Pat 101 – Nicene & Post Nicene Fathers
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PAT 101 – NICENE & POST NICENE FATHERS Lecture I What is Patrology? Patrology is derived from Latin word “Pater” which means “Father” Patrology is the science dealing with the life, acts, writings, sayings, doctrines & thoughts of the early fathers. Patrology focuses on ensuring the authenticity of these acts, publishing them and translating them in modern languages. Why Study Patrology? Leads us to a true understanding of Christianity through the works of the early fathers. Reveals to us the circumstances in which the fathers witnessed to Christ. Helps us discover the fathers‟ dogma, doctrines & concepts concerning God, man, church, salvation, eternal life. Etc. Classifications of Patristic Writings Classification by Time Especially first 5 centuries can be classified on Time. First Ecumenical Council (Nicaea) separated fathers into 2 kinds: Ante-Nicene – Simple Literature Nicene & Post Nicene Fathers Classification by Language Greek (Eastern) Fathers Majority of the fathers wrote in Greek. Some also used their national languages such as Coptic, Syrian & Armenian. Latin (Western) Fathers Classification by Place Egyptian Fathers – School of Alexandria & Desert Fathers. Antiochenes Fathers – In Antioch (Turkey) Cappadocian Fathers – In Cappadocia (Asia Minor) Latin Fathers – In Europe Classification by Material Apologetic – defending the faith against critics. Biblico-exegetical – Interpretations/Explanations of the Bible. Homilies & sermons. Letters. Liturgical works. Classification by Material Christian poetry & songs Dialogues Ascetic Writings Church canons Church History Chronological Outline of Patristic Literature The Beginning of Christian Patristic Literature Ante-Nicene Literature after St. Irenaeus. Golden Age of the Eastern Fathers Western Fathers (4th and 5th Centuries) Writings after the Council of Chalcedon Outline of Patristic Literature • Canonical Legislation & liturgical Formulas. Beginning • Writings of Apostolic Fathers. • Apocryphal Literature (separated from of canonical books). Christian • Acts of the Martyrs Patristic • Works of the Apologists – Defenders of Literature the faith. • Beginnings of Heretical Literature • Beginning of Anti-Heretical Literature Outline of Patristic Literature • Writings of the early fathers of the School of Alexandria. Ante- • Writings of the fathers of Asia Minor, Syria & Nicene Palestine. • Beginning of the western Christian literature Literature by Minucius, Felix, Hippolytus of Rome, etc. after St. • The African christian Fathers such as Irenaeus Tertullian, St. Cyprian, Arnobius of Sicca & Lactantinus • Other writings of the west Outline of Patristic Literature Golden Age & • Egyptian Fathers such as St. Alexander who Eastern faced Arius, St. Athanasius the Apostolic, St. Serapion, St. Didymus the blind, Fathers St.Theophilus., St. Cyril the great. • Foundation of the monastic movement in Egypt enriched by the writings of those who Council of practiced or recorded monastic life. Nicea (325 • Cappadocian Fathers writings ex. St. Basil AD) – Council the great, St. Gregory of Nyssa, etc. of Chalcedon (451AD) Outline of Patristic Literature Golden • Writings of the fathers of Asia Minor: Age & Eusebius of Nicomedia, Asterius the Sophist.. Eastern • Writings of the fathers from Antioch & Syria: Eusebius of Caesarea, Eunomius of Fathers Cyzicus, Acacius of Caesarea. • Christianity and Manichaeism (religion founded in the 3rd centruy): John Council of Chrysostom, Diodore of Tarsus, Theodore of Nicea (325 Mopsuestia, Mark the Hermit. AD) – Council • Church Historians of Constantinopole: Philip of Chalcedon Sidetes, Socrates, Theodoret of Cyrus. (451AD) Outline of Patristic Literature • St. Hilary of Pitiers. • Anti-Arian Writers: Eusebius of Vercelli, Western Maruis Victorinusetc. Fathers • St. Ambrose of Milan. • St. Jerome. • The writers of Gaul (Western Europe); (4th & 5th Eucherius of Lyons, Eutropius, Hilary of Centuries) Arles • Italian writers; Fortunatius of Aquileia, Maximus of Turin, Zosimus, Celestine I, Leo. Outline of Patristic Literature Writings • The Great Miaphesite Fathers: St. after