Church Matters: Retrieving the Great Tradition

Session 1: The Apostolic Age, the Ancient Church, the Apologists, and the Great Tradition 15

A. Three Categories: Apostolic Fathers (AD 95-150), Apologists (AD 150-300), and the Theologians (AD 300-600).

The Apostolic Fathers are the earliest Christian writers outside of the NT, belonging to what is called the “sub-apostolic age.” Their writings bridge between the NT and the Apologists who wrote later in the second century, the most noteworthy being Justin Martyr. They help us to understand the transition from the apostolic church of the first century to the Catholic Church of the end of the second century, as described by Irenaeus.

~ Tony Lane. Harper’s Concise Book of Christian Faith . New York: Harper and Row, 1984, p. 13.

1. Clement of Rome: a letter written from the church at Rome in about AD 96 to Corinthian church: emphasis on the order in the church, orderly succession in the Christian ministry

2. Ignatius: bishop of Antioch at beginning of the 2nd century, taken to Rome for martyrdom: on his journey he wrote seven letters; presented the threefold pattern of ministry – one bishop in a church with presbyters and deacons; emphasis on the unity of the church

3. Shepard of Hermas: AD 150 by a freed slave, visions patterned after the Apocalypse: emphasis on repenting from sin and living a holy life

4. Polycarp: bishop of Smyrna, sat at the feet of John, met Irenaeus, who is arguably the most important figure of the late 2nd century: a moving account of his martyrdom in The Letter of the Smyrneans on the Martyrdom of Polycarp. “86 years I have been his servant and he has done me no wrong. How can I then blaspheme my king, who saved me?”

5. The Didache: also called Teaching of the Lord to the Gentiles through the Twelve Apostles ; represents the oldest surviving manual of church discipline.