Apostolic Fathers

1
Apostolic Fathers

• Writing within 1 or 2 generations of the Apostles
• Orthodox teaching Orthodoxy
• Holiness Orthopraxisright practice
• p57

2
Clement of Rome (88-97 c.e.)

• Fourth Bishop of Rome after Peter, Linus and
  Anacletus
• Describes the division of roles and
  responsibilities of Church Leadership
• Bishops are overseers of the Christian community
• Safeguard the integrity of the Christian message
• Preside at Eucharist

3
Clement of Rome cont.

• Elders
• Guides the spiritual growth of the community
• Proclaims the Good News.
• Deacons
• Tend to the temporal (physical needs of the
  community through the collection and distribution
  of tithes (gifts of money and resources)
• p56

4
St. Ignatius of Antioch(50-107)

• First to identify the Church as Catholic
• Stressed unity through the Bishop and
• Prayer, worship and Eucharist is the primary
  function of a community
• Problem solving comes after prayer and is
  secondary to prayer
• p29-30,35

5
The Apologists

• Early Church Leaders (Lay and Ordained) who were
• Defenders of the Faith
• p56

6
Justin Martyr
7
Justin Martyr (conversion 130 death 165)

• First True Christian philosopher/Apologist
• Stated that both Greek philosophers and Old
  Testament prophets had known Christ through logos
  (Word or Revelation)Even though their experience
  of Revelation was incomplete.
• He described the relationship between Father
  (transcendent God) and Christ (Incarnation of
  God)
• P53,57

8
Athenagoras
9
Athenagoras (c.170)

• He gave the first accurate description of the
  Blessed Trinity in his effort to continue to
  develop Justins theology of the relations
  between the Father and the Son.
• P73,81

10
Tertullian (north Africa b. 160)
11
Tertullian

• We must reject anything not explicitly Christian
• The Church is the rightful owner of Scripture
• We must honor the Apostolic line of Scripture
• P36,57

12
Clement of Alexandrab. 150
13
Clement of Alexandra

• Connects Christianity Greek philosophy
• Judaism and Greek philosophy point to same truths
  fully revealed by Christ
• Faith and reason are part of a single whole
• P57-58

14
Origen (b. 185 in Egypt)
15
Origen

• Nothing that disagrees with Apostolic tradition
  can be accepted as true
• Compares Platonic (Greek) philosophy to Christian
  theology
• Outlines our essential beliefs
• One God
• Jesus the Christ is Son of God fully divine/fully
  human

16
Origin cont.

• Outlines our essential beliefs
• One God
• Jesus the Christ is Son of God fully divine/fully
  human
• The Holy Spirit shares glory and divinity with
  the Father and Son
• There is a final judgment
• There is a final resurrection

17
Origin cont.

• Areas NOT defined by dogma or doctrine can be
  discussed
• He composed the Hexapla putting several
  translations of the Bible side by side in columns
• Scripture is to be interpreted in 3 levels
• Literal exactly as it is written
• Moral application to behavior
• Allegorical focus is on Spiritual understanding
• p58

18
Polycarp

• View Video
• P35-36

19
Early Church Fathers

• Four criteria for a Church Father
• Antiquity (they must be from the first
  centuries)
• Holiness (OrthopraxisRight behavior)
• Orthodoxy (right teachingin line with Apostolic
  teachings)
• Church Approval (Magisterium)

20
Irenaeus text(b.130 France)

• Defended against Gnostics (heretics)
• God is loving and created people good
• We have freedom to choose God (good) because we
  are created in the image of God
• God values our physical and spiritual being
• History and human progress is part of Gods plan
• p57

21
Heresies and the Early Church Fathers

• To be cont..