The Apostolic Fathers is a collection of Christian writings primarily from the second century.
1. The Didache
2. Epistle of Barnabas
3. 1 Clement
4. Shepherd of Hermas
5. Epistles of Ignatius
6. Fragments of Papias
7. 2 Clement
8. Epistle of Polycarp
9. Martyrdom of Polycarp
10. Fragment of Quadratus
11. Epistle to Diognetus
Sources for APF (Apostolic Fathers)
• Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org)
• Michael Holmes’ translation (available in English or English in parallel with Greek)
Didache (60-150)
• Jewish-Christian document
• partly focused on righteous living and partly on church order (baptism, communion, fasting, hospitality, etc.)
• citations: Didache 9.1-3; 8.1; 2.1-2
Research Recommendation
• David Bercot’s A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs
Epistle of Barnabas (70-132)
• author referred to as Psuedo-Barnabas
• allegorizing method of interpreting scripture, especially the Old Testament
• citation: Barnabas 10.11-12;
1 Clement (80-100)
• letter written from Roman leader to help church of Corinth resolve a dispute
• citations 1 Clement 59.4
Shepherd of Hermas (100-150)
• freed slave writing on holiness and repentance
• citation: Shepherd 59.5-7
Epistles of Ignatius (108-160)
• bishop in Antioch
• arrested and brought to Rome where he faced martyrdom
• three recensions survive: long, middle, and short
• Long Recension
- To the Ephesians
- To the Magnesians
- To the Trallians
- To the Romans
- To the Philadelphians
- To the Smyrnaeans
- To Polycarp
- To Mary of Cassabola
- From Mary of Cassabola
- To Tarsians
- To Antiochenes
- To Philippians
- To Hero
• Middle Recension
- To the Ephesians
- To the Magnesians
- To the Trallians
- To the Romans
- To the Philadelphians
- To the Smyrnaeans
- To Polycarp
• Short Recension
- To the Ephesians
- To the Romans
- To Polycarp
• citations: Ephesians 7.2; Polycarp 3.2 (both from middle recension)
Fragments of Papias (130)
• preferred oral testimony to written 1
• wanted to get to the truth of the matter
• bishop in Hierapolis
• Citation: Papias 3.3-4
2 Clement (130-160)
• neither a letter nor was it written by Clement
• anonymous sermon
• citation: 2 Clement 9.1-6
Polycarp to the Philippians (135-160)
• the Philippians had requested Polycarp to discuss righteousness
Martyrdom of Polycarp (155-175)
- narrates story of Polycarp’s capture, interrogation, and public execution in Smyrna
- sets precedent for future martyrs
Review
• The Apostolic Fathers is a diverse collection of Christian books from the 2nd century
• major focus Christian morality
• identity vis-à-vis Judaism
• variety of views about Christ
• authenticity (Papias) and unity (Ignatius, 1 Clement)
1 See also Richard Bauckham’s Jesus and the Eyewitnesses.
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