Transcript Age of Catholic Christianity I 70

Age of Catholic Christianity I
70-312 AD
The Apostolic Fathers
Catholic?
Types of Church Fathers
1. Apostolic Fathers (c. 95-150)
2. Apologists (c. 140–200)
3. Polemicists (c. 180–225)
4. Scientific Theologians (c. 225–460)
The Apostolic Fathers
• Took over after the apostles in founding the
early church
• Most of their early lives are unknown as only
the Christian life was important to them
• Usually direct disciples of the apostles
• Stayed primarily in the locale in which they
grew as Christians
• Were godly men of good repute (1 Tim 3)
The Bishop?
• The early church bishop was different
from the modern concept of bishop
• No clear definition has lead to much
dispute
• In short they ran the local church in a
semi-authoritarian manner
Clement of Rome
Clement of Rome
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Little is known of his early life, but he was well
educated particularly in the Septuagint (Greek
Old Testament)
Became “the” or at least one of the bishop(s) of
Rome
Is considered the 4th pope in the Roman
Catholic Church
Wrote the nearly Canonical I Clement
Was probably martyred but the manner in
which it occurred is unclear
Clement of Rome
I Clement
– Cease rebelling
– Come under elders authority
– Exhortation to love, penitence and humility
– Apostolic succession
– Desire for unity in the church
– Talks of Peter and Paul's martyrdom
Clement of Rome
II Clement
– Was attributed to Clement, but later
discovered to come from a different source
– Scripture Quotations!
– Not modern bible teaching
Ignatius of Antioch
• Only seen at the end of his life
• Was one of the earliest if not the leader of
the church in Antioch
• Arrested and taken to Rome to be
martyred for Christ
• Wrote 7 letters while traveling to Rome
• Martyred c. 110AD
Ignatius of Antioch
His Seven Letters
• Ephesus
• Magnesia
• Tralles
• Romans
• Philadelphians
• Smyrneans
• To Polycarp
Ignatius of Antioch
Key Foci of His Writings
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Struggle against false teachers
His impending death
Unity/Structure of the church
Obedience to Bishops
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Ignatius caused great controversy because of the
pro-hierarchical views and the Episcopal supremacy
found in his letters
Polycarp
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Bishop of Smyrna
Disciple of John the Apostle
Wrote a letter to the Philippian Church
Was simple, loving, humble and pastoral
Martyred Feb. 22, c.155AD
Didache (The Teaching)
• “The Teaching of the Apostles”
• 2 Parts
– The “Two Ways” Life v. Death
– Manual of church order and practice
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Baptism
The Eucharist
Prayer
Discerning of False Teachers