Early Leaders, Teachers, and Apologists

Question 1

Cyprian of Carthage

Answer 1

Latin North African bishop, theologian, martyr
3rd century
Pastor during mid-century persecution (Decius/Valerian)
Responded to schism; wrote on Church and sacraments
“He can no longer have God for his Father, who has not the Church for his mother.” And, extra Ecclesiam nulla salus, or, “outside the Church there is no salvation.”

Question 2

Ignatius of Antioch

Answer 2

Bishop of Antioch
1st and 2nd centuries
Martyred in Rome
One of the Apostolic Fathers
Wrote series of letters to the churches
"Permit me to imitate the passion of my God."

Question 3

Origen of Alexandria

Answer 3

Early Christian teacher and apologist
2nd and 3rd centuries
Well versed in Greek philosophy
Prolific biblical and theological writings
emphasized spiritual interpretation of Scripture
Some of his speculations (such as on the soul) later deemed unorthodox

Question 4

Perpetua and Felicitas

Answer 4

ea. 2nd-cent. martyrs in Carthage, North Africa (d. 203)
Noblewoman Perpetua and her slave Felicitas, both young mothers, imprisoned after their baptisms and executed in arena with companions
influential passion narrative; first women to be widely venerated by church

Question 5

Tertullian of Carthage

Answer 5

North African Latin Apologist
2nd and 3rd centuries
Develops early Trinitarian language
Affirmed natural law but rejected Greek philosophy (“What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?”)
Later attracted to the charismatic, rigorist “new prophecy” movement called Montanism

Question 6

Polycarp of Smyrna

Answer 6

Bishop of Smyrna in Asia Minor (Izmir, Turkey)
1st - mid-second century
link between apostolic age and early Christian writers (such as Irenaeus)
arrested, confessed serving Christ for 86 years, refused to recant, burned to death
earliest account of Christian martyr outside NT

Question 7

Clement of Alexandria

Answer 7

Early Christian theologian and teacher
2nd - ea. 3rd century
Head of catechetical school in Alexandria
Dialogues with Platonist philosophy
Christ is the Logos and the Christian is the “true gnostic (i.e. has true knowledge)”

Question 8

Justin Martyr

Answer 8

Early Christian apologist
2nd century
Described his path from various philosophies to Christianity as the “true philosophy”
Presided over Christian philosophical school in Rome
Provides an early account of Christian worship

Question 9

Irenaeus of Lyons

Answer 9

Bishop of Lyons in Gaul (France), “first catholic theologian”
2nd century
opposed Gnosticism in Against Heresies
Appealed to Scripture and tradition
Christ was the new Adam who in his incarnation restored (“recapitulated”) humanity