The Apologists 185 – 250 A. D.

1. The Apologists185 – 250 A. D. Key source: F. W. Mattox, The Eternal Kingdom: A History of the Church of Christ, Delight, Arkansas: Gospel Light Publishing Company, 1961

2. Introduction • Following the persecution of Nero, Christians had to worship in secret. • This resulted in various false accusations, as we have seen. • Various Christians began to defend themselves by writing what are known as “Apologies.”

3. Quadratus (125 – 129) • He was one of the first apologists. • His composition was addressed and presented to Hadrian, the emperor, in Athens about 129 A.D. • Though copies did not survive, he was quoted by Eusebius.

4. Aristides (138 – 147) • His is the first complete apologetic document. • He shows familiarity with the four gospel accounts, Acts, Romans and 1 Peter.

5. Justin Martyr (103 – 165) • A native of ancient Shechem in Palestine, Justin visited philosophical schools to find answers to deep questions about life. • He met an aging Christian (133) and became a Christian. • Only two of his works have been preserved.

6. Justin’s “Apology” • “Apology” is addressed to Antonius (150) urging the emperor to learn the truth about Christianity. • He demonstrated/described how Christians met for worship on the 1st day of the week, the Lord’s day. • Baptism was referred to as washing because immersion was the common form. • Baptism was for the remission of sins unto regeneration. • He referred to the bishop in charge of the assembly as the president.

7. Justin’s “Dialogue with Trypho” • He presented Jesus as the Messiah foretold in the prophecies of the O. T. • He used Greek philosophy and the allegorical method to defend Christianity. • He believed all Christians are priests. • He presented Christ as God’s faculty of reason, the Logos, who by a voluntary process was caused to be generated as the Christ.

8. Tatian (125 – 200) • He traveled widely over Greece studying Greek philosophy. • He met Justin who converted him (before 150) • Upon his return to Greece (152-155), he wrote an “Address to Greeks.” • Ridiculed Greek superiority and the immorality expressed by their sculpture and art • Showed the superiority of Christianity • He said Moses and the prophets were older than Greek religions, therefore Christianity preceded them.

9. Tatian • His greatest work was “Diatessaron,” which was an account of the life of Christ. • This was the first harmony of the gospels, blending four gospels into one continuous story. • After Justin’s death, he became over-exalted, finally resulting in his becoming a gnostic.

10. Melito (169 – 190) • Melito was a bishop of Sardis. • He wrote 18-20 compositions, with three (“On the Lord’s Day,” “On Baptism,” and “Apology”) being significant. • He strongly influenced Apologists who followed.

11. Melito • In “Apology” (c. 170), he shows the emperor that the church was a positive force and he should defend it. • He defending Christianity as God’s final revelation to man. • That the final revelation was foreshadowed in the O.T. • That the sacrifices were all typical of Christ’s sacrifice. • That the Law was a forerunner of the gospel.

12. Athenagorus (177 – 180) • He was a teacher in Athens and an early example of a person being converted to Christ through personal reading of Scripture. • His “Supplication for the Christians” (180) refutes the charges against Christians. • His “On the Resurrection of the Dead” sets forth reasons for believing in the resurrection and that resurrection is not only a reality but a necessity.

13. Theophilus (190) • He became a Christian through his own study of Scripture and was the 6th bishop of Antioch. • His defense of Christianity (190) was addressed to Autolycus, an educated pagan official he hoped to convert. • He first dealt with the existence of God, absurdities of pagan gods/idolatry and a discussion of the fact of the resurrection.

14. Theophilus • In the second part, • he contrasted the defense Greeks made of their gods/religion with that set forth in the Old Testament • In the third part, • he went on to show Christianity is a true development of God’s plan of which Judaism was the first phase • Christianity is superior to paganism • Pagans were wrong in their attacks on Christianity • He quoted the OT and NT, saying both were inspired by one Spirit of God.

