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Fathers of the Church was a term given by the
Christian church to many of the outstanding theologians of at least the
first six centuries. It is used in an ecclesiastical sense, to refer to
those who have preceded us in the faith, and thus able to instruct us in it.
Their patristic writings and commentaries have been invaluable to an
understanding of the early, historic church and its doctrines.¹
The church established four qualifications for
bestowing the honorary title of Church Father on an early writer. In
addition to belonging to the early period of the church, a Father of the
church must have led a holy life. His writings must be generally free from
doctrinal error and must contain an outstanding defense or explanation of
Christian doctrine. Finally, his writings must have received the approval of
the church.
A roster of all the post apostolic Church Fathers
would not be feasible here, however some of the most notable of the first
century were Polycarp, Ignatius, Papias, and Justin Martyr. Of the second
and third centuries were Clement, Origen, Irenaeus, Tertullian and
Hippolytus. It has been said that the fourth century produced many of the
more prominent scholars, such as Athanasius, Hilary, Basil, Gregory of
Nyssa, Gregory of Nazianzus, Ambrose, Augustine, Chrysostom and Jerome.
The use of the term "father," both in regard to the
historic church leaders, or priests of the Catholic church, has been
considered controversial, as it appears to contradict Jesus' disapproval of
such titles, "Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your
Father, He who is in heaven" (Matt. 23:9). However, the context of this
passage (Matt. 23:1-39) deals with one of Jesus' most scathing censures of
the self-righteousness and hypocrisy of the Pharisees. He repudiated their
ostentatious use of titles such as "Father, Rabbi, or Teacher," which they
used to posture themselves as superior to others. His objection was actually
targeted at "arrogance and self-exaltation," not the humble use as
adjectives. The scriptures later validate descriptive titles such as Pastors
and Teachers (Eph. 4:11), and even Paul described himself as a father to his
young understudy, Timothy. "...as a son with his father he served with me in
the gospel" (Phil. 2:22).
¹ Baker's Dictionary of Theology |