Fathers Of The Church
The Nuttall Encyclopedia [1]
The early teachers of Christianity and founders of the Christian Church, consisting of live Apostolic Fathers —Clement of Home, Barnabas, Hermes, Ignatius, and Polycarp, and of nine in addition called Primitive Fathers —Justin, Theophilus of Antioch, Irenæus, Clemens of Alexandria, Cyprian of Carthage, Origen, Gregory Thaumaturgus, Dionysius of Alexandria, and Tertullian. The distinctive title of Apostolic Fathers was bestowed upon the immediate friends and disciples of the Apostles, while the patristic period proper may be said to commence with the 2nd century, but no definite date can be assigned as marking its termination, some closing it with the deaths of Gregory the Great and John of Damascus, while Catholic writers bring it down as far as the Council of Trent; discarded among Protestants, the Fathers are regarded by Catholics as decisive in authority on points of faith, but only when they exhibit a unanimity of opinion.
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [2]
13. Fabricius, Bibliotheca Greca, etc. (Hamb. 1708-28,14 vols.; ed. by Harless, 1790 to 1812, 12 vols. including Index); Fabricius, Bibliotheca Ecclesiastica (mentioned above); Fabricius,
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Bibliography Information McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Fathers of the Church'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/f/fathers-of-the-church.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