15. The State of the Church • Understanding the Apologists in light of developments affecting the state of the church. • Last half of the 2nd Century was characterized by persecution from without and heresy from within • Schismatic movement developed rapidly • Canon of Scripture was not yet established • Christian doctrine was being handed down orally, which gave opportunity for personal views to be added to uninspired gospels • Most were anonymous or pseudonymous and were confused for a time with inspired writings, leading to rapid growth of false ideas

16. Marcion • Born in 85 A. D., the son of Sinope, an elder of the church in Pontus • He eventually became an elder, but also became a wealthy ship owner • He came to Rome from Asia Minor (138), rich, intelligent, zealous and good organizer • He was benevolent—said to have given $10,000 to such work at the Roman church

17. Marcion • He felt the church was drifting into a cold legalism • The Christians had fallen into the casuistry they had practiced as Jews, putting the letter above the spirit • He saw the Law as an enemy to the liberty and grace of the gospel • He wanted to throw the OT out completely • He believed the God of the OT (defined by justice) was different from the God of the NT (love and mercy)

18. Marcion • He believed Paul was the only apostle who really understood the gospel, thinking the others had fallen into the errors of Judaism • Today he would be called a “modernist” or “liberalist” because he rejected the commandments of Christ thinking they were no part of faith • The church in Rome withdrew from him (144) because of his extremes

19. Marcionite Chruch • Marcion formed the Marcionite Church following being withdrawn from. • It lasted into the 5th Century • He accepted only the gospel of Luke and the epistles of Paul as inspired • He even cut from these books all the passages that seemed favorable to the Law • About 150, he wrote a treatise called, “Antithesis,” or “Contradiction”

20. Gnosticism • Gnosticism comes from the Greek word for “to know” • At first, Christians called themselves “true Gnostics” because they had learned true wisdom • Gnosticism is generally used to refer to those who rejected the revelation of God and relied on human wisdom • They solved problems according to their own mental gymnastics and became to the early church what the Christian Scientists are today

21. Gnosticism • They believed in a dualism which pronounced the material world evil and the spiritual good. • For man to get above the material to the spiritual he must go through a heirarchy of intermediate beings—Christ was only one and angels are also a part—to be worshiped • Man was to buffet his body, rise above the material • God is a spirit and therefore could not make a material world • This great God breathed out emanations that resulted in the formation of a lesser God, the Jehovah of the OT

22. Gnosticism • Gnostics had fertile imaginations and many schools of thought • They mixed up a little Christianity, a little Judaism, philosophy, some of the mystery religions, pagan religions and wild dreaming • They held the spirit was imprisoned in the body • They divided men into 3 classes: animal or material man predestined to destruction, psychic men who could attain salvation with the help of ordinary Christians, and spiritual men who were destined to eternal life

23. Gnosticism • Gnostics put great emphasis on secret knowledge and traditions they claimed were handed down by Christ and the apostles (wrote many books ascribed to the inspired apostles) • They led many astray. • Leaders had to carefully determine which books were inspired and uninspired • Leaders had to expose secret doctrines as error • Gnosticism reached its height about 150 and resulted in anti-Semitism, celibacy and monasticism.

24. Docetism • From the Greek word for “to seem” • They believed Christ did not really suffer on the cross but just “seemed” to suffer. • Theory based on conception that matter is essentially evil, therefore Christ was not corrupted with anything of the material world • Neither the incarnation nor the crucifixion were actual facts, only the semblance of reality • Led by Ignatius to feel the church would be better protected from this error if one elder (president) was exalted to a permanent position of authority

25. Montanism • Montanus reacted to a growing formalism and reliance on human leadership. • He said the Holy Spirit was guiding the church in a direct way. • He said the promises Jesus made to the apostles applied to him, even claiming he was greater than the apostles. • He even claimed he was the first to receive the Holy Spirit in its completeness. • He was a priest in a pagan temple of Cybele in Arboda before his conversion and carried the emotionalism of paganism into Christian worship.

26. Montanism • Montanus’ doctrine spread to many lands, even taking the brilliant Tertullian. • The possession of spiritual gifts was the test of a true Christian. • He taught marriage was permissible but it was lower than celibacy. • Second marriages and all worldly enjoyments were forbidden. • The Christian who fell back into sin could not be forgiven. • He set a date for Jesus’ return. • When it did not take place, his followers were scattered.

