Christian Publishing House Blog
Apologetic Defense of the faith, the Bible, and Christianity
Explore the rich legacy of Second and Third Century Christianity in Alexandria, Egypt, including the Alexandrian School, key theologians, theological debates, and lasting influences on Church history and theology.
The phrase Apostolic Age is derived from ἀπόστολος, G693, (Ezra 7:14; Dan 5:24). Meaning: that period of Early Church history during the life and work of the original apostles, which extended from the day of Pentecost (c. A.D. 33; Acts 2, to the death of John, c. A.D. 100). The main sources for the period are the Book of Acts and the NT letters.
Being apostolic would mean that they retained the teachings of the apostle. Even today, with all of the manuscripts and historical evidence, it is still difficult to determine just how closely the teachings of the Apostolic Fathers resembled to or agreed with Jesus’ teachings. The objective of these men was undoubtedly altruistic (noble), seeking to protect or support (make known) a certain orthodox Christianity. They denounced idolatry and loose morals. They believed that Jesus is the divine Son of God and that he was resurrected. However, they were not able to hold back the growing wave of apostasy. Sadly, being honest, some of them contributed to it.
Between A.D. 95 and about 150, a number of works were written by men who had known the apostles and the apostolic doctrine; they are known as the Apostolic Fathers.
Clement of Rome belongs to a group of early church leaders that have been known since the seventeenth century as the “Apostolic Fathers.”
The epistle was written in the name of the Roman Church to the Christian brotherhood at Corinth. The author was Clement, the Bishop of the Roman Christians, but he does not write in his own name.