c. 96): earliest piece of literature outside the NT historically attested; addressed disputes in the Church at
II Clement (a sermon)(c. 140): Clementine authorship disputed
Ignatius of Antioch, St. (Bio)
Personal
Martyr for the faith
Disciple of John the Evangelist
Condemned to die by wild beasts in Rome
Brought from
Place and dates
d. 110
Writings
Letter to Ephesians
Letter to Magnesians
Letter to Tralles
Letter to Philadelphians
Letter to Smyrnans
Letter to Polycarp of Smryna
Letter to Romans
These contain warnings against heretical doctrines; contain detailed summaries of doctrines; and a picture of Church organization with bishops, presbyters (elders) and deacons
First to stress Virgin Birth and to use the term "catholic church"
Polycarp of Symrna, St. (Bio)
Personal
Received a visit and letter from Ignatius
Represented the
Dating of Easter
A teacher of Irenaeus
Knew John the Evangelist and other apostles
Was a disciple of John the Evangelist
Place and dates
69-155
Writings
Polycarp to the Philipians
Martyrdom of Polycarp (about him)
Unknown Author of the Didache
Personal
Unknown
Place and dates
(
Writings
Didache ("Teaching"):
A compendium of moral precepts, instructions on organization of church communities, liturgical worship and regulation.
It contains oldest Eucharistic prayer, directions on Baptism, fasting, prayer, treatment of bishops, deacons, prophets
Barnabas (Bio)
Personal
Surname of Joseph, a member of the early Christian church in
Companion of Paul
Did missionary work with Mark (Acts 15:39)
Place and dates
c. 130
Writings
Letter of Barnabas
Allegorical interpretation of the Old Testament
Papias of Hierapolis (Bio)
Personal
Contemporary of Polycarp
Knew of a collection of the "sayings of the Lord" to have been written in Aramaic or Hebrew by Matthew
Place and dates
(
Writings
Five Books of Exegeses of the Dominical Oracles:
Quoted by Irenaeus
Witness to the existence of Jewish Christianity
Hermas (Author Unknown)
Personal
Little known
Place and dates
(
Writings
Mandates
Similitudes
The Shepherd: a vivid description of early Christianity
Post-Apostolic Fathers of the Church
Paradosis or handing on or down of Divine Revelation is affirmed in Sacred Scripture. Hence, it must be found in some contiguous historical form from age to age. Catholic Christians believe that the promise of the Spirit of Truth to guide believers in truth is found in the constant faith of the Church as preserved in the writings of the Post-Apostolic Fathers.
The term "Post-Apostolic Fathers" is the name given by the Christian Church to the writers who established Christian doctrine before the 8th century. The writings of the Fathers or Patristic Literature synthesized Christian doctrine as found in the Bible, especially the gospels, the writings of the Apostolic Fathers, ecclesiastical dictums, and decisions of the Church councils.
Justin (Martyr), St. (Bio)
Personal
Philosopher, theologian, early apologist, martyr
Convert to Christianity
Place and dates
(
Writings
Apologies for the Christians: erudite defense of Christians against charges of atheism and sedition
Dialogue with Trypho the Jew: a record of an actual discussion at
Irenaeus, St. (Bio)
Personal
Heard the preaching of Polycarp the disciple of John the Evangelist
Appointed the bishop of
Place and dates
(
Writings
Against the Heresies: written against the Gnostics; contributed to the knowledge of Gnosticism
Clement of Alexandria (Bio)
Personal
Greek theologian
Converted from paganism
Ordained a presbyter
A teacher of Origen
Place and dates
(
Writings
Hortatory Address to the Greeks: a defense of the faith
The Tutor: instruction in manners and morals
The Miscellanies: a discussion of various points of doctrinal theology designed to guide the mature Christian to perfect knowledge
Tertullian (Bio)
Personal
Converted to Christianity between 190 and 195
Became a presbyter of the Church (197)
Zealous champion of Christianity
Profoundly influences later Church fathers
Embraced and became a leader of the Montanists (207?) a sect later declared heretical
Place and dates
(
Writings
Apologeticus (c. 197): his most famous work; a defense of Christians against pagan charges
On the Claims of Heretics: argues that the Church alone has the authority to declare what is and is not orthodox Christianity
On Baptism
On Prayer: throws light on contemporary religious practices
Origen (Bio)
Personal
A student of Clement
Ordained a presbyter
The most accomplished biblical scholar of the early Church
Father of the allegorical method of scripture interpretation
He developed the idea of Christ as Logos or Incarnate Word
Place and dates
(
Writings
Against Celsus: closely reasoned apologetic work refuting the arguments advanced by the Celsus, the first serious critic of Christianity
Cyprian, St. (Bio)
Personal
Convert to Christianity c. 245
Bishop of
One of the most authoritative Fathers of the Church
Involved in controversy over treatment of those who had left the Church, and those who were baptized by heretics: accepted the teaching of
Place and dates
(
Writings
On Unity of the Catholic Church: exposition of the hierarchical organization of the Church
Athanasius, St. (Bio)
Personal
Played a prominent role in the theological struggle in the Council of Nicea (325)
Opposed Arius (256-336) who maintained that the Son was of a different substance from that of the Father, and was merely a creature
Formulated the "homousian doctrine" that the Son of God is the same essence of substance of the Father
Became bishop of Alexandria (328)
Place and dates
(
Writings
Discourses Against the Arians
History of the Arians
Apology Against the Arians
On the Decrees of the Nicene Synod
Cyril of Jerusalem (Bio)
Personal
Bishop of Jerusalem in 351
Embroiled in controversy over episcopal duties
Place and dates
(
Writings
23 Treatises: addressed to catechumens and newly baptized; some treatises are doctrinal and present the creed of the Church; some are concerned with ritual and present a detailed account of Baptism, Eucharist and chrism
Basil, St. (Bio)
Personal
Brother of Gregory of Nyssa and a friend of Gregory of Nazianzus
Patriarch of Eastern monasticism
Wrote a rule of the monastic way of life
Founded the Basilian monks (360)
Bishop of Caesarea (370).
