Transcript Ante-Nicene Leaders & Literature - NOBTS

Ante-Nicene
Leaders
& Literature
Apostolic
Fathers
Apostolic Fathers
• “Apostolic Father”: One who had come
into contact with apostles
• Characteristics of their writings:
Devotional and edificatory
Some were considered inspired
Informal: letters, stories, allegories
Reflect a Hebraic way of thought
Septuagint is primary scriptural authority
Church is healthy and relatively free of corruption
Didache, or
Teaching of the Twelve Apostles
• No connection to the 12 Apostles
• Originated in Syria @70; current document
redacted @120
• Manual of moral instruction and church order
• Opens with discourse on “Two Ways,” which
functioned as catechesis
• Sections on baptism, fasting and prayer, the
“Eucharist,” and apostles and prophets
1 Clement
• 1 Clement – Epistle to the Corinthians written by
Clement, 3rd bishop of Rome @96
• Written to correct dissensions;
used illustrations from OT and
the martyrdoms of Peter & Paul;
pleaded for unity and discipline
• In 170, 1 Clement was read in Corinthian
churches alongside Scriptures
2 Clement
• Incorrectly attributed to Clement; not an
epistle
• Homily – earliest extant Christian sermon
• Probably originated in Corinth and
attached to 1 Clement in transcription
• Discusses Christian’s moral combat
Ignatius of Antioch
(c. 35-107)
Theophóros
“bearer of God”
Theóphoros
“borne by God”
Matt. 18:2-4
Ignatius of Antioch
• Other speculation suggests
that he was a pagan
persecutor of Christians
before he was converted
• He was the 2nd bishop of
Antioch
Ignatius of Antioch
• Ignatius was arrested in Antioch under Trajan’s
policy (possibly betrayed, possibly volunteered)
• He was transported to Rome for execution
• En route, he wrote seven letters: five to
churches in Asia Minor; one to Rome; and one to
Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna
• These letters were highly esteemed and widely
quoted in the early church
• He probably died in the colosseum in Rome
Ignatius of Antioch
• Discussed church organization in Antioch at
turn of the second century
• Stressed obedience to the bishop, who was
safeguard of Christian unity against
heretics, especially Judaizers and Docetics
• “Do nothing without the bishop” – baptism,
Eucharist, marriage
• Early sacramentalism in baptism &
Eucharist
Polycarp of Smyrna (c. 70-156)
• According to Irenaeus, Polycarp may have studied under
John the Apostle
• He was a link between the apostolic age and the 2ndcentury apologists
• Epistle to Philippians – probably two letters
• Chapters 13-14: cover letter with collection of Ignatian
letters (c. 110)
• Chapters 1-12: written 20 years later to
denounce Marcion (c. 130)
• Composed almost entirely of direct and
indirect references to Scripture
Epistle of Barnabas
• Pseudonymous letter; probably originated
in Alexandria
• Hostile to Judaism
• Insists that Christians, not Jews, are the
true people of God
• Also includes discourse about the “Two
Ways”
Shepherd of Hermas
• Apocalypse with series of revelations given to
the author, first by old woman, second by an
angel disguised as shepherd
• Also religious allegory
• Purpose: to preach repentance; to teach that a
Christian who commits serious sin after baptism
has only one chance to be restored
through penitence
• Hermas was brother of Pius,
bishop of Rome c. 140-150.
Papias (c. 60-130)
• According to Irenaeus, Papias was a companion
of Polycarp and John (Apostle or Elder)
• He wrote “Expositions of the Oracles of the Lord”
• Only quotations in Irenaeus & Eusebius survive
• Papias: Mark became interpreter of Peter and
set down everything he remembered of the
words and actions of the Lord
• Matthew composed “the oracles” in Hebrew, and
everyone translated them as best he could
Second Century
Apologists & Polemicists
Justin Martyr (c. 100-165)
• Born to pagan parents in Samaria
• Searched through philosophies –
Stoicism, Aristotelianism, Platonism –
before becoming a Christian
• Established school in Rome
• Foremost apologist of his day: Apology 1 & 2;
Dialogue with Trypho
• Addressed his apologetic writings to emperor &
senate
Justin Martyr
• 1st Apology: refutes accusations raised
against Christians; presents and justifies
Christianity; describes worship, baptism,
Eucharist
• 2nd Apology: shorter postscript to first
• Dialogue with Trypho: records Justin’s twoday conversation with a learned Jew; sole
example of an apology directed at Jews to
present Jesus as fulfillment of Law
Justin Martyr
• First Christian thinker to seek reconciliation
between faith & reason
• Claimed that traces of truth were found in
pagan philosophies, although only
Christianity contained the truly rational creed
• Utilized Greek concept of Logos to bridge the
gap: the reason why Logos became incarnate
was to teach humanity truth and to redeem
humans from Satan’s power
Tatian
• Student of Justin Martyr, Apologist
