The First Christian Centuries: Apostolic Fathers

The Apostolic Fathers is a collection of early Christian writings from the late first and early second centuries, traditionally considered to have been written by those connected with the Apostles, and therefore reflecting authentic Apostolic teaching. These writings include 1 Clement, 2 Clement, Ignatius, Polycarp, Didache, Barnabas, Papias, Hermas, Martyrdom of Polycarp, Diognetus, and Quadratus. Considering their historical context, the Apostolic Fathers bear directly on the study of the New Testament, the development of the early Church, and the history of Christian theology.

These early Christian leaders set the pattern of faith and practice still evident in the Church today. The spirit and impact of that heritage are presented to the reader unfamiliar with the actual writings of these Fathers of the early Church. The author carefully avoids technical and controversial elements that are of interest only to scholars. Historical matters are featured especially in regard to the teachings on the sacraments and the ministry. This emphasis upon the writings results in a concise, yet comprehensive pattern of the Fathers' major contribution to the life and teachings in the early Church. For theological students, ministers, and Christian laymen, this study of the Apostolic Fathers offers a compact introduction to the early foundation and consequent development of Christian beliefs. It illuminates the common faith and heritage that have united Christians throughout the ages.

Foster offers a comprehensive introduction to the writings of the Apostolic Fathers. Each chapter offers a treatment of the most controversial aspects of each text and discusses the theology of each of the writings in order to orient readers to the development of Christian thinking in the second century.

Contents: Introduction: What Are the Apostolic Fathers? -- 1. The Letter of Barnabas -- 2. The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles (The Didache) -- 3. The Letters of Ignatius -- 4. The Letter of Polycarp to the Philippians -- 5. The Martyrdom of Polycarp -- 6. The First Letter of Clement of Rome to the Corinthians (1 Clement) -- 7. The Second Letter of Clement of Rome to the Corinthians (2 Clement) -- 8. The Shepherd of Hermas -- 9. The Letter to Diognetus

The writings of the Apostolic Fathers give a rich and diverse picture of Christian life and thought in the period immediately after New Testament times. In this edition, an English translation facing the Greek text reflects modern scholarship.

The writings in this volume shed a glimmer of light, in an otherwise dark period, on the emerging traditions and organizations of the infant Church. They are a selection from a group known as the Apostolic Fathers, so-called because several of the authors were most likely disciples of the Apostles themselves. Like much of the New Testament, their writings take the form of letters, and for the most part deal with practical problems of the life of the early Church, as it struggled in the face of persecution to establish itself in the Roman world. They give us a picture of Christianity still drawing on the theology and traditions of its parent religion, Judaism.

Contents: First Clement -- Second Clement -- The letters of Ignatius -- The letter of Polycarp to the Philippians -- The martyrdom of Polycarp -- The didache -- The epistle of Barnabas -- The shepherd of Hermas -- The epistle to Diognetus and the Fragment of Quadratus -- Fragments of Papias

Contents: Christian ministerial priesthood and the Apostolic Fathers -- A survey of recent literature -- Clement of Rome -- Ignatius of Antioch -- The Letter(s) of Polycarp to the Philippians -- The Epistle of Barnabas -- The Shepherd of Hermas -- The Didache -- Conclusions

Beginning on March 7, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI devoted most of the catecheses at his Wednesday audiences to the Fathers of the Church. He began with St. Clement of Rome, who wrote a letter to the church at Corinth at the end of the first century, and continued into the seventh century. The first thirty-six of these catecheses, from St. Clement of Rome to St. Augustine of Hippo, are presented here.

The Apostolic Fathers include some of the earliest Christian writings outside the New Testament that have come down to us,and for the study of early Christianity constitute a most important supplement to the New Testament itself. Definite advances in textual materials for Hermas,and even at a few points in Greek lexicography,as well as the need of a franker,more modern and unflinching translation are reflected in the present version.And the literary relationships of the several writings to one another and to the books of the New Testament can now in some cases be more definitely determined. This translation is based on the Funk-Bihlmeyer edtion,vol.1,published at Tubingen in 1924,except for the Shepherd of Hermas,which I have translated from Lake's edition in the Loeb Library,(1913),with occasional emendations derived from the payri.