Age of Catholic Christianity I Age of Catholic Christianity I 70-312 AD70-312 AD

Age of Catholic Christianity I Age of Catholic Christianity I 70-312 AD70-312 AD

The Apostolic FathersThe Apostolic FathersThe Apostolic FathersThe Apostolic Fathers

Catholic?Catholic?

Types of Church FathersTypes of Church FathersTypes of Church FathersTypes of Church Fathers

1.1. Apostolic Fathers (c. 95-150)Apostolic Fathers (c. 95-150)

2.2. Apologists (c. 140–200) Apologists (c. 140–200)

3.3. Polemicists (c. 180–225)Polemicists (c. 180–225)

4.4. Scientific Theologians (c. 225–460)Scientific Theologians (c. 225–460)

1.1. Apostolic Fathers (c. 95-150)Apostolic Fathers (c. 95-150)

2.2. Apologists (c. 140–200) Apologists (c. 140–200)

3.3. Polemicists (c. 180–225)Polemicists (c. 180–225)

4.4. Scientific Theologians (c. 225–460)Scientific Theologians (c. 225–460)

The Apostolic FathersThe Apostolic Fathers

• Took over after the apostles in founding the Took over after the apostles in founding the early churchearly church

• Most of their early lives are unknown as only Most of their early lives are unknown as only the Christian life was important to themthe Christian life was important to them

• Usually direct disciples of the apostlesUsually direct disciples of the apostles

• Stayed primarily in the locale in which they Stayed primarily in the locale in which they grew as Christiansgrew as Christians

• Were godly men of good repute (1 Tim 3)Were godly men of good repute (1 Tim 3)

The Bishop?The Bishop?

• The early church bishop was different The early church bishop was different from the modern concept of bishopfrom the modern concept of bishop

• No clear definition has lead to much No clear definition has lead to much disputedispute

• In short they ran the local church in a In short they ran the local church in a semi-authoritarian mannersemi-authoritarian manner

Clement of RomeClement of Rome

Clement of RomeClement of RomeClement of RomeClement of Rome• Little is known of his early life, but he was well Little is known of his early life, but he was well

educated particularly in the Septuagint (Greek educated particularly in the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament)Old Testament)

• Became “the” or at least one of the bishop(s) of Became “the” or at least one of the bishop(s) of RomeRome

• Is considered the 4Is considered the 4thth pope in the Roman pope in the Roman Catholic ChurchCatholic Church

• Wrote the nearly Canonical I ClementWrote the nearly Canonical I Clement• Was probably martyred but the manner in Was probably martyred but the manner in

which it occurred is unclearwhich it occurred is unclear

• Little is known of his early life, but he was well Little is known of his early life, but he was well educated particularly in the Septuagint (Greek educated particularly in the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament)Old Testament)

• Became “the” or at least one of the bishop(s) of Became “the” or at least one of the bishop(s) of RomeRome

• Is considered the 4Is considered the 4thth pope in the Roman pope in the Roman Catholic ChurchCatholic Church

• Wrote the nearly Canonical I ClementWrote the nearly Canonical I Clement• Was probably martyred but the manner in Was probably martyred but the manner in

which it occurred is unclearwhich it occurred is unclear

Clement of RomeClement of RomeClement of RomeClement of Rome

I ClementI Clement

– Cease rebellingCease rebelling

– Come under elders authorityCome under elders authority

– Exhortation to love, penitence and humilityExhortation to love, penitence and humility

– Apostolic successionApostolic succession

– Desire for unity in the churchDesire for unity in the church

– Talks of Peter and Paul's martyrdomTalks of Peter and Paul's martyrdom

I ClementI Clement

– Cease rebellingCease rebelling

– Come under elders authorityCome under elders authority

– Exhortation to love, penitence and humilityExhortation to love, penitence and humility

– Apostolic successionApostolic succession

– Desire for unity in the churchDesire for unity in the church

– Talks of Peter and Paul's martyrdomTalks of Peter and Paul's martyrdom

Clement of RomeClement of Rome

II ClementII Clement

– Was attributed to Clement, but later Was attributed to Clement, but later discovered to come from a different sourcediscovered to come from a different source

– Scripture Quotations!Scripture Quotations!

