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[[Image:Polycarp.jpg|thumb|220px|Polycarp of Smyrna, one of the Apostolic Fathers, depicted with a book as a symbol of his writings.]]
The '''Apostolic Fathers''' are a small collection of [[Christianity|Christian]] authors who lived and wrote in the second half of the [[1st century]] and the first half of the [[2nd century]] and who are acknowledged as leaders in the early church, but whose writings were not included in the [[New Testament]] [[Biblical canon]], at least as finalized in [[Roman Catholicism]], [[Eastern Orthodoxy]], and [[Protestant Christianity]].
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The '''Apostolic Fathers''' were a group of early [[Christian]] leaders believed to know the [[Apostle]]s personally. The term also refers to the collection of [[Christianity|Christian]] writings attributed to these men from the late [[first century]] C.E. and the first half of the [[second century]] C.E.
  
The Roman Catholic label “Apostolic Fathers” has been used since the [[17th century]] (see below) to emphasize that these authors were thought of as being of the generation that had personal contact with the [[Twelve Apostles|Apostles]].  Thus they provide a link between the Apostles who knew [[Jesus of Nazareth]] and the later generation of Christian apologists and defenders of orthodox authority and developers of doctrine: the [[Church Father]]s.
+
The authors are traditionally acknowledged as leaders in the early church whose writings were not included in the [[New Testament]] [[biblical canon]]. Evidence exists that some of these works were once bound as part of the New Testament scriptures in some churches. However, several of the works are actually anonymous, and their attributions have been challenged by recent scholarship.
  
==Definition of terms==
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The term “Apostolic Fathers,” has been used since the [[seventeenth century]] to emphasize that these authors were thought of as being of the generation that had personal contact with the [[Twelve Apostles|Apostles]]. Thus they provide a link between the Apostles who knew [[Jesus of Nazareth]] and the later generation of Christian apologists and defenders of orthodox authority known as the [[Church Father]]s.
[[Image:Burghers michael saintpolycarp.jpg|left|thumb|St. Polycarp, depicted with a book as a symbol of his writings.]]
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{{toc}}
The "Apostolic Fathers" are distinguished from other Christian authors of this same period in that their practices and theology largely fell within those developing traditions of [[Pauline Christianity]] that became the mainstream. By the 4th century, mainstream [[Nicene Christianity]], dominated by the interpretation of [[Paul of Tarsus]],  was in a position to declare significantly different interpretations as [[heretical]].   Other early, but not "apostolic" writings have been actively denounced and suppressed in the following centuries and many are now "lost" works.  The writings of the Apostolic Fathers are in a number of genres, some, e.g. the writings of [[Clement of Rome]]  are letters (called [[epistles]]), others relate historical events, e.g. the [[Martyrdom of Polycarp]], and one (the [[Didache]]) is a guide for ethical and liturgical practice.
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Study of the Apostolic Fathers has yielded important insights into the formation of the early Christian tradition, the emergence of the bishop's office, the development of a concept of Christian scriptures, and the emergence of "proto-orthodox" Christian theology.
  
===Origin of term===
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==Definition==
According to the ''Catholic Encyclopedia,'' the use of the term "Apostolic Fathers" can be traced to a 1672 title of Jean Baptiste Cotelier, his ''SS. Patrum qui temporibus apostolicis floruerunt opera'' ("Works of the holy fathers who flourished in the apostolic times"), which title was abbreviated to ''Bibliotheca Patrum Apostolicorum'' by L. J. Ittig in his edition (Leipzig, 1699) of the same writings. Since then the term has been universally used, especially by Roman Catholic writers. (Other traditions make little distinction between these Apostolic Fathers and Church Fathers in general.)
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The Apostolic Fathers, as persons, are distinguished from other Christian (or semi-Christian) authors of the same period in that their practices and theology largely fell within those developing traditions of orthodox [[Pauline Christianity]] that became the mainstream. They thus represent an emerging "proto-orthodoxy," as opposed to heretical writers of the same or slightly later period. By the fourth century, mainstream [[Nicene Christianity]] was in a position to use the power of the Roman state in declaring significantly different interpretations as [[heretical]].
  
