To
get a little of the feel of the age, it is useful to know some
little more detail of these men:
a)
Clement of Rome
(Unknown
c.101)
Clement
was probably a Gentile and a Roman. He seems to have been at
Philippi with St. Paul (Phil 4:3). He became an elder or presbyter
in the church at Rome, possibly the leader 3rd after Peter.
It
is believed he wrote the letter referred to as 1
Clement, otherwise known as The Letter of the Romans
to the Corinthians, probably the earliest existing
Christian letter outside the New Testament, written
about AD 95 or 96.
This
letter was held in very high regard by the early Church and
was commented upon by Eusebius, a latter historian, who identified
him as a friend of Paul, and wrote as follows:
"There
is one acknowledged Epistle of this Clement, great and admirable,
which he wrote in the name of the Church of Rome to the Church
at Corinth, sedition having then arisen in the latter Church.
We are aware that this Epistle has been publicly read in very
many churches both in old times, and also in our own day."
It
was sent from Rome to Corinth, with some mediators from Rome,
to settle various upsets in the church in Corinth thus showing
the accepted superior position of the church in Rome by then,
and the practice of sending guidance, and means of settling
difficulties.
To
read a cut-down version of this letter CLICK
HERE
b)
Ignatius of Antioch
(?30
c.110)
With
Polycarp, he is thought to have been a disciple of John. He
later became bishop of Antioch in Syria
In
the persecution of Trajan he was condemned to death by lions
in the arena, possibly for atheism denial of the Roman gods!
(about 110 AD)
On
his way from Antioch to Rome, he was met by representatives
of some of the churches of Asia Minor and so wrote letters
to:
- those
churches to go back with them Ephesus, Magnesia (near Ephesus)
& Tralles,
- and
one ahead of him to Rome,
-
to two churches
he had recently visited Philadelphia and Smyrna,
- and
one to his friend Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna,
thus seven letters in all.
The
three main concerns that come through these letters appear to
be:
a)
the struggle against false teachers within the churches,
b)
the unity and structure of the churches, and
c)
his own impending death.
.
In
respect of the false teaching
- he
wrote against the Ebionites, who demanded the keeping of Jewish
regulations,
- and
the Docetists, who believed Christ only 'appeared' to be human.
Thus
from him we see that there were already struggles to hold to
the truth by the end of that century.
c)
Polycarp
(69 155)
With
Ignatius, thought to be a disciple of John. Later
became bishop of Smyrna, and teacher of Irenaeus (see below).
Martyred
at the age of eighty six, somewhere between 155 160.
The
account of his death by burning is given in the Martyrdom
of Polycarp, a letter from the church at Smyrna to the
church at Philomelium, the oldest written account
of Christian martyrdom outside the New Testament.
Wrote
to the Philippians in response to a letter from them, about
110 AD. In the letter he makes references from at least
13 New Testament books.
Irenaeus
tells us that "Polycarp was instructed by the apostles,
and was brought into contact with many who had seen Christ."
He
was thus a major link in the apostolic church
d)
Justin
Martyr
( c.100 c.165)
Justin
was a Gentile, born in Samaria about AD 100, and was martyred
in Rome about AD 165, by beheading.
Before
becoming a Christian (about 130 AD) he studied in schools of
philosophy which is certainly why he came as an evangelist,
so strongly against mere philosophic thought.
He
is considered the first Christian author,
the first Christian theologian (note
the earlier writers had purely written letters), and
therefore the first true Church Father
His
main works are:
-
The
First Apology of Justin (about
155 AD) to the emperor aimed to clear away prejudice
& misunderstanding about Christianity. Refuted the claims
that Christians were atheists and immoral. Argued that Christian
beliefs and practices actually reflect a higher reason and
morality.
-
The
Second Apology of Justin (161
AD) short work - protested against the
injustice of people being executed for no other reason than
they were Christians.
-
Dialogue
of Justin (or Dialogue with Trypho)
longest of his works apparently recounting an actual
encounter with Trypho years earlier. Trypho objected that
Christians broke Jewish law and worshipped a man. Justin
opposed this.
- Justin's
Hortatory Address to the Greeks
appealing to Greek philosophers & classical Greek myth.
-
Justin
on the Sole Government of God
a defence of God being the one true authority
e)
Irenaeus
( c.140
c.202)
Born
in Asia Minor, studied under Polycarp, lived in Rome for some
time, went
to Gaul and was a presbyter in the Greek speaking community
of Lyons in 177 AD.
Sent
to Rome during a persecution with a letter of the martyrs to
remonstrate against growing heresies,
returned and became bishop of Lyons where he worked and wrote
to counter the Gnostic heresies that were abounding
His
main work is Irenaeus Against Heresies which comprises
5 books
- Book
1 contains a minute description of the tenets of the various
heretical sects, with occasional brief remarks in illustration
of their absurdity, and in confirmation of the truth to which
they were opposed.
- Book
2 contains a more complete demolition of those heresies
which he has already explained, and argues at great length
against them, on grounds principally of reason.
- Books
3-5 contains the true doctrines as being completely against
the views held by the Gnostic teachers.
He
thus reveals to us the scope of the warfare of that time his
work being to counter those heresies.
