List of Early Christian Writers

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' personal disciples. The Church Fathers are later writers with no direct connection to the disciples (other than the claim to Apostolic Succession). Apologists defended Christianity against its critics, especially 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
  • 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
  • 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, Platonist, 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 anti-pope, reconciled with the church and died a martyr 217~236
  • Cyprian bishop of Carthage, martyr 218~258
  • Clement of Alexandria, church father with gnostic sympathies ~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 for Christological errors
  • Donatus Magnus, bishop of Carthage, (+355), leader of the Donatists from 313
  • Lactantius, apologist, "Christian Cicero" ~317
  • Arnobius, apologist ~330
  • Eusebius, wrote History of the Church ~325 after the victory of Constantine over paganism and is considered the Christian Herodotus, the first major Church historian

Famous quotes containing the words list of, list, early, christian and/or writers:

    “Feminism is an entire world view or gestalt, not just a laundry list of women’s issues.”
    —Charlotte Bunch (b. 1944)

    “Hey, you dress up our town very nicely. You don’t look out the Chamber of Commerce is going to list you in their publicity with the local attractions.”
    —Robert M. Fresco, and Jack Arnold. Dr. Matt Hastings (John Agar)

    “The setting sun is reflected from the windows of the alms-house as brightly as from the rich man’s abode; the snow melts before its door as early in the spring. I do not see but a quiet mind may live as contentedly there, and have as cheering thoughts, as in a palace.”
    —Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)

    “[Rutherford B. Hayes] was a patriotic citizen, a lover of the flag and of our free institutions, an industrious and conscientious civil officer, a soldier of dauntless courage, a loyal comrade and friend, a sympathetic and helpful neighbor, and the honored head of a happy Christian home. He has steadily grown in the public esteem, and the impartial historian will not fail to recognize the conscientiousness, the manliness, and the courage that so strongly characterized his whole public career.”
    —Benjamin Harrison (1833–1901)

    “We hear a great deal of lamentation these days about writers having all taken themselves to the colleges and universities where they live decorously instead of going out and getting firsthand information about life. The fact is that anybody who has survived his childhood has enough information about life to last him the rest of his days.”
    —Flannery O’Connor (1925–1964)