• Address to the Greeks denounced
Greek philosophy; praised primitive
roots of Christianity
• Diatessaron: compilation of four Gospels
• After Justin’s martyrdom, Tatian returned to
Syria and founded a Gnostic sect, the
Encratites, who were extremely ascetic
Athenagoras (2nd century)
• Philosopher & apologist of Athens
• Supplication for the Christians: rebuts
charges of atheism, orgies, & incest
• On the Resurrection
• First to elaborate a philosophical
defense of doctrine of Trinity
Irenaeus (c. 130-200)
• Native of Smyrna; sat under
Polycarp (apostolic link: JohnPolycarp-Irenaeus)
• Moved to Gaul; became bishop
of Lyons c. 178
• Against Heresies (180) attacked
Gnosticism and formulated
foundational principles of
Christian theology
• Proof of the Preaching Apostolic
summarizes Christian beliefs &
doctrines
Irenaeus
• Emphasized God’s purpose to draw humanity
into unity with him through divinization
(sanctification)
• God progressively unfolded his purpose from
Old Testament to Incarnation
• Recapitulation: Jesus redeemed humanity by
assuming each stage of life, including old age
(Jesus died at age 50)
• Irenaeus was first great theologian; “Father of
Church Dogmatics”
Clement of Alexandria
(c. 150-215)
• Born to pagan parents in
Athens; converted as young
man; sought Christian teacher;
settled at Alexandrian
Catechetical School under
Pantaenus; became instructor
in 190
• Persecution under Septimius
Severus forced him to flee in
202; wandered the eastern
Mediterranean area; died c. 215
Clement of Alexandria
• Exhortation to the Greeks (Protrepticus):
intended to convert the reader
• The Instructor (Paedagogus): taught the
Christian way of life
• The Miscellanies (Stromata): a collection of
diverse materials describing the ideal of a
complete Christian, perfect in all spiritual
knowledge (gnosis)
Clement of Alexandria
• Interpreted Scripture allegorically; taught that
maturity comes with understanding parabolic
sense
• His extreme allegorizing led to highly abstract
“elitist theology”
• Synthesized Christian thought and Greek
philosophy
• Justin synthesized to call pagans to Christianity;
Clement, to show Christians truth in philosophy
• Paved the way for the church to accept the
relationship of faith and reason
Origen (c. 185-254)
• Born to Christian parents in Alexandria
• Father Leonidas was Christian teacher, martyred
during reign of Septimius Severus
• Studied under Clement and, when Clement fled,
took his place at age 18
• He literally interpreted Matt. 19:12
• Demetrius, bishop of Alexandria,
excommunicated Origen, and he
settled in Caesarea
• He died during the Decian
persecution, 254
Origen
• He advocated a triple interpretation of
Scripture:
• Literal – dealt with the earthly, carnal,
Jewish sense
• Moral – dealt with religious matters of life
• Allegorical – related to heavenly life and
the world to come
Origen
• Prolific writer of up to 2,000 works; only a
fraction survive
• Hexapla: six versions of OT in parallel
• First Principles: first systematic theology
• Against Celsus: apologetic work
• Discourse with Heraclides: defense of Trinity
• Exhortation to Martyrdom & On Prayer
• Commentaries & Homilies
Hippolytus (c. 170-235)
• The most important Roman writer of the 3rd century
• Condemned Callistus, bishop of Rome 217-22,
over doctrine & discipline; became rival bishop
(first anti-pope)
• Continued to attack bishops Urban (222-30)
& Pontianus (230-5)
• Reconciled to Pontianus after both were
exiled to Sardinia together
• Died in exile 235
Hippolytus
• Refutation of All Heresies: An important
source of information about Gnosticism &
Montanism
• Apostolic Traditions: An important source
of information about liturgical practices of
early church
Tertullian (c. 160-225)
• Raised a pagan in Carthage; welleducated in law, literature, and
rhetoric
• Converted c. 195 in Rome; became
first Latin theologian, apologist, and
polemicist
• “Father of Latin Theology”
• Later became adherent of Montanism,
a reforming sect, known for rigorism
Tertullian
• Over 30 treatises survive
• Apologetics: To the Nations; Apology; To
Scapula
• Polemics: Prescription of the Heretics;
Against Praxeus; Against Marcion
• Catholic works: On Baptism; On Prayer; On
Patience; On Penitence
• Montanists works: On Modesty; On Fasting;
On Monogamy; On Flight from Persecution
Tertullian
• Formulated two concepts fundamental to
Christian doctrine:

Trinitarian formula – “one
substance, three persons”

Christological formula – “one
person, two natures”
Cyprian (d. 258)
• Pagan rhetorician in Carthage; converted c. 246;
two years later, elected bishop
• Fled Decian persecution (249); continued to lead
the church from exile
• After return, he dealt with
question of the lapsed and the
related issue of rebaptism raised
by Novatianist schism
• Died as martyr under Valerian’s
persecution, 258
Ante-Nicene
Leaders & Literature