From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Various
early Christian writers[
broken anchor] wrote
gospels and other books, some of which were canonized as the
New Testament canon developed. The
Apostolic Fathers were prominent writers who are traditionally understood to have met and learned from
Jesus' personal
disciples. The
Church Fathers are later writers with no direct connection to the disciples (other than the claim to
apostolic succession).
Early Christian apologists tried to defend Christianity against
its critics, especially the
Ancient Greek and
Roman philosophers. Dates given, if not otherwise specified, are of their writings or
bishopric, not of their lives.
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Paul of Tarsus, "Apostle to the Gentiles", earliest New Testament author 45~65
-
Four Evangelists, traditionally identified as the authors of the
canonical gospels 60~125
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Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, apostolic father 68~107
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Marcion of Sinope, evangelist and theologian, founder of
Marcionism, published the first known
canon of the New Testament,
[1] 85~160
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Clement of Rome, bishop of Rome, apostolic father 88~101
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Papias, bishop of Hierapolis, apostolic father 110~130
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Polycarp of Smyrna, bishop of Smyrna, apostolic father 110~160
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Aristides of Athens, apologist ~120
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Justin Martyr, church father ~165
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Melito of Sardis, bishop of Sardis, ~180
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Irenaeus,
bishop of Lyon, disciple of Polycarp, apologist 180~202
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Origen of Alexandria, 185~254,
Neoplatonist, controversial during his lifetime, posthumously condemned at the
Second Council of Constantinople in 553
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Tatian, pupil of Justin Martyr, ascetic theologian ~185
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Athenagoras of Athens, philosopher, apologist ~190
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Polycrates, bishop of Ephesus, excommunicated by
Victor I of Rome over the
Easter controversy ~196
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Montanus, self-proclaimed prophet and founder of
Montanism, last quarter of 2nd century CE
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Tertullian, church father, apologist, first Christian writer in Latin, later a Montanist 197~230
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Hippolytus, church father, sometimes termed the first
Antipope, reconciled with the church and died a martyr 217~236
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Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, martyr 218~258
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Clement of Alexandria, church father, Bishop of Alexandria ~220
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Novatian, a rigorist and Antipope in 251
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Dionysius, patriarch of Alexandria, pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church 248~264
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Paul of Samosata, bishop of Antioch,
adoptionist, condemned at 269
Council of Antioch
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Athanasius of Alexandria, c. 297~373, patriarch of Alexandria, defender of the
Trinitarian doctrine
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Donatus Magnus, bishop of Carthage, (+355), leader of the
Donatists from 313
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Lactantius, apologist ~317
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Arnobius, apologist ~330
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Eusebius, wrote History of the Church ~325
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Augustine of Hippo, 354-430, Latin church father, wrote Confessions and City of God
See also
References