===Opposition to term===
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The writings of the Apostolic Fathers are in a number of genres, some being letters, sermons, apocalyptic prophecy, a biography of a martyr, and a guide to moral and liturgy practice.
Not all Christians employ the term "Apostolic Fathers."  The authority resonant in the phrase suggests that these writers provide ''the'' authentic historical connections to the apostolic generation.  For those Christians for whom Church tradition is of comparable weight with Scripture, this is a helpful [[Apologetics|apologetic]] trope, and thus a possible motivation for its use. Christians who believe that a [[Great Apostasy]] took place early in the church's history are particularly unlikely to employ this term.  In [[Protestant]] theology the term is also less used and the writings are less frequently studied (but see [[Paleo-Orthodoxy]])..
 
  
===Works by these authors that are missing today===
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Although a few of the opinions expounded by the Apostolic Fathers are no longer considered entirely orthodox, their writings in general provide important evidence for the "proto-orthodox" strain of early [[Christianity]], as well as its intellectual history.
Only some writings by these church leaders are extant.  Other writings did not survive and exist only as references,  in quotations and excerpts, or as literal fragments of parchment or papyrus.  These other writings, judged by the early and contemporary church to be of lesser value, are sometimes in different styles and contain different themes than the canonical scriptures and the writings of the apostolic fathers.
 
  
===Works by contemporaneous authors not considered Apostolic Fathers===
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Shortly after the time of the Apostolic Fathers, several Christian authors addressed their works to people beyond the Christian community (and sometimes to fellow Christians) and defended the Christian religion against [[paganism]], including [[Justin Martyr]], [[Irenaeus]], and [[Tertullian]]. These are considered [[Apologist]]s. A number of other authors, now only known in fragments, such as [[Papias]] and [[Hegesippus]], were more exclusively concerned with the apostolic continuity of the individual churches and their histories.  
The writings from the early Christian tradition during the time of the [[Roman Empire]] that are '''not''' classed in those of the Apostolic Fathers include the writings of the [[desposyni]], the [[apocrypha]] (including [[apocryphal gospels]]), much of the [[pseudepigrapha]], and the writings of unorthodox leaders, or [[heretics]] such as [[Marcion]] and [[Valentinius]]. The apocryphal gospels and pseudepigrapha are, for the most part, later writings that seem to have less historical accuracy than the canonical scriptures.  For the part of the heretics, much of what is known about them comes from the [[Church Fathers]]' later arguments against them; this information may be an incomplete or slanted picture of their ideas. In light of the discovery of the [[Nag Hammadi library]] most of the information about these groups as was expressed by early church fathers can be validated as being biased but accurate.
 
  
===Relationship to orthodoxy===
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=== Contemporary non-apostolic works===  
Within the Pauline tradition that eventually triumphed, but after the time of the Apostolic Fathers proper, some authors addressed their works to people beyond the Christian community and defended the Christian religion against [[paganism]], including  [[Justin Martyr]], [[Irenaeus]], and [[Tertullian]]. These are considered [[Apologist]]s.  A small number of other authors, now only known in fragments, such as [[Papias]] and [[Hegesippus]], were more concerned with the apostolic continuity of the individual churches and their histories. Although some of the minor opinions expounded by the Apostolic Fathers are no longer considered entirely orthodox, their writings provide important evidence for one strain of early Christianity, as well as its intellectual history.
+
The extant writings from the early Christian tradition that are not classed in those of the Apostolic Fathers include the [[apocryphal gospels]], much of the [[pseudepigrapha]], and the writings of unorthodox leaders or [[heretics]]. Much of this type of literature was intentionally destroyed by church authorities, although some fragments survived in the writings of orthodox teachers who quoted heretical writers in order to refute them. Most of the apocryphal gospels and pseudepigrapha are, however, somewhat later writings than the Apostolic Fathers.
  