27. Iranaeus (130 – 200) • Iranaeus, who is considered one of the later “Apologists,” was an educated man converted following hearing Polycarp. • He quoted from nearly every Christian writer. • He traveled widely, but settled at Lyons in Gaul where he became bishop in 177.

28. Iranaeus • He wrote 5 books “Against Heresies” (c. 185). • He gave a description of Gnosticism. • He showed Mt., Mk., Lk. and Jn. are the only inspired gospel accounts. • He defended the virgin birth of Jesus. • He established a continuation of God’s plan from the OT to the NT and believed the OT sacrifices were continued in the Lord’s supper. • In order to confirm the truth of Scripture, he traced the succession of bishops.

29. Iranaeus • He said Peter and Paul established the church at Rome. • He does not list Peter as the first bishop of Rome. • He said congregations were independent. • He said there was no organization outside the local church.

30. Clement of Alexandria (150-215) • Titus Flavius Clement, a native of Athens, became known because of his writings while connected with the famous Alexandrian Bible School. • He defended Scripture. • He wrote instructions for the unconverted, “A Hortatory Word to the Gentiles,” commonly called, “Address.” • To the newly converted, he wrote, “Instruction.” • To mature Christians, he wrote, “Clothes-bags.” • He combined the study of Philosophy with the gospel as an approach to reach the Greeks.

31. Tertullian (155 – 223) was born at Carthage c. 155 • While practicing law and teaching in Rome, he was converted and returned to Carthage to spread the gospel. • When Christians were persecuted and martyred, he wrote a defense appealing for justice. • Common charges (cannibalism, etc.) not true • Although Christians could not call the Emperor “God,” they did respect him and were loyal citizens. • He said persecution would not destroy the church – “the blood of Christians is seed.”

32. Tertullian • He wrote to Christians in prison to strengthen their faith and give encouragement in the face of torture. • He wrote on many Biblical subjects to refute error. • While Tertullian led to the exaltation of the church at Rome, he reacted in the opposite extreme toward Montanism. • Note: This shift from one extreme to another will be seen repeated throughout the history of the church, even to this day.

33. Tertullian • He left the traditional church and worked with the Montanists until 122, but also reacted to their extreme. • He formed an independent church in Carthage that may have been close to the NT pattern. • Through the persuasion of Augustine, he entered the Catholic Church.

34. Hippolytus (170 – 236) • He studied under Iranaeus in Gaul, but spent most of his life in Rome. • He was a fiery preacher and a puritan in morals. • He opposed the laxity in the Roman church – the church split, with one part choosing him as bishop • The rift was healed during persecution under Maximin (c. 235). • His writing consisted of Biblical interpretation, opposition to laxity in the church and opposition to heresy. • He was the last writer in Rome who wrote in Greek.

35. Origen (185 – 254) • Origen was born into a pagan family of Alexandria in 185. • At the age of 8, his parents were converted and became steadfast Christians. • He attend the Bible school of Alexandria under Clement. • In 202, his father was put to death. • In 203, he was placed in charge of the school to train new converts.

36. Origen • He taught 12 years until another great wave of persecution, when he fled to Rome. • He went on to teach in Palestine with great success. • He went back to the school in Alexandria and taught another 13 years. • He converted Ambrose and obtained a wealthy patron who encouraged him to write and publish. • He dictated to seven secretaries who replaced each other as they tired.

37. Origen • He had seven scribes and a number of young assistants. • His great work was producing an OT in six languages in parallel columns and in writing a commentary on every book in the Bible. • Though he was brilliant, his work is filled with much speculation and he looked with scorn on anyone who took Scripture literally.

38. Origen • He had a philosophical approach to Christianity which fit his philosophical theories. • Of special note are his works: • “Exhortation to Martyrdom,” which was written to Ambrose who was in prison. • His treatise, “On Prayer,” displayed a rich understanding of Scripture and complete trust in the providence of God.