Who Were the Church Fathers? Part 1
The church fathers were significant Christian leaders and writers who lived during the first 400 years of the church. They are commonly broken into four categories. Here are the four categories of the church fathers that we will cover in four articles:
The Apostolic Fathers who wrote to build up the church.
The Apologists who wrote to defend the faith.
The Polemicists who wrote to attack error.
Scientific Theologians who wrote theological works.
This first article will cover some of the most significant Apostolic Fathers. (Subsequent articles will cover the other categories of church fathers.)
The Apostolic Fathers:
the Apostolic Fathers (A. D. 95-150) - they wanted to encourage and build up the church
Clement
Lead elder, or bishop, in the church of Rome while the apostle John was banished and writing Revelation.
Some early church writers claimed that he was the same Clement that Paul mentioned in Philippians 4:3.
writing[s]: 1 Clement; 2nd Clement was likely written much later and therefore not written by him
First Clement is edifying much like the letters in the New Testament (though it is not authoritative Scripture!).
Hermas
Hermas was a slave who was later freed. Afterwards, he married and became wealthy. However, sadly, due to persecution "he lost his property and suffered denunciation at the hands of his own children" (Vos, Exploring Church History, 11).
writing[s]: The Shepherd of Hermas
The Shepherd of Hermas is an allegory which has various elaborate visions. Some in the early church thought it was Scripture.
Ignatius
Bishop of Antioch
In A. D. 110, he was taken by the Romans and sentenced to martyrdom in the arena due to his Christian profession (Vos, Exploring Church History, Ibid.).
writing[s]: letters To the Ephesians, To the Magnesians, To the Trallians, To the Romans, To the Philadelphians, To the Smyrnaeans, and To Polycarp
These letters are edifying much like the letters in the New Testament (though they are not authoritative Scripture!).
Polycarp
Bishop of Smyrna (modern Izmir)
He was a disciple of the apostle John.
He wrote a letter to the Philippians (to whom Paul wrote).
He was martyred at the age of eighty-six years old.
writing[s]: The Letter of Polycarp to the Philippians; The Martyrdom of Polycarp was probably written by his church after his death
Polycarp's letter is edifying much like the letters in the New Testament (though it is not authoritative Scripture!).
Papias
Bishop of Hierapolis in Phrygia
Probably wrote in A. D. 125
He was a "hearer of John" the apostle (Vos, Exploring Church History, 12).
writing[s]: Interpretations of the Sayings (Oracles) of the Lord (only fragments of this writing remain)
Unknown
writing[s]: The Epistle of Barnabas
Likely written in North Africa, probably between A. D. 70 - 130
Significant amount of allegory in this letter which seeks to convey that Christians due not need to keep the law since the work of Christ is sufficient.
Unknown
writing[s]: Didache (a church manual)
A fascinating early church manual which was written sometime from the middle of the first century to the middle of the second century. It covers living the Christian life, baptism (which was to be performed by immersion if possible), the Lord's Supper, fasting, prayer, church leaders, and the second coming of Jesus.
Bibliography:
Holmes, Michael W. The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2007.
Vos, Howard F. Exploring Church History. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1994.