The Church Fathers

The title of “church father” is given to several highly influential men that developed the church in the years after the bible cannon had finished. There were four church fathers picked by the Eastern church and four by the Western.

Eastern Church Fathers
Basil
Athanasius
Gregory of Nazangus
John Chrysostom
Western Church Fathers
Saint Ambrose
Saint Jerome
Saint Augustine
Pope Gregory the Great

These men are known as the Eight doctors of the Early Church. I will list several of them, and what they are known for: Ambrose was known to be a great apologist, St. Jerome translated the bible from Greek and Hebrew into Latin. St. Augustine was known for his writings and apologetics. Pope Gregory was the most influential pope of his time. Basil was an influential theologian who supported the Nicene Creed and opposed the heresies of the early Christian church, fighting against both Arianism and the followers of Apollinaris of Laodicea. Athanasius was a great apologist, and Gregory of Nazangus was a good teacher because of his smooth and polished speech.

The Apostolic Fathers

There were also three other very important men that though they aren’t called Church Fathers, were highly influential, and are called the Apostolic Fathers. These three men were taught by Jesus’ twelve apostles. There was: Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, and Polycarp of Smyrna.

Polycarp was known because he was martyred, and is regarded as a saint in the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran churches.
He studied under John the Apostle and was ordained as the bishop of Smyrna. He was burned at the stake, but the flames failed to consume him, so he was then stabbed.

Ignatius was a Christian writer and is known for writing a series of letters. Very little is known about his life, but he was a friend of Polycarp, as he also was a student of John, and was converted to Christianity at a young age. Ignatius was chosen to serve as Bishop of Antioch, and some say it was organized by St. Peter.

Clement of Rome was the Bishop of Rome and the Pope. Few details are known about Clement’s life. Clement was said to have been consecrated by Peter the Apostle. According to traditions, Clement was imprisoned under Emperor Trajan; during this time he is recorded to have led a ministry among fellow prisoners. Thereafter he was executed by being tied to an anchor and thrown into the sea. Many accounts show Clement as the second bishop of Rome, following Peter, but two others are often put before him. Clement is put after Linus and Cletus/Anacletus in the earliest (c. 180) account, that of Irenaeus.

“Clement is known for his epistle to the church in Corinth (c. 96), in which he asserts the apostolic authority of the bishops/presbyters as rulers of the church”

Wikipidia-Pope Clement I

All of these men helped develop the church in the early years of its life, and influenced, and spread the word of God throughout the world.