Introduction to the Fathers of the Church
"I have always suggested, and will not stop
suggesting, that you not only heed what is said in church, but also
constantly occupy yourself in reading the Divine Scriptures at
home."
- John Chrysostom
"A sound mind...that is devoted to piety and love of truth will
eagerly meditate upon those things that God has placed within the
power of mankind ... and are clearly and unambiguously set forth in
the sacred Scriptures."
- Irenaues
Who are the Fathers?
Those first apostles and preachers of Christ worked tirelessly to
maintain the truth of Christ's teaching are known as the Fathers of
the Church. From the beginning of Christianity, even in the pages of
scripture itself, we see discussion on what the impact of the Gospel
should be in the believers community. As each Christian era rolls by
there are preachers who capture the essence of the Gospel for the
controversies of their times. They are recognized as the leaders and
their works are held up as the model of understanding the faith.
These are the Fathers of the Church or Patristic authors. They are
universally recognized as authorities on the interpretation of
Scripture. We use their collective judgment and methods to measure
the truth of our preachers even to this day.
The work of the Fathers can be classified in a number of ways. But
most commonly they are seen in groups based on a combination of
geographic and period in history. In historical terms, the council
of Nicaea is considered an important dividing point for organizing
Patristic authors. Since Nicaea was the first ecumenical council
this began the period of formal gathering and definitions of
theological controversies by the Church at large.
Apostolic Fathers & Apologists
The period directly after the composition of the New Testament
scriptures is known as the Apostolic Fathers. When the final canon
of sacred scripture was established in the mid-fourth century, the
fathers decided to include only books with a direct authority from
the twelve apostles or Paul. There are many other fine examples of
Christian interpretation that were excluded from the New Testament
because the author did not fit this category. These are the works of
the Apostolic fathers, Clement of Alexandria, Barnabas and Polycarp
to name a few.
During the second century the Church had to respond to a number of
Christian groups that espoused views condemned by the church at
large, such as the Gnostic Christian sects. The Fathers who wrote
treatises to defend the mainstream tradition are known as the
Apologists. In Greek rhetoric, an Apologist is someone who defends
your position. Celsus, Athenagoras and Justin are among the
apologists.
Alexandrian Exegesis
Alexandria is an important city in northern Egypt. This was the seat of culture
and learning for the region. Here there was a large Jewish community with
centuries of history in scripture study. They are also the source of the Greek
translation of the Old Testament by Jews that became widely used in the
Christian communities. Theophilus and Didymus the Blind are two famous members
of this Christian school.
The Alexandrian school of exegesis is most famous for an interpretive technique
called allegorical exegesis. In allegory, on uses the elements of a scripture
passage as a basis for a comparison to another aspect of the spiritual life or
scripture. Allegory allows a multifaceted view of scripture.
The technique is used by St. Paul in 1 Timothy 5:18 to interpret the Deuteronomy
5:4 passage. Here Deuteronomy forbids the muzzling of an ox when he treads out
grain. Paul applies this passage to Christian preachers by allegory. Alexandria
had a long history in the rhetorical science of allegory in the ancient world.
Philo a Jewish allegorist, lived and wrote here at the same time as the
Christian community was practicing the same techniques.
Antiochian Exegesis
Antioch is the city along the Mediterranean coast of the middle east where
followers of Jesus were called Christians for the first time. This is also an
important trade center and school for the region. Here the Christian school of
interpreters practiced a style of exegesis called typology. John Chrysostom is
the most famous preacher from this school.
In typology, an event in the Old Testament is seen as a prelude to a similar
event or sequence in the New Testament. Typology is about a concrete series of
items playing out in both the Old and the New Testament. The Old Testament is
the type and the new is called the anti-type. The construct is analogous to a
rubber stamp and the impression it makes. The stamp is the anti-type and the
mark is the type. This style of interpretation can help us see the unfolding of
God's plan over time.
Desert Fathers
The communities of Christians in the desert developed as a way for people to
isolate themselves from the world in prayer. They found inspiration in the
wandering of the chosen people in the desert with God in the Old Testament and
Jesus' imitation of that wandering after his baptism. While this was largely a
movement of solitary hermits, communities did quickly develop around those who
were masters of spiritual meditation.