===Inclusion on list===
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A number of the [[New Testament Apocrypha]] were discovered throughout the centuries, and a major discovery, known as the [[Nag Hammadi library]], was unearthed in the mid-twentieth century in [[Egypt]]. One formerly lost work which was recently discovered was the [[Gospel of Thomas]], which may be at least as early as some of the Apostolic Fathers themselves, and is thought to be quoted by the apostolic [[Epistle to Diognetus]].
The list of Fathers included under this title has varied. Inclusion is strictly based on church tradition, but literary criticism removed some writings formerly considered as 2nd-century, while of all the modern rediscovered writings, only the ''[[Didache]],'' discovered in the 1880s, has added one orthodox writing to the list. Chief in importance, according to the ''Catholic Encyclopedia,'' are three 1st-century Bishops:
 
  
* St. [[Clement of Rome]]. Clement, third successor to [[St. Peter]] as Bishop of Rome, "had seen the blessed Apostles [Peter and Paul] and had been conversant with them" (Irenaeus, ''[[On the Detection and Overthrow of the So-Called Gnosis|Adversus Haereses]]'', III, iii, 3).  
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==List of the Apostolic Fathers==
* St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]]. Ignatius was the second successor of St. Peter in the See of Antioch (Eusebius, ''Hist. Eccl.'', III, 36) and during his life in that center of Christian activity may have met with others of the Apostolic band. An accepted tradition, substantiated by the similarity of Ignatius's thought with the ideas of the Johannine writings, declares him a disciple of [[John the Evangelist|St. John]].  
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*'''[[Epistle to Diognetus]]'''—The Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus is traditionally the earliest example of Christian apologetics, specifically defending Christianity from its accusers. Language and other textual evidence date the work to the late second century and have caused it to be dropped in some collections as not truly "apostolic."
* St. [[Polycarp of Smyrna]], of whose intimate personal relations with the Apostles there is the strongest Church tradition. Polycarp was "instructed by Apostles" (Irenaeus, op. cit., III, iii, 4) and had been a disciple of St. John (Eusebius, op. cit., III, 36; V, 20) whose contemporary he was for nearly twenty years.  
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*'''[[Epistles of Clement|First Epistle of Clement]]'''—One of the earliest Christian documents outside the [[New Testament]], this letter is addressed from an unnamed person representing the church at [[Rome]] to the church at [[Corinth]]. It objects to the deposition of certain presbyters (elders) by the Corinthian church and is important as an early assertion of Roman primacy.
* St. [[Papias]] would certainly have been one of this group, if his work had not been inexplicably lost.
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*'''[[Epistles of Clement|Second Epistle of Clement]]'''—Not from the same writer as 1 Clement, this work is actually a sermon, delivered to a [[Gentile]] Christian audience primarily of former pagans. It is one of the first documents which treats the words of Jesus as "scripture," yet it also apparently quotes from the heretical [[Gospel of Thomas]], or from that gospel's sayings source, in which Jesus affirms that the [[Kingdom of God]] will come: "When the two shall be one, and the outside as the inside, and the male with the female, neither male or female." (2 Clem 12:2)
 +
*'''[[Didache]]'''—Not rediscovered until the nineteenth century, this handbook of moral instruction and liturgical practice is also known as the "Teaching of the Twelve" ([[Apostle]]s). More in the Jewish-Christian tradition than the other works in the collection, it emphasizes ethical behavior, proper [[worship]] and ceremonial practices, and also gives instructions about discerning false [[prophet]]s, hoping that itinerant true prophets will settle in local churches perhaps to serve as [[bishop]]s.
 +
*'''[[Epistle of Barnabas]]'''—Also called Pseudo-Barnabas, this is an anonymous treatise or sermon attributed to Paul's companion Barnabas, somewhat in the tradition of the [[Epistle to the Hebrews]]. It warns [[Christians]] to avoid Judaistic attitudes, but goes further than ''Hebrews'' by affirming that God's covenant belongs to Christians alone, and was never in fact received by the Jews.
 +
*'''[[Epistles of Ignatius]]'''—Seven short letters of the future martyr, Bishop [[Ignatius of Antioch]], to various other churches, particularly important in understanding the emerging of the "monarchical episcopacy," the institution of a single bishop as the central authority in each city's church, a principle which Ignatius strongly endorses.
 +
*'''[[Epistle of Polycarp]]'''—A letter from [[Polycarp]], the bishop of [[Smryna]] and future martyr, to the Philippian church, which many scholars believe to be a cover-letter sent with Polycarp's collection of the letters of Ignatius, although it deals primarily with other subjects, such as praise for the [[Apostle Paul]] and an exhortation against [[heresy]].
 +
*'''[[Martyrdom of Polycarp]]'''—An account of Polycarp's glorious martyrdom at the age of 86, this work is the first known description of a martyrdom outside of the [[New Testament]].
 +
*'''[[Shepherd of Hermas]]'''—A work of [[apocalyptic literature]] and prophecy by Hermas of Rome, widely read publicly in the early churches, predicting the imminent return of [[Christ]] and offering one last chance for Christians to repent of post-baptismal sins.
 +
*'''[[Papias]]'''—The fragments from the writings of Papias, the bishop of Hierapolis (modern [[Pamukkale]], [[Turkey]]), which have survived as quotations by later writers.
 +
* '''[[Quadratus of Athens]]'''—Considered by some as an apologist rather than one of the Apostolic Fathers, Quadratus addressed a discourse to the Roman Emperor [[Hadrian]], only a fragment of which survives.  
  