.
f)
Clement of Alexandria
(c.150 c.215)
A
Greek probably born in Athens. As an adult, he sought out truth
from a number of teachers in Greece, Italy, Syria, Palestine,
and finally Alexandria.
There he sat under Pantaenus, who taught Christianity in light
of the scientific teachings of the day.
Eventually he set up his own school' about 180 AD.
There he taught a "new philosophy" that addressed
the cultural and philosophical concerns of the day.
His
three great works,
- The
Exhortation to the Heathen - was an introductory philosophical
work for the unbaptized, in which he attempted to show the
reasonableness of the Christian faith
- The
Instructor - he outlined the specific duties and ethics
taught by the "Instructor" (i.e., the Logos, or
Christ):
- The
Miscellanies - is a multi-coloured patchwork of teachings
in advanced philosophy, ethics, and disciplined instruction
for "Christian Gnostics" to lead them into knowledge
are among the
most valuable remains of Christian antiquity, and the largest
that belong to that early period.
Clement
sought to reach the literati of his day, and Gnosticism was
the rage. He sought to present the Christian faith in terms
these people could recognize.
In
that sense he was probably like a number of post-modern Christians
teachers today who seek to use the language and concepts of
today to communicate to those who are not Christians.
g)
Tertullian (160
220)
Born
in North Africa, possibly educated in Rome, became a Christian
about 195/7, said
to be the earliest and greatest of the church writers
of the West prior to Augustine.
Was
a powerful attacker of pagans, Jews, and heretics. He wrote
an immense amount and was the first major Christian author to
write in Latin.
In
his writings he:
- asserted
that Christians posed no threat to the empire and were loyal
citizens; therefore they should be tolerated,
- warned
that separation from pagan culture was necessary to avoid
moral and doctrinal corruption,
- insisted
that God, was loving and merciful in both the Old Testament
and New; Christ was God incarnate and the fulfilment of all
messianic prophecy, and the church alone carried on the legitimate
faith received from the apostles,
- disliked
infant baptism, believed the return of Christ was imminent,
and had little time for clergy, many of
whom he believed were too lenient about sexual immorality.
His
major books are
- the
Apology arguing that Christianity should be tolerated
by Rome
- Against
Marcion five books defending the use of the Old Testament
by the Christian church and the oneness of God as Creator
and Saviour.
- Against
Praxeas developed the doctrine of the Trinity
- Exclusion
of Heretics the Scriptures were to be used exclusively
by the church and not the Gnostics
- On
the Soul first Christian writing on psychology
- On
Baptism earliest surviving work about baptism (criticising
baptism of children)
So
sure was he that the Holy Spirit still spoke through believers
in prophecy, he ended his days among the Montanists (who he
joined about 207), a movement eventually condemned for exalting
the ecstatic utterances of its leaders over the church's authority,
having broken away from the church in 213.
h)
Origen of Alexandria
(c.185
c.254)
Born
of a Christian family in Alexandria, became
a teacher of new converts, then older students. Led
a very ascetic life, antagonising the bishop and so moved to
Caesarea in Palestine.
Is
considered the greatest scholar and most prolific
author of the early church
Wrestled
with the problem of philosophy versus theology
In
249 he was imprisoned in Tyre in the current persecution. Was
later released and died in 254, age 70, weakened by the injuries
previously received.
His
main works included:
- The
Hexapia, or Six-Columned Bible - considered to be
the greatest piece of biblical scholarship in the early church.
It
paralleled various different texts and translations of the
Old Testament
- First
Principles systematic fundamental Christian doctrine
- Exhortation
to Martyrdom challenges in the Christian life
- On
Prayer an exposition of the Lord's prayer
but there also many sermons, commentaries and letters
written by him.
i)
Cyprian (c.200
258)
Probably
born in Carthage, North Africa, about 200, martyred in Carthage
258. Became a Christian about 246, a pupil of Tertullian, and
within 2 years became bishop of Carthage.
An
orator-writer, not a philosopher or theologian.
When
persecution came in 250 he escaped into exile where he wrote
many letters to clergy and others in Rome and Carthage , maintaining
his role as bishop in exile.
About
251, following persecution and wanting to hold together those
who had lapsed under pressure and those who had stood, he wrote
The Unity of the Church
He
emphasised church leadership being local presbyters or elders,
(as against bishops who had become answerable to Rome) with
plenty of lay' involvement.
He
also wrote over seventy epistles and various other writings.
j)
Athanasius (c.296
373)
As
a deacon in the church at Alexandria he accompanied the bishop
to the Council of Nicaea in 325. He
himself became the bishop in 328
Because
of the emperor's involvement in the church and the upheavals
because of heresies, Athanasius was exiled 5 times!
His
writings were very significant in that they worked out the basic
doctrines and sought to counter the heresy of Arianism
His
main writings included:
- Against
the Gentiles -- On the Incarnation - a double treatise
in 318, affirming and explaining that Jesus was both God and
Man.
-
In his major theological opus, the
Three Discourses Against the Arians, Athanasius stressed
that the Father's begetting of the Son, or uttering of the
Word, was an eternal relationship between them, not an event
that took place within time. (Arius had been teaching that
there was a time when Jesus did not exist and that he had
been created by God)
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