Ante-Nicene Fathers
The Ante-Nicene Fathers are those early Church fathers (and their associated writings) from the beginning of Christianity to the time of the creation of the Nicene Creed (the prefix "ante" means "before"). People in this category include Polycarp, Tertullian, Julius Africanus, Ignatius, Origen, and Clement.
The writings of the Ante-Nicene Fathers are the subject of controversy within Christianity. Supporters contend that the positions held by the Fathers represent Christian doctrine of the first centuries after the New Testament, and are thus presupposed by certain Christian apologists to be uncorrupted by later distortions and departures introduced by heretics and apostates. When there was conflict about the truly catholic and orthodox interpretation of the Scriptures, theologians sought backing for their position in the writings of "the Fathers". By this they meant teachers of an earlier era who demonstrated how the apostolic scriptures were understood and applied by the apostles and their immediate successors.
However, opponents (primarily within Fundamentalism) point to doctrines in the writings of the Fathers which they argue support Catholic and Orthodox dogmas, as evidence of a very early departure from New Testament truth which began immediately after the death of the last of the apostles of Jesus (see Great Apostasy).
See also
External links
- Ante-Nicene Fathers (biblestudytools.com)
- Early Christian Writings A.D. 30 through 380 (earlychristianwritings.com)
- Early Church Fathers Overview: Snapshot of the Fathers, by Marcellino D'Ambrosio (Dr. Italy) (crossroadsinitiative.com) Summaries of their doctrines and influence on Christianity.
- Theology Adrift: The Early Church Fathers and Their Views of Eschatology, by D. Matthew Allen (bible.org) Baptist article on evidence of false doctrine in Ante-Nicene Fathers.
- The Great and not-so-Great Apostasy (catholicbasictraining.com)
- The Apostasy: An Era of Spiritual Darkness (thegreatapostasy.com).