the Severus of Antioch, St. Timothy of Council Alexandria & St. Philoxenos of Mabagh. Chalcedon • The Egyptian Fathers in the middle ages. The Apostles‟ Creed A brief summary of the principal doctrines of Christianity. Written in the „Beginning of the Christian Patristic literature‟ stage of Patristic Literature. Written after Apostolic age. All it‟s articles express the faith of the Apostles. Considered by the western church as the basic of her creeds. Creeds History– Baptismal Creed “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt 16:16). A starting point of setting a creed. Baptismal Creed - Proclamation of the faith in a brief & simple form. Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.“ (Acts 8:37). Confession of faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God was sufficient for converts to be baptized. Creeds History – ICHTHUS (ΙΧΘΥΣ) Hellenistic (Greek) world Creed. Classic Greek for „fish‟ & initials of „Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour‟. Added „Saviour‟ to baptismal creed. Iota (i) is the first letter of Iēsous (ησοῦς), Greek for Jesus. Chi (ch) is the first letter of Christos (Χριστóς), Greek for "Christ" or "anointed". Theta (th) is the first letter of Theou (Θεοῦ), that means "God's", genitive case of Θεóς, Theos, "God". Upsilon (u) is the first letter of huios (Υ͑ ἱός), Greek for Son. Sigma (s) is the first letter of sōtēr (Σωτήρ), Greek for Savior. Creeds History – Gnosticism Heresy Bodies and all material as evil and created by Satan. Denies reality of incarnation. Christ had a heavenly body different from our body. He never suffered nor was crucified. Necessity for a creed to emphasize the reality of incarnation, suffering, crucifixion, resurrection & ascension in every worship. Thus the Apostles’ Creed. Apostles‟ Creed Text I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ, His Only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into Hades, the third day He rose from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; Apostles‟ Creed Text from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. And I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy Catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. The Didache Lord‟s instructions to the gentiles through the twelve apostles. One of the oldest documents of Christian antiquity. Oldest source of ecclesiastical (church) law. Highly esteemed in the early church in Egypt, Syria and Palestine. F. L. Cross (Divinity professor, Oxford University 1944- 1968) states that the discovery of this work as a guide of an educational teaching and church order is the most important in the field of Fathers‟ literature in the last hundred years. Didache – Author Not attributed to a specific editor. Summary of the Lord‟s teachings to the Apostles through their evangelism to the Gentiles. Didache - Date Dated to the second half of the first century because: Refer to the stability of the Church – realized at the end of the apostolic time. Most quotations derived from the Gospel according to St. Matthew – not collated before 90 AD. Does not deal with attitude of Judaism – first problem that faced the church in apostolic age. Collated close to the Apostolic era because: Very simple language – fitted that period. Didache Discovery Discovered in 1837 AD by Philotheos Bryennios – Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Nicomedia. Discovered in the Jerusalem Codex (11th-century Greek manuscript dated to1052 or 1056 A.D.). Published in 1883. Didache - Contents Ecclesiastical rituals of the time. Instructions on the organization of communities. Regulations pertaining to liturgical functions. Divided in four sections: Christian Behaviour 1 – 6. Liturgical & Sacramental Life 7-10, 14. Disciplinary Regulations 11 – 15. Parousia (Coming) of the Lord. Didache - Samples Be watchful over your life; never let your lamps go out or your loins be un-girt, but keep yourselves always in readiness, for you can never be sure of the hour when our Lord may be coming. Come often together for spiritual improvement; because all the past years of your faith will be no good to you at the end, unless you have made yourselves perfect..