Galadriel
Well-Known Member
Christianity is a historic religion. We have roots going back 2,000 years to the time of Christ and the Apostles. So why do many of us in this day and age know very little about our Church Fathers, theologians, martyrs, and heroes of the faith who lived in 200 AD? 300 AD? 500 AD?
Did you know as early as 150 AD Christian leaders wrote in defense of the Trinity?
Did you know that the Christian Church was first called "Catholic" in 110 AD by Saint Ignatius of Antioch,who was a disciple of the Apostle John?
Did you know that the men who studied under the Apostles themselves and led the Church as Bishops are known as "Apostolic Fathers"? Are you interested in what they had to say about Christ, Scripture, church practice, etc?
This thread is a Primer on the Apostolic Fathers, where we can answer these questions and explore what Christians taught, believed, lived and died for throughout the centuries.
Saint Polycarp
Apostolic Father, Martyr
65 AD - 155 AD
--from (Catholic.Org)
Polycarp is credited with fighting against the Marcionite heresy. What is it? Marcionism (created by a man, Marcion) taught that the God of the OT and the God of the NT were two separate gods--one good, the other evil.
Polycarp lived during one of the waves of Roman persecution. He was burned and stabbed, but did not deny Christ. In fact, this is the prayer he made right before being martyred:
"Lord God Almighty, Father of your beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, through whom we have received knowledge of you, God of angels and powers, of the whole creation and of the whole race of the righteous who live in your sight, I bless you, for having made me worthy of this day and hour, I bless you, because I may have a part, along with the martyrs, in the chalice of your Christ, to resurrection in eternal life, resurrection both of soul and body in the incorruptibility of the Holy Spirit. May I be received today, as a rich and acceptable sacrifice, among those who are in you presence, as you have prepared and foretold and fulfilled, God who is faithful and true. For this and for all benefits I praise you, I bless you, I glorify you, through the eternal and heavenly High Priest, Jesus Christ, your beloved Son, through whom be to you with him and the Holy Spirit glory, now and for all the ages to come. Amen."
Did you know as early as 150 AD Christian leaders wrote in defense of the Trinity?
Did you know that the Christian Church was first called "Catholic" in 110 AD by Saint Ignatius of Antioch,who was a disciple of the Apostle John?
Did you know that the men who studied under the Apostles themselves and led the Church as Bishops are known as "Apostolic Fathers"? Are you interested in what they had to say about Christ, Scripture, church practice, etc?
This thread is a Primer on the Apostolic Fathers, where we can answer these questions and explore what Christians taught, believed, lived and died for throughout the centuries.
Saint Polycarp
Apostolic Father, Martyr
65 AD - 155 AD
Imagine being able to sit at the feet of the apostles and hear their stories of life with Jesus from their own lips. Imagine walking with those who had walked with Jesus, seen him, and touched him. That was what Polycarp was able to do as a disciple of Saint John the Evangelist.
But being part of the second generation of Church leaders had challenges that the first generation could not teach about. What did you do when those eyewitnesses were gone? How do you carry on the correct teachings of Jesus? How do you answer new questions that never came up before?
With the apostles gone, heresies sprang up pretending to be true teaching, persecution was strong, and controversies arose over how to celebrate liturgy that Jesus never laid down rules for.
Polycarp, as a holy man and bishop of Smyrna, found there was only one answer -- to be true to the life of Jesus and imitate that life. Saint Ignatius of Antioch told Polycarp "your mind is grounded in God as on an immovable rock."
--from (Catholic.Org)
Polycarp is credited with fighting against the Marcionite heresy. What is it? Marcionism (created by a man, Marcion) taught that the God of the OT and the God of the NT were two separate gods--one good, the other evil.
Polycarp lived during one of the waves of Roman persecution. He was burned and stabbed, but did not deny Christ. In fact, this is the prayer he made right before being martyred:
"Lord God Almighty, Father of your beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, through whom we have received knowledge of you, God of angels and powers, of the whole creation and of the whole race of the righteous who live in your sight, I bless you, for having made me worthy of this day and hour, I bless you, because I may have a part, along with the martyrs, in the chalice of your Christ, to resurrection in eternal life, resurrection both of soul and body in the incorruptibility of the Holy Spirit. May I be received today, as a rich and acceptable sacrifice, among those who are in you presence, as you have prepared and foretold and fulfilled, God who is faithful and true. For this and for all benefits I praise you, I bless you, I glorify you, through the eternal and heavenly High Priest, Jesus Christ, your beloved Son, through whom be to you with him and the Holy Spirit glory, now and for all the ages to come. Amen."