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List of Early Church Father works

 

Note:

 

 

This is a list of Early Church Father works meant mostly for understanding for Protestants (mainly low church but some of these criticisms apply to high church) and non denominational groups. Most Protestants are ignorant of the early church period and believe in myths like the Constantinian shift (The theory that emperor Constantine paganized Christianity) or the Great Apostasy (The theory that the church fell away from the teachings of the Bible). These two myths have greatly damaged the church and have been only used to cover-up the churches history.

 

 

What I aim to do in this web-article is illustrate that the early church was more consistent than given credit for. I also want to illustrate later how these teachings align with the New Testament. The two rules I will set is that, One being that they are connected to the apostles by a degree of separation (no gnostics), (two) being that they have never apostatized from Christianity. The reason for this strictness is because I despise the hand waving of criticism and that while a persons earlier works might have been while they were in the church (and was arguing from the churches perspective), later left the faith thus by most modern standards all their works as being bad. Another note is that these works are before the edict of toleration by Constantine in 310 AD. This Is during the period where Christians were persecuted and not under subject to Rome.

 

 

 

 

 

1st Century AD

 

 

 

 

 

The New Testament: Written by the disciples. The work dates itself around 48 to 95 AD depending on the book. This work is both Theologically and historically deep work that will be covered later

 

 

 

 

 

Didache (50 AD): Said to have been written by the disciples. Was widely accepted by the church, especially those founded by the apostles. This operated as the first set of canons that were binding of the church. Here are some of the most interesting parts from there

 

 

1. Warns against false teachers and blasphemy.

 

 

2. Gave moral rulings on what not to due and what to due.

 

 

(Note this is the earliest church condemnation of abortion by name)

 

 

(Another Note is that it commands abstinence and fasting) (Final Note is it gives a guide on how to receive Christians)

 

 

3. Baptizes in a Triune formula (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Either by immersion or pouring three times.

 

 

4. Says that the Eucharist is the body and blood of Jesus Christ (literal).

 

 

5. Has liturgical worship (gives the exact prayer to say before and after communion. Also commanding that the Lords prayer be said 3 times a day).

 

 

6. Has liturgical title of Bishop, Deacon, Apostle, and Prophet. (Note that Apostle and Prophet are refereed to as “High Priest”)

 

 

7. Demands watchfulness against evil and to look for the Lord.

 

 

 

 

 

St. Ignatius of Antioch 7 letters (85-118 AD): St. Ignatius of Antioch was a student of the disciple John. By Oral tradition he was also regarded as one of the kids who Jesus Christ blessed in Mark 10:13-16. what is definitively known was his connection to the disciple John. His theology has shown such a clear connection to that which is expressed in the Gospel of John, Epistle of John, and the Apocalypse of John. This is to the point that he paraphrases John’s work(he also likes to quote from Peter and Mark). Here are his 7 works and the theme in each work.

 

 

Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesian

 

 

1. Stressed the psychical unity of the church and that it is tied to the bishop. Also said the Church is a holy institution(showing both a physical and divine connection)

 

 

2. Said that bishops must be obeyed like we obey Christ and that it was instituted by Christ.

 

 

3. Describes how if people are not in the Church they cannot have Communion.

 

 

4. Describes God as being incarnate (affirming the divinity of Jesus Christ).

 

 

5. To pray without ceasing. And also elaborates that it is to pray for the same thing over and over again.

 

 

6. The value of united prayer.

 

 

 

 

 

Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians

 

 

1. Calls for unity and submission to the Church. To the point that he gives the analogy of submitting to the church as you submit to God.

 

 

2. Says there is no independent churches. That is bishops who go off and do there own thing.

 

 

3. Gives church titles such as Bishop, Presbyter(priest), and Deacon in that order.(Note Ignatius directly says that the priesthood is in place of the apostles. That the Bishops are in place of God(Referring to Jesus Christ here), and the Deacons as servers to the church).

 

 

4. He says to beware of false doctrines like the Judaizers

 

 

5. Says to observe the Lords day on Sunday and not on Saturday.

 

 

6. Gives a Triune formula for God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).

 

 

 

 

 

Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallians

 

 

1.Says to be obedient to your Bishop, Priest, and Deacon

 

 

2.Says to not be separate from the Church and describes it as Holy. Ultimately he stresses Physical and doctrinal unity.

 

 

3.Calls Jesus Christ “Our God”

 

 

4.Believes in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 

 

5.Says to not believe in false doctrines.

 

 

Epistle of Ignatius to the Romans

 

 

1. makes an analogy out of the Eucharist (says he wishes to partake of the heavenly bread which is the body of Christ … and to drink of God which is his blood) and compares his martyrdom as becoming closer to Christ

 

 

2.Defended the holiness of the church

 

 

3.Ask the Church of Rome to pray for his successor in Antioch

 

 

 

 

 

The Epistle of Ignatius to the Philadelphians

 

 

1.Acknowledges Bishops, Priest, and Deacons as the main hierarchy of the church

 

 

2.Warned against schism and even said not to join schismatics. Says to stay in unity

 

 

3.Says wherever a bishop is, Jesus our God is. Even says that you can do nothing without a bishop

 

 

4.Reaffirms the Eucharist as literal.

 

 

5.Warns not to join Judaism and is against Judaizers, says that it’s teaching are snares of the Devil

 

 

6.Says while the Old testament is good, That the importance is The Gospels

 

 

 

Still currently working on project so it will take time to add more to this list.