Apostolic Fathers/Ante Nicene Fathers

The Apostolic Fathers were early Christians who either knew the Apostles personally or were closely connected to them. They're a smaller group within the wider group called the Ante-Nicene Fathers, who lived before the Council of Nicaea in AD 325.

The Apostolic Fathers were in the immediate and closely succeeding couple of generations following the Apostles, whose writings were from about from 80-180 AD. They lived in the first and second centuries after Christ. The Apostles were the original 11 of the 12 Disciples (learners, students) of Jesus plus Matthias who replaced Judas when he betrayed Jesus. They became the Apostles (sent out ones, missionaries) roughly upon Jesus’ death and resurrection.

The Apostolic Fathers sometimes personally knew the Apostles or were connected to them in some close way.

The Ante Nicene Fathers lived in the few succeeding generations up to the Council of Nicea in AD 325.

The two main heresies that threatened the early church were gnosticism and docetism. These two heresies were major themes of the Apostolic Fathers.

(To this point: https://www.gotquestions.org/Apostolic-Fathers.html)

Gnosticism: “Christian Gnosticism refers to the amalgamation of certain Christian terminology and narratives with ‘gnosis,’ a Greek word signifying ‘knowledge.’ This special ‘knowledge’ was claimed to be the key to salvation or spiritual enlightenment. Adherents of Christian Gnosticism typically combined biblical names and themes with speculative systems that taught the physical world was evil and that only a secret, inner revelation could lead to union with the divine. This system stood in contrast to the biblical teaching of redemption through the literal death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the biblical assertion that God’s creation is fundamentally good (Genesis 1:31).” (https://biblehub.com/q/what_defines_christian_gnosticism.htm)

Some verses refuting Gnosticism: Colossians 2:8; 1 John 4:2; 1 Timothy 6:20-21; 1 Corinthians 2:6-8

Docetism: “Docetism was an error with several variations concerning the nature of Christ. Generally, it taught that Jesus only appeared to have a body – that he was not incarnate (Greek, ‘dokeo’ = ‘to seem’). This error developed out of the dualistic philosophy, which viewed matter as inherently evil–that God could not be associated with matter and that God, being perfect and infinite, could not suffer. Therefore, God as the word, could not have become flesh per John 1:1, 14, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God; and the Word was God . . . And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us . . . ” This denial of a true incarnation meant that Jesus did not truly suffer on the cross and that He did not rise from the dead. This denies the sufficiency of the atoning sacrifice of Christ, and it violates the essential doctrine of the physical resurrection of Jesus (1 Cor. 15:14, 17). So, docetism is a serious heresy that invalidates the truth of gospel and the person of Jesus.” (https://carm.org/carm/docetism/)

Some verses refuting docetism: 1 John 4:2-3; 2 John 7; Jesus’s genealogies in Matthew 1:1-16 (Joseph, HIs step-father’s) & Luke 3:23-38 (Mary’s); Hebrews 2:14-17

Here is a sampling of the Apostolic Fathers/Ante Nicene Fathers’ writings from Andrew, one of our contributors:

Justin Martyr (c. AD 150)

Connection: Early Christian apologist; debated Jews and Romans; martyred in Rome c. AD 165, hence his last name

Quotes:

• "Christ is called both God and Lord of hosts ..." - Dialogue with Trypho, Chp. 61

• "We worship Him ... the Son of the true God Himself." - First Apology, Chp. 63

Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180)

Connection: Disciple of Polycarp, who was taught by the Apostle John

Quotes:

• "Christ Himself, therefore, together with the Father, is the God of the living ..." - Against Heresies 4.6.6

• "The Father is God, and the Son is God. For whatever is begotten of God is God." - Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching, §47

Theophilus of Antioch (c. AD 180)

Connection: Bishop of Antioch, successor to the apostolic line of Roman Catholic tradition

Quote: "The Word is the Son of God... God from God, the first-born of all creation." - To Autolycus, Book 2, Chp. 22

Clement of Alexandria (c. AD 195)

Connection: Early Christian teacher; passed apostolic tradition to Origen

Quotes:

• "Learn to know the One God... the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." - Exhortation to the Greeks, Chp. 1

• "We acknowledge... one Godhead." - Stromata, Book 5, Chp. 14

Tertullian of Carthage (c. AD 197-220)

Connection: Father of Latin Christianity; developed early trinitarian theology

Quotes:

• "The Son is God and the Father is God ... each is God." - Against Praxeas, Chp. 27

• "We believe... He is God." - Apology, Chp. 21

• "The Son of God is not without Godhead." - Apology, Chp. 23

Melito of Sardis (c. AD 170)

Connection: Bishop in Asia Minor linked to the Apostle John

Quotes:

• "He who hung the earth in space was Himself hanged... God has been murdered." - On the Pascha

• "Being God and likewise perfect man, He suffered for us." - On the Pascha

A BIG THANK YOU to Andrew who, having read most if not all of the apostolic fathers, sent me the material with which to create this blog.