Apostolic Fathers

One indicates under the expression of apostolic Pères , of the men or of the anonymous writings of the period which followed immediately that of the Apôtre S. Their writings “constitute the third whole of texts founders of the Christianisme after the Old Testament and the New Testament”. They were recognized like orthodoxe in opposition to the texts Apocryphes.

Presentation

The first Fathers of the Church - after the apostles - are known as " apostolic " because of their proximity with the apostolic tradition that they accepted directly from the apostles and of which they were claimed. Disciples or authors close to the apostles, their works extend from 90 to 160 a. J. - C. and constitute very first testimonys of the Christian communities after the writings néotestamentaires.

Seven - sometimes eight or nine - authors or writings are traditionally arranged among the apostolic Fathers. In addition to Pasteur d' Hermas and letters of Clement of Rome, of Ignace d' Antioche, Polycarpe of Smyrna and Barnabe, were added tardily the fragments of Papias de Hiérapolis, the letter with Diognète, and sometimes Didachè and the fragment of Quadratus.

These writings have a particular place in the first two centuries the primitive Christian literature: - they are distinguished from the books of New Testament by their noncanonical character, even if they were sometimes regarded as canonical during Christian antiquity; - but contrary to the other the first two centuries noncanonical writings, they remain very close to the books néotestamentaires of which they share the Community theology, language and origins.

Posterity

Whereas the writings of the Fathers apostoloic have more as an aim teaching in the Church, and the fight against the heresies; the following period will see moreover developing a new form of literature: that of the Apologiste S which address their works to people external at the Christian community and defended the Christian religion against the Paganisme. it is, amongst other things, the work of Justin Martyr, and Tertullien. however, the topics of the apostolic Fathers continue with these authors, or with Irenee of Lyon.

Although one does not regard certain any more minor opinions exposed by the apostolic Fathers as entirely orthodoxe, their writings provide a important Témoignage efforts of the primitive Christianisme, Tradition, as well as theirs intellectual history.

Writings of the apostolic Fathers

Authors and their works

  • Holy Clement of Rome

Epistle of Clement of Rome to the Corinthians

A " was also allotted to him; second epistle of Clément" , which is now counted among the anonymities.

  • Holy Ignace d' Antioche : One knows seven authentic letters to him
    • Lettres of Ignace d' Antioche
    • Lettre in Ephésiens
    • Lettre with Magnesian the
    • Lettre in Tralliens
    • Lettre with the Romans
    • Lettre with Philadelphian the
    • Lettre in Smyrniotes
    • Lettre in Polycarpe
  • Saint Polycarpe of Smyrna
    • Lettre in Philippiens
One adds to this letter the letter reporting the martyrdom of the Polycarpe bishop:
    • the Martyrdom of Polycarpe, Letter of the Church of Smyrna
  • Papias
    • Fragments of its works transmitted by Eusèbe de Césarée

Anonymous texts

  • the Didachè
  • Homélie of IIe century (famous the " second epistle of Clément")
  • " Letter of Barnabé" (Anonymous letter allotted to Barnabé by Clement of Alexandria
  • Pasteur (work allotted to Hermas)
  • Epistle in Diognète

Appendices

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