We are familiar with the Patristics, Apostolic Fathers, and Cappadocian Fathers of the Orthodox Church, but do we know the other two? This article aims to answer these questions, as well as present a comprehensive overview of the works of the Church’s fathers. If you are new to the subject, read on! We will discuss the key points of the Patristics, Apostolic Fathers, and Cappadocian Fathers and how they impact modern-day Christianity.
Table of Contents
Patristics
Patristics has undergone a revival of sorts in the last few decades. Its revival was partly due to the potential of ancient Christian sources to inform contemporary theological thinking. The neopatristic paradigm is not confined to Greek and Latin sources, but is also relevant to theological traditions of other Christian denominations. As such, the neopatristic paradigm has expanded to include patristics of other languages.
During the early Christian period, the early Christians, including Augustine, were accused of Hellenizing Christianity. In reality, they were simply trying to formulate Christianity into intellectual categories that were more accessible to their age. These men were the first Christian theologians. Throughout the patristic period, tension between the Gospel and philosophy continued to persist. The positive and negative results of this tension were attained by Augustine and Gregory of Nyssa. Ultimately, heretics divided the Church and its community.
Apostolic Fathers
There are many works of the Apostolic Fathers, a group of early Christian writers that is still widely venerated in the Orthodox Church. These writings include the Didache, a compilation of the Twelve Apostles’ teachings, and the Shepherd of Hermas, among others. In addition, these writings are an example of the early church’s commitment to the veneration of martyrs. The Apostolic Fathers write about a variety of topics ranging from the teaching of Jesus to the practice of faith.
The writings of the Apostolic Fathers are hardly known for their systematic exposition of doctrine and brilliancy of style. Only Ignatius and Diognetus show literary prowess. Their edifying works emphasize the importance of good works and the necessity of faith in achieving salvation. Consequently, a number of other works addressing the corpus have also emphasized the importance of good works in the process of salvation.
Cappadocian Fathers
The theological writings of the Cappadocian Fathers are rare among the orthodox church fathers. One of their most famous formulas is “one nature, three hypostases.” The Trinity is a unity of three personages in one God. This is an important distinction for understanding the Trinity. However, the difference between the two approaches is less clear than the distinction between the two.
The Cappadocian Fathers were important contributors to the orthodox church’s early history. Their work in defining the nature of the Trinity and the relationships between God and man were embraced by the Eastern churches. While many Eastern bishops strayed away from Nicea’s definition of God, the later councils in Constantinople reaffirmed this doctrine. They also wrote important homilies on various biblical texts.
The Cappadocian Fathers are often credited with the development of the doctrine of the Trinity. They lived during the Arian controversy and helped articulate the doctrine of the Trinity. Gregory of Nyssa and Basil the Great were notable Cappadocian Fathers. Gregory of Nyssa was born two years after Basil and lived until 395. The oldest Cappadocian, Gregory of Nazianzus, died in 389.
Cappadocian
The Cappadocian Fathers were a group of early Christian thinkers who made great contributions to the doctrine of the Trinity and Christology. This group of church fathers helped the early church during a crucial time. Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nyssa, and Gregory of Nazianzus were three of the most prominent Cappadocian Fathers. Among other things, they contributed to the development of the trinitarian vocabulary.
The first two Cappadocian Fathers were largely influenced by the Greek philosophers, and both shared a strong interest in theology. Basil of Caesarea, for example, wrote extensively on the idea of one substance in three persons, and his argument was understandable in a Platonism parallel. Any three human beings, however, are individual persons but share a common universal. This doctrine was condemned by Nicea, who accused the Cappadocians of blurring the distinction between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