– Not modern bible teachingNot modern bible teaching

II ClementII Clement

– Was attributed to Clement, but later Was attributed to Clement, but later discovered to come from a different sourcediscovered to come from a different source

– Scripture Quotations!Scripture Quotations!

– Not modern bible teachingNot modern bible teaching

Ignatius of AntiochIgnatius of AntiochIgnatius of AntiochIgnatius of Antioch• Only seen at the end of his lifeOnly seen at the end of his life

• Was one of the earliest if not the leader of Was one of the earliest if not the leader of the church in Antiochthe church in Antioch

• Arrested and taken to Rome to be Arrested and taken to Rome to be martyred for Christmartyred for Christ

• Wrote 7 letters while traveling to RomeWrote 7 letters while traveling to Rome

• Martyred c. 110AD Martyred c. 110AD

• Only seen at the end of his lifeOnly seen at the end of his life

• Was one of the earliest if not the leader of Was one of the earliest if not the leader of the church in Antiochthe church in Antioch

• Arrested and taken to Rome to be Arrested and taken to Rome to be martyred for Christmartyred for Christ

• Wrote 7 letters while traveling to RomeWrote 7 letters while traveling to Rome

• Martyred c. 110AD Martyred c. 110AD

Ignatius of AntiochIgnatius of Antioch• EphesusEphesus

• MagnesiaMagnesia

• TrallesTralles

• RomansRomans

• PhiladelphiansPhiladelphians

• SmyrneansSmyrneans

• To PolycarpTo Polycarp

• EphesusEphesus

• MagnesiaMagnesia

• TrallesTralles

• RomansRomans

• PhiladelphiansPhiladelphians

• SmyrneansSmyrneans

• To PolycarpTo Polycarp

His Seven LettersHis Seven LettersHis Seven LettersHis Seven Letters

Ignatius of AntiochIgnatius of Antioch

• Struggle against false teachersStruggle against false teachers• His impending deathHis impending death• Unity/Structure of the churchUnity/Structure of the church• Obedience to BishopsObedience to Bishops

– Ignatius caused great controversy because of the Ignatius caused great controversy because of the pro-hierarchical views and the Episcopal supremacy pro-hierarchical views and the Episcopal supremacy found in his lettersfound in his letters

• Struggle against false teachersStruggle against false teachers• His impending deathHis impending death• Unity/Structure of the churchUnity/Structure of the church• Obedience to BishopsObedience to Bishops

– Ignatius caused great controversy because of the Ignatius caused great controversy because of the pro-hierarchical views and the Episcopal supremacy pro-hierarchical views and the Episcopal supremacy found in his lettersfound in his letters

Key Foci of His WritingsKey Foci of His WritingsKey Foci of His WritingsKey Foci of His Writings

PolycarpPolycarpPolycarpPolycarp

• Bishop of SmyrnaBishop of Smyrna

• Disciple of John the ApostleDisciple of John the Apostle

• Wrote a letter to the Philippian ChurchWrote a letter to the Philippian Church

• Was simple, loving, humble and pastoralWas simple, loving, humble and pastoral

• Martyred Feb. 22, c.155ADMartyred Feb. 22, c.155AD

• Bishop of SmyrnaBishop of Smyrna

• Disciple of John the ApostleDisciple of John the Apostle

• Wrote a letter to the Philippian ChurchWrote a letter to the Philippian Church

• Was simple, loving, humble and pastoralWas simple, loving, humble and pastoral

• Martyred Feb. 22, c.155ADMartyred Feb. 22, c.155AD

Didache (The Teaching)Didache (The Teaching)• ““The Teaching of the Apostles”The Teaching of the Apostles”

• 2 Parts2 Parts– The “Two Ways” Life v. DeathThe “Two Ways” Life v. Death– Manual of church order and practiceManual of church order and practice

• BaptismBaptism

• The EucharistThe Eucharist

• PrayerPrayer

• Discerning of False TeachersDiscerning of False Teachers

• ““The Teaching of the Apostles”The Teaching of the Apostles”

• 2 Parts2 Parts– The “Two Ways” Life v. DeathThe “Two Ways” Life v. Death– Manual of church order and practiceManual of church order and practice

• BaptismBaptism

• The EucharistThe Eucharist

• PrayerPrayer

• Discerning of False TeachersDiscerning of False Teachers