The Early Church Fathers - Introduction

The purpose of bringing forth the writings of the Early Church Fathers is to provide historical facts and truths as to what the Early Church held up and defended as Sound Doctrine. In the early days of the Church there were many who were disciples of the Apostles and appointed as Leaders (Bishops) of a Church. These men’s Christian lives and teachings were shaped by the Apostles directly and nearly all these men not only lived their lives for Jesus, they also died for him as Martyrs.

 

The Writings of the Church Fathers can be found in multiple places, but for consistency all writings have been pulled from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library which can be found on-line at http://www.ccel.org/fathers.html

 

The Ante Nicene Fathers are all the writings prior to 325 A.D. and the Nicene Council. 
Volume I.   The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus

 

This first volume of writing from the  Early Church Fathers were called Apostolic Fathers for most were first and second generations of the Apostles as seen in the list below. This first volume also includes Justin who also died as a Martyr, but it is not clear if he was a disciple of any of the Apostles.

 

• Clement of Rome, Bishop of Rome and Disciple of the Apostle Paul (Philippians 4:3)
• Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna and Disciple of the Apostle John
• Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch and Disciple of the Apostle John
• Papias, Bishop of Hierapolis and Disciple of the Apostle John
• Irenaeus, Bishop of Lugdunum and Disciple of Polycarp a Disciple of the Apostle John

 

Here we can read a much more befitting introduction to the Writings of the Early Church Fathers from the Volume I’s Introductory Notice.

 

Introductory Notice
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.i.ii.html

[a.d. 100-200.] The Apostolic Fathers are here understood as filling up the second century of our era. Irenaeus, it is true, is rather of the sub-apostolic period; but, as the disciple of Polycarp, he ought not to be dissociated from that Father's company. We thus find ourselves conducted, by this goodly fellowship of witnesses, from the times of the apostles to those of Tertullian, from the martyrs of the second persecution to those of the sixth. Those were times of heroism, not of words; an age, not of writers, but of soldiers; not of talkers, but of sufferers. Curiosity is baffled, but faith and love are fed by these scanty relics of primitive antiquity. Yet may we well be grateful for what we have. These writings come down to us as the earliest response of converted nations to the testimony of Jesus. They are primary evidences of the Canon and the credibility of the New Testament. Disappointment may be the first emotion of the student who comes down from the mount where he has dwelt in the tabernacles of evangelists and apostles: for these disciples are confessedly inferior to the masters; they speak with the voices of infirm and fallible men, and not like the New Testament writers, with the fiery tongues of the Holy Ghost. Yet the thoughtful and loving spirit soon learns their exceeding value. For who does not close the records of St. Luke with longing; to get at least a glimpse of the further history of the progress of the Gospel? What of the Church when its founders were fallen asleep? Was the Good Shepherd "always" with His little flock, according to His promise? Was the Blessed Comforter felt in His presence amid the fires of persecution? Was the Spirit of Truth really able to guide the faithful into all truth, and to keep them in the truth?

 

And what had become of the disciples who were the first-fruits of the apostolic ministry? St. Paul had said, "The same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." How was this injunction realized? St. Peter's touching words come to mind, "I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance." Was this endeavour successfully carried out? To these natural and pious inquiries, the Apostolic Fathers, though we have a few specimens only of their fidelity, give an emphatic reply. If the cold-hearted and critical find no charm in the simple, childlike faith which they exhibit, ennobled though it be by heroic devotion to the Master, we need not marvel. Such would probably object: "They teach me nothing; I do not relish their multiplied citations from Scripture." The answer is, "If you are familiar with Scripture, you owe it largely to these primitive witnesses to its Canon and its spirit. By their testimony we detect what is spurious, and we identify what is real. Is it nothing to find that your Bible is their Bible, your faith their faith, your Saviour their Saviour, your God their God?" Let us reflect also, that, when copies of the entire Scriptures were rare and costly, these citations were "words fitly spoken,--apples of gold in pictures of silver." We are taught by them also that they obeyed the apostle's precept, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing," etc. Thus they reflect the apostolic care that men should be raised up able to teach others also.

 

The additional volumes of the Anti-Nicene Fathers are as follows.

 

• Volume II.   Fathers of the Second Century
  Hermas, Tatian, Theophilus, Athenagoras, Clement of Alexandria
  

 

• Volume III.   Latin Christianity: Its Founder, Tertullian
  Three Parts: I. Apologetic; II. Anti-Marcion; III. Ethical
  

 

• Volume IV.   The Fathers of the Third Century
  Tertullian Part IV; Minucius Felix; Commodian; Origen
  

 

• Volume V.   The Fathers of the Third Century
  Hippolytus; Cyprian; Caius; Novatian; Appendix
  

 

• Volume VI.   The Fathers of the Third Century
  Gregory Thaumaturgus; Dinoysius the Great; Julius Africanus; Anatolius and Minor Writers; Methodius; Arnobius
  

 

• Volume VII.   The Fathers of the Third and Fourth Centuries
  Lactantius, Venantius, Asterius, Victorinus, Dionysius, Apostolic Teaching and Constitutions, Homily, Liturgies
  

 

The list volumes of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers are as follows

 

Series I

 

• St. Augustine Volumes
• St. Chrysostom Volumes

Series II

 

• Volume I.   Eusebius: Church History from A.D. 1-324, Life of Constantine the Great, Oration in Praise of Constantine
• Volume II.   Socrates: Church History from A.D. 305-438; Sozomenus: Church History from A.D. 323-425
• Volume III.   Theodoret, Jerome and Gennadius, Rufinus and Jerome
• Volume IV.   Athanasius: Select Writings and Letters
• Volume V.   Gregory of Nyssa: Dogmatic Treatises; Select Writings and Letters
• Volume VI.   Jerome: Letters and Select Works
• Volume VII.   Cyril of Jerusalem, Gregory Nazianzen
• Volume VIII.   Basil: Letters and Select Works
• Volume IX.   Hilary of Poitiers, John of Damascus
• Volume X.   Ambrose: Select Works and Letters
• Volume XI.   Sulpitius Severus, Vincent of Lerins, John Cassian
• Volume XII.   Leo the Great, Gregory the Great
• Volume XIII.   Gregory the Great II, Ephriam Syrus, Aphrahat
• Volume XIV.   The Seven Ecumenical Councils