Who Were the Church Fathers? Part 2

Who Were the Church Fathers? Part 2

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 covered the Apostolic Fathers. (Click here to read it.) This second article will cover some of the most significant Apologists. (Subsequent articles will cover the other categories of church fathers.)

The Apologists:

the Apologists (A. D. 100-200) - they wanted to defend the faith (While there were many, the most significant were the following: Justin Martyr, Tatian, and Tertuallian.)
- Justin Martyr
  - Justin was born about A. D. 100 in a small town in Samaria.
  - He was likely a Gentile.
  - He had extensive knowledge of philosophy.
  - After he converted to Christianity, he became a Christian philosopher.
  - Justin wrote defending the faith and defending Christians. His writings also provide a second century account on worship services, baptism, and the Lord's Supper.
  - While in Rome, Justin had a public debate with Crescens, the philosopher. Shortly after (around A. D. 163), he was martyred by Marcus Aurelius.
  - Significant writing[s]: "Justin wrote apologies to the emperor Antoninus Pius and his adopted son, Marcus Aurelius, and a dialogue with Trypho the Jew" (Vos, Exploring Church History, 15).
    - Note: "Apologies" in this sense does not mean that he apologized for something. Instead, it means that he wrote an argument to defend the faith.
- Tatian
  - Tatian, who was one of Justin's converts, composed some powerful writings in defense of Christianity compared to paganism. Particularly, he argued for the toleration of Christianity.
  - After Justin was martyred, he went to Syria and founded a group called the Encratites. This group became known for intense ascetic practices.
  - Significant writing[s]: Address to the Greeks (argued for the toleration of Christianity); Diatessaron (the earliest harmony of the gospels)
- Tertullian
  - Tertullian was born in Carthage, North Africa, around A. D. 160.
  - Instead of becoming a lawyer, he became a Christian theologian and apologist.
  - Around A. D. 200, Tertullian was attracted by the strict spiritual discipline by Montantists. (Montanism is a debated prophetic movement from the early church. Some consider Montanism heresy. A subsequent article will cover the subject.)
  - Significant writing[s]: Apologeticus (he defended Christians to the Roman governor of Carthage)

Bibliography:

Ferguson, Sinclair B., David F. Wright, and J. I. Packer, eds. New Dictionary of Theology: A Concise and Authoritative Resource. Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 1988.
Vos, Howard F. Exploring Church History. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1994.