==List of works==
+
The list of Apostolic Fathers has varied. Official inclusion is based strictly on church tradition, but literary criticism resulted in the removal of some writings formerly considered as second century. Of all the writings rediscovered in the modern era, only the ''[[Didache]],'' discovered in the 1880s, has been added to the list.
*The [[Epistle to Diognetus]] (this one is hard to date and might also be of a later date)
 
*The [[Epistles of Clement|First Epistle of Clement]]
 
*The [[Epistles of Clement|Second Epistle of Clement]] (not actually written by Clement, but still a very early writing)
 
*The [[Didache]]
 
*The [[Epistle of Barnabas]]
 
*Seven short [[Epistles of Ignatius]] (the longer forms of these Epistles, and those beyond the seven, are widely considered later emendations and forgeries)
 
*The [[Epistle of Polycarp]]
 
*[[Martyrdom of Polycarp|The Epistle about Polycarp's Martyrdom]]
 
*[[The Shepherd of Hermas]]
 
*The fragments from the writings of [[Papias]], which have survived as quotations by later writers
 
*One short fragment from a writing by [[Quadratus of Athens]]
 
  
Most or all of these works were originally written in Greek. English translations of these works can be found online in the [[Ante-Nicene Fathers]] series on the [http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/ Christian Classics Ethereal Library website]. Published English translations have also been done by various translators, such as [[Joseph Barber Lightfoot|J.B. Lightfoot]] and Michael Holmes.
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==References==
 +
* Ehrman, Bart D. ''The Apostolic Fathers. Volume II''. Loeb classical library, 25N. Loeb Classical Library; New Ed. edition, 2003. ISBN 9780674996083
 +
* Gregory, Andrew F., and C. M. Tuckett. ''Trajectories Through the New Testament and the Apostolic Fathers''. Oxford University Press, 2006. ISBN 9780199267835
 +
* Jefford, Clayton N. ''The Apostolic Fathers and the New Testament''. Hendrickson Publishers, 2006. ISBN 9781565634251
 +
* Jefford, Clayton N., Kenneth J. Harder, and Louis D. Amezaga. ''Reading the Apostolic Fathers: An Introduction''. Hendrickson Publishers, 1996. ISBN 9781565631540
 +
* Trevett, Christine. ''Christian Women and the Time of the Apostolic Fathers (AD C. 80-160): Corinth, Rome and Asia Minor''. University of Wales Press, 2006. ISBN 9780708318386
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01637a.htm The Apostolic Fathers] - Retrieved September 21, 2007.
+
All links retrieved October 31, 2021.
*[http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/APO_ARN/APOSTOLIC_FATHERS.html Apostolic Fathers] - Retrieved September 21, 2007.
+
 