Place and dates
(Caesarea Mazaca) 329?-379
Writings
Against Eunomius: written against the Arian leader Eunomius
On the Holy Spirit: a doctrinal treatise
Moralia: an anthology of New Testament verses
Liturgy of St. Basil
Gregory of Nazianzus, St. (Bio)
Personal
Bishop of Sasima (371)
Took charge of the Nicene congregation of
Place and dates
(Nazianzus in Capadocia, now
Writings
Philokalia (Love of the Beautiful): an anthology of the writings of Origen
Gregory of Nyssa, St. (Bio)
Personal
Bishop of Milan (374)
Fame is chiefly as a theologian
Place and dates
(Neocaesarea, now in
Writings
Against Eunomius: a defense of the Nicene Creed
Great Catechetical Discourse: a defense of the Christian faith against Jews and pagans
On Faith: a treatise against the Arians
Ten Syllogisms: directed against the Apollinarists
Ambrose, St. (Bio)
Personal
Bishop of Milan (374)
Defended the churches of
Friend of Monica, mother of Augustine, and finally brought Augustine into the Church
Place and dates
(Tier, now in
Writings
On Faith: a Christian morals manual
On the Sacraments: an exegetical treatise
On the Holy Spirit: an exegetical treatise
Composed many hymns
Jerome, St. (Bio)
Personal
Biblical scholar
Ordained a priest in 386
Secretary to Pope Damasus I in 382
Confronted many heresies, especially Pelagianism
Place and dates
(Stridon, present day
Writings
The Vulgate: translated the Bible from Hebrew and Greek into Latin, 383-384, in
John Chrysostom, St. (Bio)
Personal
Ordained a priest in 386
Greatest orator of the early Church
Patriarch of Constantinople in 398
Place and dates
(
Writings
On the Priesthood
Homilies
Wrote commentaries, epistles, treatises, and liturgies
Augustine, St. (Bio)
Personal
Son of Monica (332?-387)
Born a pagan
Converted in 387 and baptized by Ambrose
Ordained a priest in 391
Bishop of Hippo (395)
Combated Manichean heresy (conflict of Good and Evil)
Martin Luther and John Calvin were close students of the works of Augustine
Place and dates
(
Writings
Confessions (c. 400): his autobiography
The City of God (413-426): great Christian apologia; a theological philosophy of history
Retractions (428): final verdict of earlier works
Epistles (386-429)
On Free Will (388-395)
On Christian Doctrine (397)
On Baptism: Against the Donatists (400)
On the Trinity (400-416)
On Nature and Grace (415)
Homilies
Cyril of Alexandria, St. (Bio)
Personal
Patriarch of
Leader of the Council of Ephesus, 431
Instrumental in condemning Nestorianism
Place and dates
(
Writings
Against Nestorius
Against Julian the Apostate
Prolific writer
Gregory I, St. ("The Great") (Bio)
Personal
Prefect of Rome in 570
Became a monk in 575
Elected pope (r. 590-604)
Enhanced prestige of the papacy
Upheld Rome's traditional claims of church primacy over the patriarch of Constantinople
Introduced liturgical reforms and Gregorian chant
Extensive pastoral activity.
Place and dates
(
Writings
Moralia: a commentary on the Book of Job
Pastoral Care: describes the ideal bishop; instruction on the practice and nature of preaching
Dialogues: legends of saints of his own time
John Damascene, St. (Bio)
Personal
Financial officer to Saracen caliph
Resigned in 700
Entered a monastery and ordained a priest
Opposed the Iconoclasts
Place and dates
(
Writings
Source of Knowledge: three part text of dogmatic theology in the early Greek church; contains a complete theological system based on the early Greek fathers and synods of 4th-7th centuries