The Apostolic Fathers

It is right, therefore, that we not just be called Christians, but that we actually are Christians.

-          Ignatius of Antioch

But how do we acknowledge Him?  By doing what He says and not disobeying His commandments, and honoring Him not only with our lips but with all our heart and all our mind.

-          2 Clement

A Patristic Treasury: Early Church Wisdom for Today, edited by James R. Payton, Jr.

I noted in the introductory post to this work that I wasn’t sure how I was going to present this material.  Well, here is what I am planning…for now.  I will take selections from three to five authors or sources at a time, and group these in common themes or topics.  I will comment on some or all or none of these; when commented on, the comment might be short or long. 

I think I need not comment on the two opening quotes.  I can add nothing to these.  I think this will likely be true for several of these excerpts.  They really do say a thousand words in a small package. 

At the end of each post, I will include a short biographic note on each author or descriptive note regarding each document.  These will be taken from Payton’s description, without question or questioning (as I imagine there are disagreements on these, especially the older ones given the ancient history and also given the investment within some traditions in the historical narrative regarding the individual or document). 

With that, here goes….

Our Hope

Let us fix our eyes on the blood of Christ….

-          Clement of Rome

Those who listen as though these [our salvation and hope] are small matters do wrong…. He saved us when we had no hope for Salvation except that which comes from Him….

-          2 Clement

Justification

All [the faithful of old] were glorified and magnified, not through themselves or their own works or the righteous actions which they did, but through His will.  So we, having been called through His will in Christ Jesus, are not justified through ourselves or through our own wisdom or understanding or piety or works which we have done in holiness of heart, but through faith, by which the almighty God has justified all who have existed from the beginning, to whom be the glory forever and ever.

-          Clement of Rome

Clearly this hasn’t resolved the matter; or, at least, we argue with each other as if it hasn’t.

I haven’t, and don’t ever expect to, spend any real effort studying these controversies over faith / works, God’s doing / man’s role, etc.  Coming down on one side or the other doesn’t change how we are called to live, at least as far as I see it.

When the apostle Peter preached the first post-Pentecost sermon, three thousand souls were added to their number. 

“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

That was it.  None of the doctrinal debates that began immediately thereafter and beyond; nothing about soteriology beyond this; nothing at all about ecclesiology.  Repent and believe; receive the Holy Spirit.  Now get on with it: be a Christian.

Like I said, picking one side or the other in this debate (or many others that we have) doesn’t change how we are commanded to live.

Peace

There is nothing better than peace.

-          Ignatius of Antioch

Let us unite with those who devoutly practice peace, and not with those who hypocritically wish for peace.

-          Clement of Rome

Jesus wasn’t called the Prince of Peace for nothing; it wasn’t meant as sarcasm.  This, to me, is one of the most damning things about the church – specifically the evangelical Protestant church – in America today (and, yes, I know this is painting with a broad brush, but you get it).  All war, all the time; worship the troops.

Humility

…graciousness and humility and gentleness are for those who are blessed by God.

-          Clement of Rome

By gentleness the ruler of this age is destroyed.

-          Ignatius of Antioch

The virtue of humility is not taught or discussed enough among Christians.  Nor can it be considered a virtue like the other Christian virtues and Christian behaviors.  It is the foundational virtue, without which living the Christian life is not possible.

Righteousness

I make every effort to pursue righteousness, that I may succeed in at least getting close to it.

-          2 Clement

I can’t get the Beatitudes out of my head.  This is a good thing.  But am I doing enough, praying enough, to move these from my head to my heart?  Am I making every effort to pursue the righteousness that Jesus taught in these few short verses which open the Sermon on the Mount?

Love

The height to which love leads is indescribable.

-          Clement of Rome

If anyone is occupied with these, that person has fulfilled the commandment of righteousness, for one who has love is far from all sin.

-          Polycarp

The greatest commandment:

Matthew 22: 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

I especially like the King James translation, above: “the second is like unto it…”  It is by loving our neighbor that we demonstrate our love of God.

The Church

Wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the catholic Church.

-          Ignatius of Antioch

Wait.  I thought it was wherever we have apostolic (so-called) succession, or where we have a Bible-believing church (which church that has Jesus Christ isn’t?) or where we find the seat of Peter?

