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The Ap

GROUP 4

APOLOGISTS
The new breed of dedicated Christian men who devoted their lives for the propagation
and defense of the faith through their writings.

How did the Christian apologists respond to these distortions of doctrines and the
division created by such heresises?

CLEMENT OF ROME
Philippians 4:3
And I ask you also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they have labored side by side
with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose
names are in the book of life.
Who was this Clement being referred to in Pauls letter to the Philippians?

A.CLEVELAND COX(1994) EUSEBIUS

There is no one acknowledged Epistle of this Clement(whom he
has just identified with the friend of St.Paul), great and
admirable, which he wrote in the name of the Church of Rome to
the Church at Corinth, sedition having then arisen in the latter
church, We are aware that this Epistle has been publicly read in
very many churches both in old times, and also in our own day.

POLYCARP OF SMYRNA
Polycarp is our direct link to the Lords disciples with the influence of John, Paul in
his epistle.

Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, wrote to the Church at Philippi

-

Exhortation of virtue
Practice of love
Hope and patience
Reminders for deacons
Youth and virgins
Duties of Presbyters
All Christians

POLYCARP
Betrayed by a servant
Asked to denounce his faith in Jesus by his persecutors
Refused to revile Christ
Stood unthreatened by torture and death
Embraced martyrdom by being burned alive inside the stadium before a
multitude of people.

POLYCARP MARTYRDOM
It was well recorded by ancient writers, and was
considered as one of the most inspiring stories of the
early Christians that defied human persecution and
withstood the trial of faith, even the fearful test of
death.

IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH (30-108 A.D.)

Coming from humble origins, Ignatius succeeded Evodius as Bishop of Antioch, the
largest city in Syria, at the beginning of the second century, when the Church was fifty
years old. Origiinally a pagan and influenced by philosophy, he knew the procedure of
Stoic diatribe as well as the sophistication of Asian metoric He was arrested around
110 and taken under a military escort to Rome. The he was not beheaded, but thrown to
the wild beasts for food.

FIGHT AGAINST HERESIES

Ignatius fought the Judaizers and the Docetists
Judaizers were the Christians who felt that all Christians must
follow Jewish law.

Docetism name given to the belief that Jesus did not really have
a body but only seemed to have one.

EPISTLE TO THE MAGNESIANS AGAINST JUDAIZING

For whosoever is called by any other name besides this, he is not of God; for
he has not received the prophecy which speaks thus concerning us: The
people shall be called by a new name, which the Lord shall name them, and
shall be a holy people. This was first fulfilled in Syria; for the disciples were
called Chrisitans at Antioch, when Paul and Peter were laying the
foundations of the Church. Lay aside, therefore, the evil, the old, the corrupt
leaven, and be ye changed into the new leaven of grace. Abide in Christ that
the stranger may not have dominion over you. It is absurb to speak of Jesus
Christ with the tongue, and to cherish in the mind a Judaism which has now
come to an end. For where there is Christianity there cannot be Judaism.

IGNATIUS
An ardent believer of his vocation to Christ
Emphasized the divine vindication of the Christians
Stressed the superiority of the Christian faith
Pointed out the contradiction of ones confession to Christ
Promised the destiny of every Christian to eternal life in Christ

EPISTLE TO THE TRALLIANS

Explained the rrors of the docetists
Criticized the docetists as an evil offshoot which
produces death-bearing fruit, whereof if any one tastes,
he instantly dies

IRENAEUS OF LYONS (120-202 A.D.)

Born in Smyrna
Acquainted with Polycarp
Remembered as the apologist who notably defended the Christian practice
and doctrine

Adversus Haeresus (Against Heresies)

Labored to dispel the exclusive claim of the Gnostics

SPECIAL REVELATION FROM GOD

Irenaeus was able to point out that what the Gnostics preached
as salvific revelation by God

Church owes a lot from Irenaeus for laying the ground of

Scripture and Tradition

JUSTIN MARTYR (114-165 A.D.)

Born in Flavia Neapolis, city of Samaria, the modern Nablous
Date of birth is uncertain but may be fixed about 114 A.D.
Found his peace in the hope offered by the Christian faith.
Impressed with the extraordinary fearlessness which the Christians displayed
- Presence of death
- With the drandeur
- Stability and truth of the teachings of the Old Testament

 Acted as evangelist to proclaim the Gospel as the only safe and

certain philosophy, the only way to salvation.

Two Apologies and the Dialogue with Trypho

APOLOGY OF JUSTIN
Christian address to the Roman Emperor Titus Aelius Adrianus Antoninus Pius
Augustus Caesar and other Roman persons for demand of justice from the
persecutions that Christians suffered.

Fulfilment of the prophecies of the Old Testament in the life and person of
Jesus Christ.

Describes the life of the Christians centered on the practice of Baptism,

Eucharist and its weekly worship.

JUSTINS DIALOGUE WITH TRYPHO

Matters pertaining to the jews and the Christians.
Starts with an intellectual inquiry on their philosophies
Ends with an exhortation for the conversion of the Jews to Christ in order to
be saved.

TERTULLIAN (145-220 A.D.)

Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus
Remembered by his strong character and pure brilliance for the Churchs
defense against heresies.

Some historians claim that Tertullian was born a pagan in Carthage, Africa
Others maintain that he was born from Christian parents.
Well-educated in the law, rhetoric, and Greek.

 A fighter against faulty reasoning and divisive false teachings

Produced a number of apologetical writings against Marcion
Paganism and Heresy
Systematic exposition of Christian doctrine.
Around 206 he abandoned the Church for Montanism
Hero of Christians in Cathage
Villain of the Christian Church