Writings of the early Church fathers from the beginning of Christianity to the time of the creation of the Nicene Creed will be found under this heading. Simply hold your mouse over this heading and click on the dropdown or click the links below.

THE APOSTOLIC FATHERS (95 – 165 A.D.) is the designation used for churchmen who wrote about Christianity in the late first and early second centuries A.D. Some of them were Clement of Rome, Ignatius, Polycarp, Hermas, and Papias. Some were contemporaries of some apostles. Thus, they should have been familiar with apostolic teachings. The New Encyclopædia Britannica says, “Taken as a whole, the writings of the Apostolic Fathers are more valuable historically than any other Christian literature outside the New Testament.”

THE CHRISTIAN APOLOGISTS (150 – 220 A.D.) were churchmen who are today simply referred to as the Apologists. They wrote in defense of Christianity and criticisms of paganism and other aspects of Greco-Roman culture. Among the Apologists who wrote in Greek were Justin Martyr, Tatian, Athenagoras, Theophilus, and Clement of Alexandria. Tertullian was an Apologist who wrote in Latin. Christian apologetics [Greek: apologia, “verbal defense, speech in defense”] is a field of Christian theology that endeavors to offer a reasonable and sensible basis for the Christian faith, defending the faith against objections. It is reasoning from the Scriptures, explaining and proving, as one instructs in sound doctrine, many times having to overturn false reasoning before he can plant the seeds of truth. It can also be earnestly contending for the faith and saving one from losing their faith, as they have begun to doubt. Moreover, it can involve rebuking those who contradict the truth. It is being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks the Christian evangelist for a reason for the hope that is in him or her. – Jude 1.3, 21-23; 1 Pet 3.15; Acts 17:2-3; Titus 1:9.

THE CHURCH FATHERS (220 – 700 A.D.) were ancient and influential Christian theologians and writers who established the intellectual and doctrinal foundations of Christianity.

Western Church

• Ambrose (A.D. 340–397)
• Jerome (347–420)
• Augustine of Hippo (354–430)
• Pope Gregory I (540–604)

Eastern Church

• Athanasius of Alexandria (c. 296 or 298 – 373)
• Gregory of Nazianzus (329 – c. 390)
• Basil of Caesarea (c. 330 – 379)
• John Chrysostom (347–407)

Writings of the Early Church Fathers exists to help readers examine the surviving writings of post-apostolic Christian authors with biblical discernment, historical awareness, and firm submission to Scripture as the only inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God. These writings are not Scripture, do not possess divine authority, and must never be treated as equal to the Bible. Nevertheless, they are historically valuable because they show how professed Christians after the apostles quoted Scripture, defended certain biblical truths, opposed pagan accusations, addressed false teaching, discussed congregation life, and sometimes began moving away from the simplicity and authority of apostolic Christianity. The proper purpose of studying the early Christian writers is not to build doctrine from them, but to understand the post-apostolic period and to compare their claims with the written Word of God.

The early Christian writers stand close to the period after the apostles, but closeness in time does not equal inspiration or doctrinal correctness. Jesus Christ and His apostles warned that false teachers, doctrinal corruption, and apostasy would arise. Acts 20:29-30 records Paul’s warning that oppressive men would enter among the congregation and that some would speak twisted things to draw disciples after themselves. Second Thessalonians 2:7 shows that the mystery of lawlessness was already at work in the apostolic age. First Timothy 4:1 warns that some would depart from the faith by paying attention to deceptive teachings. These passages require the reader to examine the early post-apostolic writings carefully. Some statements may preserve useful historical testimony, while others reveal developing error, ecclesiastical ambition, philosophical influence, and the early growth of unscriptural tradition.

The writings commonly associated with the Early Church Fathers include authors such as Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp of Smyrna, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Cyprian, Eusebius, Athanasius, Jerome, Augustine, and others. These men wrote in different places, under different pressures, and with different levels of doctrinal accuracy. Some defended belief in the Creator against paganism. Some argued for the historical reality of Jesus Christ, the resurrection, and Christian morality. Some quoted or alluded to New Testament books in ways that help confirm the early use and circulation of the Christian Greek Scriptures. Others introduced or developed ideas that must be rejected when measured by Scripture. Their writings are therefore useful as historical witnesses, but they are not authorities over Christian belief.

The study of the Early Church Fathers is especially important for New Testament textual studies and canon history. Their quotations from the Gospels, Acts, Paul’s letters, the general letters, and Revelation show that many New Testament writings were known, read, copied, and used widely in the early centuries. These quotations can sometimes help textual scholars identify readings known in particular regions and periods. Their references also help show that the New Testament books were not late inventions of medieval religion, but were circulating, being quoted, and being treated as authoritative long before later church councils made formal pronouncements. However, the canon was not created by the fathers or by councils. The inspired books possessed authority because Jehovah caused them to be written by means of the Holy Spirit. Later recognition did not make them inspired; it acknowledged the authority already belonging to them.

These writings also help readers trace the early development of doctrinal controversy. The post-apostolic period saw disputes about the nature of Christ, the resurrection, Scripture, baptism, congregation authority, the Lord’s Evening Meal, repentance, worship, persecution, martyrdom, and the relation of Christians to the Roman state. Some early writers defended important truths against pagan critics and heretical movements. Yet many later developments show how quickly men could move beyond the written Word. The rise of a stronger bishop-centered hierarchy, the increasing authority given to church tradition, the influence of Greek philosophy, the development of sacramental thinking, the use of religious titles, and the early movement toward institutional control all demonstrate why Scripture must remain the final standard.

Writings of the Early Church Fathers also helps readers avoid two opposite errors. One error is to reject all early Christian writings as useless merely because they are not inspired. That approach ignores their historical value for understanding the spread of Christianity, the use of Scripture, early apologetics, persecution, and doctrinal conflict. The other error is to treat these writings as a second authority alongside Scripture. That approach leads to tradition replacing the Bible and eventually allows church institutions to overrule the inspired text. The proper approach is disciplined evaluation. The reader should ask what the writer said, what Scripture says, whether the statement agrees with Scripture, and whether the historical information helps illuminate the post-apostolic period without controlling doctrine.

This section is designed to help readers examine the Early Church Fathers through the Historical-Grammatical method and conservative biblical discernment. Their writings must be read in historical context, but Scripture must judge every doctrinal claim. The reader should distinguish between historical testimony, apologetic argument, doctrinal assertion, personal opinion, rhetorical style, and later theological development. A statement from Ignatius, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Origen, Augustine, or Jerome may be historically useful, but it is not binding on the Christian conscience. Only the inspired Scriptures provide the final rule for faith, doctrine, worship, morality, congregation order, salvation, resurrection, and the Christian hope.

Writings of the Early Church Fathers therefore serves as a careful guide to the post-apostolic record of early Christianity. It helps readers understand what these writers contributed, where they defended biblical truth, where they preserved testimony to the New Testament text, and where they began to depart from apostolic teaching. Studied correctly, these writings strengthen appreciation for the authority of Scripture by showing why the Bible must never be replaced by tradition, councils, creeds, bishops, theologians, or inherited religious systems. The Early Church Fathers are valuable historical witnesses, but Jehovah’s inspired Word alone is the standard by which all Christian teaching must be measured.

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