Various early Christian writers wrote gospels and other books, some of which were canonized as the New Testament canon developed. The Apostolic Fathers were prominent writers who are traditionally understood to have met and learned from Jesus's personal disciples. The Church Fathers are later writers with no direct connection to the disciples (other than the claim to apostolic succession). Early Christian apologists tried to defend Christianity against its critics, especially the Ancient Greek and Roman philosophers. Dates given, if not otherwise specified, are of their writings or bishopric, not of their lives.
Paul of Tarsus, "Apostle to the Gentiles", earliest New Testament author 45~65 Four Evangelists, traditionally identified as the authors of the canonical gospels 60~125 Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, apostolic father 68~107 Marcion of Sinope, evangelist and theologian, founder of Marcionism, published the first known canon of the New Testament, 85~160 Clement of Rome, bishop of Rome, apostolic father 88~101 Papias, bishop of Hierapolis, apostolic father 110~130 Polycarp of Smyrna, bishop of Smyrna, apostolic father 110~160 Aristides of Athens, apologist ~120 Justin Martyr, church father ~165 Melito of Sardis, bishop of Sardis, ~180 Irenaeus, bishop of Lyon, disciple of Polycarp, apologist 180~202 Origen of Alexandria, 185~254, Neoplatonist, controversial during his lifetime, posthumously condemned at the Second Council of Constantinople in 553 Tatian, pupil of Justin Martyr, ascetic theologian ~185 Athenagoras of Athens, philosopher, apologist ~190 Polycrates, bishop of Ephesus, excommunicated by Victor I of Rome over the Easter controversy ~196 Montanus, self-proclaimed prophet and founder of Montanism, last quarter of 2nd century CE Tertullian, church father, apologist, first Christian writer in Latin, later a Montanist 197~230 Hippolytus, church father, sometimes termed the first Antipope, reconciled with the church and died a martyr 217~236 Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, martyr 218~258 Clement of Alexandria, church father, Bishop of Alexandria ~220 Novatian, a rigorist and Antipope in 251 Dionysius, patriarch of Alexandria, pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church 248~264 Paul of Samosata, bishop of Antioch, adoptionist, condemned at 269 Council of Antioch Athanasius of Alexandria, c. 297~373, patriarch of Alexandria, defender of the Trinitarian doctrine Donatus Magnus, bishop of Carthage, (+355), leader of the Donatists from 313 Lactantius, apologist ~317 Arnobius, apologist ~330 Eusebius, wrote History of the Church ~325 Augustine of Hippo, 354-430, Latin church father, wrote Confessions and City of God
See also List of Church Fathers New Testament apocrypha
References