This really rips apart the denomination and tradition-based food fights that occur daily.  Which comes to…

Unity in the Church

Why are there strife and angry outbursts and dissension and schisms and conflict among you?

-          Clement of Rome

God does not dwell where there is division and anger.

-          Ignatius of Antioch

If God were to imitate the way we act, we would be lost.

-          Ignatius of Antioch

Flee from divisions, as the beginning of evils.

-          Ignatius of Antioch

Be eager to do everything in godly harmony, the bishop residing in the place of God and the presbyters in the place of the council of the apostles, and the deacons…who have been entrusted with the service of Jesus Christ….

-          Ignatius of Antioch

The Trinity

There is only one physician, who is both flesh and spirit, born and unborn, God in man, true life in death, both from Mary and from God, first subject in suffering and then beyond it, Jesus Christ our Lord.

-          Ignatius of Antioch

God appeared in human form to bring the newness of eternal life.

-          Ignatius of Antioch

There was recognition that Jesus is God, and this well before Constantine and Nicea.  Obviously not universally recognized as such; but this wasn’t some invention of empire or anything like that.

This is the Jesus Christ that brings unity to the Church, the One who eliminates division and strife…if we listen to Him and do His will.

Martyrdom

…I bless You because You have considered me worthy of this day and hour… May I be received among them in Your presence today, as a rich and acceptable sacrifice… I praise You, I bless You, I glorify You…

-          Taken from “The Martyrdom of Polycarp”

This attitude was manifest countless times in the early Church – some recorded, most likely not.  There are many parts of the world where it is manifest today.

Other Comments

But when they discover that our actions are not worthy of the words we speak, they turn from wonder to blasphemy, saying that it is a myth and a delusion.

-          2 Clement

Hypocrisy small, by Christian leaders, can be easily discussed as evidence of the fall; hypocrisy large – meaning institutionally, broadly, continually – causes many in the Church to flea it, and will cause many outside of the Church to avoid it.

We are living in a time of hypocrisy large.

Christianity is greatest when it is hated by the world.

-          Ignatius of Antioch

As long as it is hated for the right reasons….

For neither I nor anyone like me can keep pace with the wisdom of the blessed and glorious Paul….

-          Polycarp

Maybe not a ringing endorsement of prima Scriptura (sola Scriptura when not caricatured and instead more rightly understood as the only infallible source), but a reason to consider it as being more valuable than tradition.

Pray continually for the rest of humanity as well, that they may find God, for there is in them hope for repentance.

-          Ignatius of Antioch

We are to love our enemies.  While this may be almost impossibly difficult in our daily, external actions, we can at least pray for them.

Biographies / Sources

Clement of Rome (c. 30 – 101) was the fourth bishop of Rome.  Some believe he was the companion of St. Paul mentioned in Philippians 4:3 (“…together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers….”), although others reject this ancient attribution; the name was a common name at the time.   

Clement’s Letter of the Romans to the Corinthians was probably written in the last couple of years of the first century.  In it, it is clear that the issues raised by Paul to this church community had not yet disappeared. 

2 Clement is not a letter, but a sermon.  It was not written or preached by Clement of Rome, despite the title it was given.  It is the first post-apostolic sermon to have survived.  Some believe it is from the last year or two of the first century; others date it from around 120 – 150.

Ignatius of Antioch (c. 30 – 110) was taught by the apostle John, and served as either the second or third bishop of Antioch.  It is common opinion that he was the small child set in the midst of the disciples by Christ when He said, in Matthew 18, “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”  This apparently, is quite doubtful, as Ignatius seems to have been a lifelong resident of Syria.

Everything we have from Ignatius was written after he was arrested and sent to Rome to be executed.  In this, he demonstrated a strong desire to be martyred for Christ; he saw this as the most desirable way to culminate his Christian experience.

Polycarp (c. 69 – 155) was taught by St. John the apostle.  He served as the bishop of Smyrna, instructing the young Irenaeus.  His only extant writing is a letter to the Philippians.  In it, he demonstrates the early Church’s determination to hold faithfully to the teaching of Christ and the apostles. 

He was infamous to non-Christians for his faithful teaching and piety.  Unlike Ignatius, his friend and fellow student of John the apostle, he does not emphasize the distinctiveness of the episcopal office.