*[http://www.lcms.org/ca/www/cyclopedia/02/display.asp?t1=a&word=APOSTOLICFATHERS Apostolic Fathers] - Retrieved September 21, 2007.
+
*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01637a.htm The Apostolic Fathers]. ''www.newadvent.org''.  
 +
 
 +
 
  
 
[[Category:Philosophy_and_religion]]
 
[[Category:Philosophy_and_religion]]

Revision as of 12:05, 31 October 2021


Polycarp of Smyrna, one of the Apostolic Fathers, depicted with a book as a symbol of his writings.

The Apostolic Fathers were a group of early Christian leaders believed to know the Apostles personally. The term also refers to the collection of Christian writings attributed to these men from the late first century C.E. and the first half of the second century C.E.

The authors are traditionally acknowledged as leaders in the early church whose writings were not included in the New Testament biblical canon. Evidence exists that some of these works were once bound as part of the New Testament scriptures in some churches. However, several of the works are actually anonymous, and their attributions have been challenged by recent scholarship.

The term “Apostolic Fathers,” has been used since the seventeenth century to emphasize that these authors were thought of as being of the generation that had personal contact with the Apostles. Thus they provide a link between the Apostles who knew Jesus of Nazareth and the later generation of Christian apologists and defenders of orthodox authority known as the Church Fathers.

Study of the Apostolic Fathers has yielded important insights into the formation of the early Christian tradition, the emergence of the bishop's office, the development of a concept of Christian scriptures, and the emergence of "proto-orthodox" Christian theology.

Definition

The Apostolic Fathers, as persons, are distinguished from other Christian (or semi-Christian) authors of the same period in that their practices and theology largely fell within those developing traditions of orthodox Pauline Christianity that became the mainstream. They thus represent an emerging "proto-orthodoxy," as opposed to heretical writers of the same or slightly later period. By the fourth century, mainstream Nicene Christianity was in a position to use the power of the Roman state in declaring significantly different interpretations as heretical.

The writings of the Apostolic Fathers are in a number of genres, some being letters, sermons, apocalyptic prophecy, a biography of a martyr, and a guide to moral and liturgy practice.

Although a few of the opinions expounded by the Apostolic Fathers are no longer considered entirely orthodox, their writings in general provide important evidence for the "proto-orthodox" strain of early Christianity, as well as its intellectual history.

Shortly after the time of the Apostolic Fathers, several Christian authors addressed their works to people beyond the Christian community (and sometimes to fellow Christians) and defended the Christian religion against paganism, including Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, and Tertullian. These are considered Apologists. A number of other authors, now only known in fragments, such as Papias and Hegesippus, were more exclusively concerned with the apostolic continuity of the individual churches and their histories.

Contemporary non-apostolic works

The extant writings from the early Christian tradition that are not classed in those of the Apostolic Fathers include the apocryphal gospels, much of the pseudepigrapha, and the writings of unorthodox leaders or heretics. Much of this type of literature was intentionally destroyed by church authorities, although some fragments survived in the writings of orthodox teachers who quoted heretical writers in order to refute them. Most of the apocryphal gospels and pseudepigrapha are, however, somewhat later writings than the Apostolic Fathers.

A number of the New Testament Apocrypha were discovered throughout the centuries, and a major discovery, known as the Nag Hammadi library, was unearthed in the mid-twentieth century in Egypt. One formerly lost work which was recently discovered was the Gospel of Thomas, which may be at least as early as some of the Apostolic Fathers themselves, and is thought to be quoted by the apostolic Epistle to Diognetus.

