The apostolic men, otherwise called the apostolic fathers, are the authors of a number of texts belonging to the early Christian period. Their name speaks of a direct connection with the apostles, since many of these church writers were personally acquainted with them.
Apostolic Men: General Description
In the history of the Church they are known as the direct disciples of the apostles - the disciples of Jesus Christ himself, his followers. These men had direct fellowship with the apostles and often worked closely with them.
Their earthly life took place in the I - II centuries BC. e. The term "apostolic men" appeared only in the 17th century. He is associated with a pathologist named Kotelerius. (Pathology is the doctrine of the Fathers of the Church). The last in 1672, a collection was published including the teachings of the husbands of the apostles. Its Latin name is Patres aevi apostolici.
Names and Works
Among the apostolic husbands are:
- Ignatius of Antioch (God-Bearer);
- Dionysius the Areopagite;
- Clement of Rome;
- Apostle Barnabas
- Polycarp of Smyrna;
- Papy of Hierapolis;
- Herma.
The apostolic men, their lives and creations left a big mark in the history of Christianity. Their writings show how the early Christian church belonged to paganism and Judaism, describes the services and sacraments of the ancient church. It also talks about how the Christian community lived in those days.
The works were written in Greek. After that, they were translated into Latin, Ethiopian, Coptic, Serbian, Armenian and other languages. What was the origin of these works connected with? The answer to this question is provided by a review of information on the attitude towards the early Christian church by Rome.
Christian church of that era
During the life of the apostolic husbands, the Christian Church experienced terrible persecution. Already under the emperor Domitian, they assumed a systematic character. The repression of Christians was greeted by the mob fervent approval.
Not only Roman pagans, but also Jews hated adherents of this religion. They considered them heretics. From the point of view of the Pharisees, Christians violated the Law of Moses or even fell into idolatry, like the Gentiles.
At the same time, the Romans confused them with the Jews, spreading to the followers of Jesus Christ squeamishness and prejudice against the Jews. Only later did they examine the composition of Christian communities closer, discovering, for the most part, Hellenes, Italics, Egyptians and Syrians.
Accusations of cannibalism and incest
However, after the Romans realized that Christians are not a Jewish sect, but adherents of a new religion, among which there are mainly people from their own midst, they have new prejudices.
Among the most suspicious were the accusations of Christians of the so-called Oedipus mixes. They perceived the Christian commandment of love as an encouragement of incestuous bonds. And there were also accusations of eating human meat and drinking blood, as in Fiesta feasts. So the Gentiles understood the communion of Christians to the blood and body of the Savior. They saw this as cannibalism and the slaughter of infants.
The main enemy is the Roman authorities
Over time, the main enemy of Christians was not a gambling, easily excitable crowd, but the government of Rome. This was due to the fact that the Roman Empire did not have a pagan church. There, priests, pontiffs, and flamines were assigned to government officials.
Therefore, the appearance of the Christian church was perceived by the authorities as a challenge. They have outlawed Christians. For the Roman state, they were enemies of the gods, emperor and law, enemies of all nature. They began their ferocious persecution, search, torture, executions, extermination of holy books.
It took many decades for the Gentiles surrounding Christians to change their minds about them. So that they begin to relate adequately to the faith, worship, and lifestyle of the followers of Christ. And in this there is a great merit of the apostolic husbands and their creations. These church writers carried the truth about the new religion.
Apostle Barnabas
It was the nickname of one of the authors of the books of the husbands of the apostolic Josiah. Barnabas means "son of comfort." He lived on the island of Cyprus, came from the Levite estate, was among the seventy disciples of Christ. Acted in the Church at its earliest period. Having sold his land, he gave the money to the apostles.
Together with Paul, he was the founder of the Church in Antioch from Jews and Gentiles. When the apostles dispersed to preach, Barnabas chose Cyprus as the place of his activity. There, after Jerusalem was destroyed in 70, he died a martyr's death. One epistle is attributed to this apostle, in which he proves that over time the Old Testament should be replaced by the New Testament, writes about the ways of life, and warns against those who believe in Christ from Judaism.
Dionysius Areopagite
Born from noble parents in Athens, traveled to get an education. Subsequently, became a member of the Areopagus. He was converted by the apostle Paul after the last sermon in the Areopagus in the year 54. He was appointed the first bishop in Athens by him.
Dionysius was jealous of the spread of Christianity. To do this, he was in different countries. There is evidence that his death was martyred, but where and when it happened is unknown. In his writings he wrote about the names of God, about the heavenly and church hierarchy, about mysterious theology. And also sent ten messages addressed to different persons. His works are distinguished by profound and exalted theology.
Saint Clement
He was the third bishop of Rome in 92-101. He was converted to Christianity by the Apostle Peter. Clement was an associate of the Apostle Paul. He suffered a martyrdom under the emperor Trajan. His message to the Corinthians became a monument to his ascetic activities. From the very beginning, separation was observed in the Corinthian church, and the apostle Paul instructed its members.
Some doubted the truth of the resurrection from the dead. The well-meaning Corinthians turned to St. Clement when doubters pulled away from their hierarchy. This husband urged the latter to humility, advised them to submit to their hierarchy and repent. And Clement dispelled misconceptions regarding the resurrection of the dead. His messages in the ancient Church were highly respected. At worship, they were read along with the apostolic books.
Ignatius the God-Bearer
Being a disciple of St. John the Evangelist and Bishop of Antioch, at the order of Emperor Trajan in 107 he was cast into lions and torn to pieces by them. There are seven of his letters, which were written at the time when he was taken to execution in Rome. In them, he called for the preservation of faith, for obedience to the hierarchy established by God, and especially to bishops. As St. Polycarp, the Epistles of Ignatius the God-Bearer are a model of faith and edifications of the Lord.
Polycarp of Smyrna
He was the most beloved disciple of St. John the Evangelist, Bishop of Smyrna. He lived to old age and was tortured by opponents of the Christian faith in 167, during the period of persecution under the emperor Marcus Aurelius.
He wrote many letters addressed to the Christians of the neighboring Churches in order to strengthen them in the right and pure faith. Only one of his messages has survived - to the Philippians. Polycarpus fought against heretical judgments, saying that one who is not a confessor of the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh is seen as the Antichrist.
Saint Herm
From ancient times he was recognized by the very Hermas, to whom the greeting of the Apostle Paul, that is, a letter to the Romans, was sent. Being an ethnic Greek, he lived in Rome in the 2nd half of the 1st century. His book “Shepherd” was highly respected in the Christian church. It consisted of three parts. It sets forth the visions of Hermas, as well as the 12 commandments, for example, about repentance, mercy, and 10 parables that clarify various Christian truths. The instructions of Yermu were communicated by an angel who assumed the form of a shepherd.
Saint Papius
He is one of the last authors of the writings of the husbands of the apostles. He was a pupil of the Apostle John, a friend of Polycarp of Smyrna, Bishop of Hierapolis in Phrygia. He died martyrly under Marcus Aurelius. He wrote five essays, of which only a few passages survived. St. Papius was not limited to studying the Holy Scriptures. He also collected oral stories about what the Savior and the apostles did and taught, that is, based on an unwritten tradition.