First Christian Voices: Practices of the Apostolic Fathers

Chapter 1 The Study of Scripture

Chapter Summary What does your study of Scripture look like? In this chapter, we will see that in the early centuries of Christianity the Apostolic Fathers placed a high value on “leaning into” the study of Scripture. For example, when Polycarp wrote to the church in Philippi, he captured this idea of leaning into study: When [Paul] was among you, he accurately and unwaveringly taught the word of truth in the presence of those who were then alive. When he was absent from you, he wrote you letters. If you carefully study them, you will find them to be the source for building you up in the faith that has been given you. Faith which is followed by hope and preceded by love toward God and Christ and our neighbor “is the mother of us all” (Polycarp To the Philippians 3).

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