History of Christianity - Lesson 5

History of Christianity - Lesson 5

Don Noenoehitoe

1. What is "patristics"?

Patristics or Patrology is the study of Early Christian writers, known as the Church Fathers. The names derive from the combined form of Latin pater and Greek patḗr (father). The period is generally considered to run from the end of New Testament times or end of the Apostolic Age (c. AD 100) to either AD 451 (the date of the Council of Chalcedon) or to the 8th century Second Council of Nicaea.

Patristics is the specialist area concerned with the lives and works of these men, i.e.  prominent early Church Fathers, are Justin Martyr, Irenaeus of Lyons, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Origen, Cyprian of Carthage, Athanasius, Gregory of Nazianzus, Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nyssa, Theodore of Mopsuestia, Augustine of Hippo, Pelagius, Vincent of Lérins, Cyril of Alexandria, and Nestorius.

2. What was the significance of the title "father of the church" and who usually received that kind of title? Who were the "apostolic fathers"?

The Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers, Christian Fathers, or Fathers of the Church were early and influential theologians, eminent Christian teachers and great bishops. Their scholarly works were used as a precedent for centuries to come.  The accolade of "church father" began with the use of the title "father" to offer loving loyalty to someone. The recipients of this title were bishops, and this usually occurred in the Western church.
From the 3rd century A.D., this title was used for the orthodox giants of the Christian church and teachers of the faith - bishops were usually the ones who were such labeled in this manner.  With fair certainty, the New Testament was completed before the end of the 1st century A.D. The men who were the disciples of the Apostles and who knew the Apostles' doctrine continued to write Christian literature. They were the apostolic fathers, and their writings were written between A.D. 95 and A.D. 150.

- The Apostolic Fathers: Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, and Polycarp of Syrna.
- The Greek Fathers: Irenaeus of Lyons, Clement of Alexandria, Origen of Alexandria, Athanasius of Alexandria, Cappadocian Fathers, John Chrysostom, Cyril of Alexandria, Maximus the Confessor and John of Damascus.
- The Latin Fathers: Tertullian, Cyprian of Carthage, Hilary of Poitiers, Ambrose of Milan, Jerome of Stridonium, Augustine of Hippo, Gregory the Great
and Isidore of Seville.
- Other Fathers: Ephrem the Syrian and Isaac of Nineveh, Egypt monastics' Anthony the Great and Pachomius,

3. How do the writings of the apostolic fathers help us in understanding the teachings and practices of the early Christian church?

The writings of the apostolic fathers were unique. They wrote simple statements of true faith and piety. They did not have the philosophical training in Pagan philosophy that is seen later in Origen and Clement of Alexandria. They held in high regard the Old Testament and used it to under-gird their ideas.
There was a heavy use of typology. For them, Christianity was the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies and types. Christianity and Judaism were separate. Doctrine, moral philosophy, and obedience to church leaders were essential. They knew the literary genres of the New Testament and used them as molds for their own works. The most important emphasis in their writings was pastoral implications and practicality.
The writings of the Apostolic Fathers convey the authority of the Bishops in regard to pertinent and fundamental religious, social and political issues of the early Christian Churches.