APOSTOLIC FATHERS
Apostolic fathers are writers who lived at the turn of the 1st and 2nd centuries.
They were in direct or indirect contact with the apostles – through personal acquaintance or acquaintance with their disciples. Proximity of time and content, the form of the teaching preached are other criteria for inclusion in the group of Apostolic Fathers.
General characteristics:
– The writings are pastoral in nature; They resemble the writings of the New Testament – especially the apostolic letters; There is a characteristic eschatological feature; Theme of the Parousia – the second coming of Christ; Constant desire for Christ; The writings are dominated by instructions over doctrinal definitions; Christ is the eternal Son of God, true God and true man; Salvation is achieved through sacraments and martyrdom; One’s own moral effort and a life consistent with one’s faith are important.
Papias
Bishop of Hierapolis
Papias
Bishop of Hierapolis
(+1st half of the 2nd century)
Bishop of Hierapolis in Phrygia - Asia Minor. According to Irenaeus, he was a disciple of the apostle John and a companion of Polycarp of Smyrna. Around 130 he wrote LOGION KYRIAKON EKSEGESIS - Explanation of the Words of the Lord.
He used not only biblical sources, but also oral tradition from the apostolic disciples. The above information is very important because it confirms the existence of an oral tradition.
Two statements by Papias regarding the Gospels of Mark and Matthew are of great importance for biblical studies.
Irenaeus and Hipolit used his work.
Papias preached millenarianism.
Polycarp
Bishop of Smyrna
Polycarp
Bishop of Smyrna
(+155)
He was born around 70 into a wealthy Christian family. He was a disciple of John the apostle.
Around the year 100 he was appointed bishop of Smyrna by the apostle John.
Around 154 he went to Rome to discuss various church matters with Pope Anicetus (154-166), mainly determining the date of Easter, which in Rome was celebrated on the first Sunday after Nisan 14, in the East on exactly Nisan 14. No agreement was reached on this matter. During his stay in Rome, Polycarp converted many Marcionites and Valentinians.
After returning to Smyrna, 86-year-old Polycarp is arrested and sentenced to death by burning alive at the stake. The flames did not catch him. He was pierced with a dagger by one of his executioners. The year of martyrdom is discussed: the years 156, 167, 177 are proposed.
The description of the martyrdom was edited by eyewitnesses and sent in the form of a letter from the Smyrna Church to the commune in Philomellum in Phrygia, known as MARTYRIUM POLYCARPI. It is one of the oldest surviving documents regarding the martyrdom of one person.
Ignatius
Bishop of Antioch
Ignatius
Ignatius of Antioch
(+ok.107)
Bishop and martyr, mystic. He most likely came from a pagan environment where the traditions of Greek philosophy were alive. The above assumptions are indicated by the language and style of his letters.
Around the year 105, during the reign of Emperor Trajan (98-117), he was imprisoned with a group of fellow believers and sentenced to be torn to pieces by wild animals in an arena in Rome.
The travel route was by sea and land from Antioch through Asia Minor and Macedonia to the capital of the Empire - Rome.
The first longer stop was in Smyrna. He met with the bishop of the local community, Polycarp, and delegations sent by the Christian communities of Ephesus, Magnesia and Tralleis to show their love, affection and respect and to provide him with help.
In Smyrna he wrote 4 letters to the churches in Ephesus, Magnesia and Tralleis, which were taken away by their delegates. The fourth letter to the Romans contained an earnest request that no efforts be made to release him.
The second longer stop took place in Troad. Ignatius writes three more letters to the Philadelphians, the Smyrenians and Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna. Here he learns that the persecution in Antioch has ended and asks the addressees mentioned to send special delegations to Antioch with best wishes for the local Church.
From Troas by ship through Philippi and Thessalonica to Dyrrachium on the Adriatic Sea, then by ship to Brundysium and finally the famous Via Appia to Rome. He suffered the desired martyr's death, probably in the Flavian amphitheater - the Colosseum.