The spiritual fathers of the desert composed a number of works to help initiates
advance in prayer and the spiritual life. These collections are scripturally
based, but are not focused exegesis of scripture. They are rather practical
advice in the advancement of spirituality that is based on scripture. The
recognized leader of this movement was the monk Antony. His life story was
written by Athanasius. There is a famous anonymous collection called "The
Sayings of the desert fathers" that captures the essence of their thought.
Capadocian Fathers
Capadocia is in modern Turkey. Perhaps the most famous of the Capadocian Fathers
is Basil and the two Gregories, Nyssa & Nazianzus. These fathers managed to
combine the direct exegesis of scripture of the Antiochian/Alexandrian schools
with the concentration on the spiritual life from the desert fathers. Basil
would write a series of treatises on the ascetic life and found a monastic way
of life. The writings of all three would form the basis for the Hesychast
movement. This branch of spirituality gave us the Jesus prayer.
Syrian Fathers
The Syrian Fathers live in the large area that now includes Syria, Iran, Iraq
and Saudi Arabi. The center of learning was Babylon. This great city was home to
a Talmudic Jewish learning center. Here the foundation of Judaism as we know it
today was formed. The Syrian fathers had cordial relations with their Jewish
neighbors. They engaged in debate on the interpretation of scripture and we
benefit from these contacts in the insights of the fathers. Perhaps the most
famous import from the Syrian fathers is the prayer of Saint Ephem used during
our fasting liturgies.
Bibliography
Beuken, Wim, Seân Freyne, and Anton Weiler, eds. The Bible and its readers.
London: SCM Press, 1991. A collection of essays on scripture exegesis through
the centuries. This includes a number of essays on Patristic themes.
Finan, Thomas, and Vincent Twomey. Scriptural interpretation in the Fathers :
letter and spirit. Blackrock, Co. Dublin ; Portland, OR: Four Courts Press,
1995.
Grant, Robert M. Greek Apologists of the second century. Philadelphia:
Westminster Press, 1988.
Grant, Robert M., and David Tracy. A short history of the interpretation of the
Bible. 2nd rev. and enl. ed. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1984. In this book,
the author focuses chiefly on the NT and the early church, with modern
revisions. However, he refrains from prophecy, and, instead, sets forth his
interpretation of the basic principles of historical and theological scripture.
The author further translates quotations from the Greek NT.
Greer, Rowan A. Theodore of Mopsuestia, exegete and theologian. London: Faith
Press, 1961.
Greer, Rowan A. Broken lights and mended lives: theology and common life in the
early Church. University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1986.
Hall, Christopher A. Reading scripture with the church fathers Ancient Christian
Commentary, ed. Thomas Oden. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1998. A
supplement volume to the Ancient Christian Commentary on scripture series
dealing with patristic exegesis. This reviews the main figures, both east and
west. Hall also devotes a chapter each to both Antioch and Alexandria and their
schools.
Hall, Christopher A. Learning theology with the church fathers Ancient Christian
Commentary, ed. Thomas Oden. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 2002. A
supplement volume to the Ancient Christian Commentary on scripture series
dealing with the major theological controversies in patristic literature. Each
chapter is organized around these themes: Christology, Trinity, Holy Spirit, sin
& grace, God’s providence, scripture, resurrection and the church.
Quasten, Johannes. Patrology: The beginnings of Patristic literature. Vol. 1.
Utrecht: Spectrum Publishers, 1962.
Simonetti, Manlio. Biblical interpretation in the early church: an historical
introduction to patristic exegesis. Translated by John A. Hughes. Edinburgh: T&T
Clark, 1994.
Torrance, Thomas F. Divine meaning: Studies in patristic hermeneutics.
Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1995.
Tsirpanlis, Constantine N. Introduction to eastern patristic thought and
Orthodox theology. Vol. 30 Theology and life series. Collegeville, MN: The
Liturgical Press: A Michael Glazier Book, 1991.
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