List of the Apostolic Fathers

  • Epistle to Diognetus—The Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus is traditionally the earliest example of Christian apologetics, specifically defending Christianity from its accusers. Language and other textual evidence date the work to the late second century and have caused it to be dropped in some collections as not truly "apostolic."
  • First Epistle of Clement—One of the earliest Christian documents outside the New Testament, this letter is addressed from an unnamed person representing the church at Rome to the church at Corinth. It objects to the deposition of certain presbyters (elders) by the Corinthian church and is important as an early assertion of Roman primacy.
  • Second Epistle of Clement—Not from the same writer as 1 Clement, this work is actually a sermon, delivered to a Gentile Christian audience primarily of former pagans. It is one of the first documents which treats the words of Jesus as "scripture," yet it also apparently quotes from the heretical Gospel of Thomas, or from that gospel's sayings source, in which Jesus affirms that the Kingdom of God will come: "When the two shall be one, and the outside as the inside, and the male with the female, neither male or female." (2 Clem 12:2)
  • Didache—Not rediscovered until the nineteenth century, this handbook of moral instruction and liturgical practice is also known as the "Teaching of the Twelve" (Apostles). More in the Jewish-Christian tradition than the other works in the collection, it emphasizes ethical behavior, proper worship and ceremonial practices, and also gives instructions about discerning false prophets, hoping that itinerant true prophets will settle in local churches perhaps to serve as bishops.
  • Epistle of Barnabas—Also called Pseudo-Barnabas, this is an anonymous treatise or sermon attributed to Paul's companion Barnabas, somewhat in the tradition of the Epistle to the Hebrews. It warns Christians to avoid Judaistic attitudes, but goes further than Hebrews by affirming that God's covenant belongs to Christians alone, and was never in fact received by the Jews.
  • Epistles of Ignatius—Seven short letters of the future martyr, Bishop Ignatius of Antioch, to various other churches, particularly important in understanding the emerging of the "monarchical episcopacy," the institution of a single bishop as the central authority in each city's church, a principle which Ignatius strongly endorses.
  • Epistle of Polycarp—A letter from Polycarp, the bishop of Smryna and future martyr, to the Philippian church, which many scholars believe to be a cover-letter sent with Polycarp's collection of the letters of Ignatius, although it deals primarily with other subjects, such as praise for the Apostle Paul and an exhortation against heresy.
  • Martyrdom of Polycarp—An account of Polycarp's glorious martyrdom at the age of 86, this work is the first known description of a martyrdom outside of the New Testament.
  • Shepherd of Hermas—A work of apocalyptic literature and prophecy by Hermas of Rome, widely read publicly in the early churches, predicting the imminent return of Christ and offering one last chance for Christians to repent of post-baptismal sins.
  • Papias—The fragments from the writings of Papias, the bishop of Hierapolis (modern Pamukkale, Turkey), which have survived as quotations by later writers.
  • Quadratus of Athens—Considered by some as an apologist rather than one of the Apostolic Fathers, Quadratus addressed a discourse to the Roman Emperor Hadrian, only a fragment of which survives.

The list of Apostolic Fathers has varied. Official inclusion is based strictly on church tradition, but literary criticism resulted in the removal of some writings formerly considered as second century. Of all the writings rediscovered in the modern era, only the Didache, discovered in the 1880s, has been added to the list.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Ehrman, Bart D. The Apostolic Fathers. Volume II. Loeb classical library, 25N. Loeb Classical Library; New Ed. edition, 2003. ISBN 9780674996083
  • Gregory, Andrew F., and C. M. Tuckett. Trajectories Through the New Testament and the Apostolic Fathers. Oxford University Press, 2006. ISBN 9780199267835
  • Jefford, Clayton N. The Apostolic Fathers and the New Testament. Hendrickson Publishers, 2006. ISBN 9781565634251
  • Jefford, Clayton N., Kenneth J. Harder, and Louis D. Amezaga. Reading the Apostolic Fathers: An Introduction. Hendrickson Publishers, 1996. ISBN 9781565631540
  • Trevett, Christine. Christian Women and the Time of the Apostolic Fathers (AD C. 80-160): Corinth, Rome and Asia Minor. University of Wales Press, 2006. ISBN 9780708318386

External links

All links retrieved October 31, 2021.

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