Clement of Rome
Bishop of Rome
Clement of Rome
Bishop of Rome, Martyr
(+101)
Bishop of Rome, third successor after Saint Peter, after Linus and Anacletus, disciple of the apostles. According to Irenaeus, Clement saw the blessed apostles and interacted with them. Origen and Eusebius identify him with Clement, a collaborator of Saint Paul - Philippians 4:3
Clement is the author of the Letter to the Corinthians. The reason for writing the letter was a dispute that arose in the Corinthian commune, as a result of which - as Clement himself puts it - several self-willed insolent people resigned from the office of priests. The admonitions are both official and fraternal. Clement demands obedience for his letter after the sanction of sin. The Roman Church responsible for the good of the entire Church. Clement writes not in his own name, but in the name of the Roman commune. Apostolic succession is divinely instituted. God sent Jesus Christ, who called the apostles, who in turn appointed the heads of the community - presbyters (a common term for bishops and deacons) and issued orders that worthy and experienced men would succeed them. Their authority comes not from the community, but - through apostolic succession - from God.
Information about Clement's martyrdom comes only from the end of the 4th century.
Apostolic Literature
Letter of Barnabas
Letter of Barnabas
(ok.130)
The Letter of Barnabas is a short apologetic and catechetical treatise in the form of a letter by an anonymous author, probably of Jewish origin, written in the Syrian-Palestinian environment. Clement of Alexandria and Origen attributed the authorship to Saint Paul's companion - Barnabas. Eusebius and Jerome classified it as apocryphal. The letter was a reaction to threats from Judaizers who called for keeping the commandments of the Mosaic Law. The author justifies the superiority of the Christian cult over the Jewish one.
Shepherd of Hermas
Shepherd of Hermas
(1st half of 2nd century)
The Shepherd (POIMEN) is a writing modeled on the Jewish apocalypses. Probably written in Rome between 130 and 150.
The author of the Shepherd, whose name appears many times in the first part of the work - according to the Canon of Muratori - the brother of Pope Pius I, whose pontificate fell on the years 140-155 Hermes, raised in a Christian family, was sold as a slave to a Roman matron named Rode. After receiving his freedom, he became a merchant and farmer. In this way he acquired considerable wealth. He had a quarrelsome wife, prone to talkativeness, and children. Preoccupied with business, he neglected the upbringing of his children, who had gone astray. During the persecution, the children denied their faith and denounced their parents. This led to the confiscation of much of the property. Under the influence of these painful experiences, Hermes became a devout Christian. Then God commissioned him to preach repentance.
Origen, Eusebius and Jerome wrongly identified the author of the Shepherd with Hermas, mentioned by Saint Paul in the Letter to the Romans (Rom 16:14).
In Christian antiquity, the shepherd enjoyed great authority and popularity.
Irenaeus, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, and Origen included it among the canonical books.
Jerome reported that they read the Shepherd publicly in some churches in Greece, while it is unknown in the Latin world.
Until the 4th century, the Shepherd was the basis of teaching catechumens in Egypt.
This work was quoted by:
- Kommodian
- Athanasius the Great
- Cyril of Jerusalem
- Dydym the Blind
- Roof z Akwilei
- Jerome
- Prosper of Aquitaine
- Jan Kasjan
- The Venerable Bede
From the 4th century, it was increasingly classified as apocryphal and lost its importance.
Didache
Didache
The Didache is a collection of:
- moral precepts
- prayers
- liturgical regulations
- organizational regulations of the first Christian communities
The name Didache (from Greek - learning, teaching) is the first word of the title of the work, which reads in full: Didache tu Kyriu dia ton dodeka apostolon tois ethnesis - The teaching of the Lord to the Gentiles transmitted by the twelve apostles.
The date of creation of this small work is the subject of numerous discussions.
The lack of stylistic uniformity of the Didache indicates that it is a compilation of several earlier writings.
The Didache became the prototype:
- Apostolic Constitutions
- Apostolic canons
- Apostolic Didascales
In ancient times, it enjoyed such great authority that many writers included it among inspired books (Clement of Alexandria).
In the 4th century it began to be placed among the apocrypha (Athanasius the Great, Rufinus of Aquileia).
Nowadays, it is an invaluable source for:
- history of the liturgy
- Church history
- Church legislation