Hermias wrote his work, Derision of the Heathen Phi- losophers, probably about 170.
Dionysius of Corintb wrote some epistles ; all lost ex- cept a ver}' few fragments; fl. 170.
Hegesippus, originally a Jew, wn-oto History of the Church, of which only a few fragments survive, about 175.
Tatian wrote an Oration arjaiiist the Greeks, which has been preserved ; died probably about 17G.
Athenagjras wrote an Apoloff;/ for the Christians, and also on the resurrection, both of which have been translated into English, 17G.
Theophilus, bishop of Antioch, wrote his work on re- ligion to Autolyeus about 180; died 181.
Irenaeus, bishop of Lyons, Gaul, in the latter part of the second centurj' (became bishop about A.D. 177), wrote his work Against Jleresies, or .1 Refutation and Subversion of Knowhdge falsely so calkd, between A.D. 182 and 188 ; died about A.D. 202.
Minucius Felix wrote his Octavlus, or defence of Chris- tianity, about 208.
III.— I I
Clement of Alexandria succeeded Pantaenus in tlie catechetical school of that citj' 188 or 199 ; quitted Alexandria 202 ; died about 217. Tertullian became a Montanist about the year 200 ; his Api'ilo'jy was comjiosed (198 or) 205 ; his work against Marcion, 207 ; has left a great variety of tracts on the vices and customs of his age — as on the theatre, the dress of females, idolatry, second mar- riages, the soldier's crown, and on flight in persecu- tion, etc. ; died about 240. Hippolytus, bishop of Portus Romanus, wrote, besides manj' other pieces, Philosojihoumena, newly discov- ered; died about 230. Origen, born 185 ; head of the catechetical school at Alexandria 204; went to Rome, and returned to Alexandria, 213 ; went to Caesarea, in Palestine, 215 ; ordained at CiBsarea, and afterwards settled there, about 230 ; retired to Cappadocia 235 ; re- turned to Cassarea 239 ; a laborious scholar and crit- ic ; compiled a Hexapla, or Polyglot Bible ; wrote commentaries on Scripture, some of which survive ; a treatise on prayer ; and a defence against Celsus ; thrown into prison 250 ; died 254. Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, 248 ; fled from Carthage 250 ; returned 251 ; banished 257 ; author of epis- tles, addresses, and tracts ; advocate of Episcopacy ; suflTered mart^-rdom 258. Dionysius, surnamed the Great, bishop of Alexandria,
a scholar of Origen, 247 or 248 ; died 2G5. Gregory (Thaumaturgus), bishop of Neocaesarea, flour- ished 245 ; composed a creed, an oration in praise of Origen, and a parap'.irase on Ecclesiastes ; died about 270. Victorinus wrote scholia on the Apocalj'pse ; died .303s Arnobius wrote his treatise of seven books Against the
Gentiles about 305 ; died probably about 325. Lactantius, finished his Institutes about 320 ; wrote also on The Ds:ith of Persecutors, and on The Wrath of God; composed a symposium or banquet, and an itinerary, botli in verse ; died 325. For the literature, see each of these titles in its al-- phabetical place. The greater part of this period, down at least to the death of Origen, A.D. 254, may be called the apologetic period of the earl}'^ Church, and many of the writers of that time belong to tha class of apologists (q. v.). The last half of the period was one of construction of doctrines and of polemical discussion of them within the Church. Strife against pagans and pagan philosophy on the one hand, and against Judaic Docetism and Gnosticism on the other, characterizes the whole period (see Neander, History of Dogmas, Ryland's translation, i, 33 sq.). "While the so-called apostolical fathers (with few exceptions) were distinguished by a direct practico-ascetical rather than a definite doctrinal activity, the philosophizing tendency allied to Hellenism was in some measure represented by tlie apologists Justin Martyr, Tatian, Athenagoras, Theophilus of Antioch, and Minucius Fe- llx in the AVest. On the contrary, Irewvus, as well as Tertidllan, and his disciple Cyprian, firmly adhered to the positive dogmatic theologj' of the Church, the for- mer in a milder and more considerate, the latter in a strict and sometimes gloomy manner. Clement and Origen, both belonging to the Alexandrian school, chiefly developed the speculative aspect of theologj'. But these contrasts are only relative ; for we find, e. g. that Justin Alartyr manifests both a leaning towards Hellenism, and a strong Judaizing tendency ; that the idealism and criticism of Origen are now and then ac- companied with a surprising adherence to the letter; and that Tertulli;in, notwithstanding his anti-Gnostic tendency, evidently strives after philosophical ideas. It was the characteristic feature of the apologetical period, that the whole system of Christianity as a re- ligious-moral tact was considered and defended rather than particular <loctrines. Still, certain doctrines be- come more prominent, while others receive less atten-
FATHERS OF THE CHURCH 498 FATHERS OF THE CHURCH
tion. Investigations of a theological and christologi- cul nature are certainly more numerous than those of an anthropological character. On this account the doctrine of human lilierty is made more conspicuous in this period tlian later writers approved. Next to theolo.:y and christology, eschatology engaged most tiie attention of Ciiristians at that time, and was more fully developed in the struggle with millenarianism on the one side, and with the scepticism of Grecian philos- ophers on the other" (Hagenbach, History of Doctrines, § 'iG, 27). A valuable literary histor}' of the ante-Ni- ccne fathers is furnished by Donaldson, Critical His- tory of Christian Literature and Doctrine, from the death of the Apostles to the Nicene Council (Lond. 1864, 3 vols. 8vo), a work which shows industry and ability, but is not remarkable for true critical judgment. Dr. Bu- chanan remarks that "Donaldson argues on the erro- neous principle that the teaching of the earlier fathers ma}' be applied as a test, if not of the truth of certain doctrines, at least of their necessity and importance as articles of faith. 'If the earl}' writers were hete- rodox on the Trinity — if they knew nothing of a satis- faction of divine justice, hut spoke onh' in a vague waj' of the matter — if they wavered in regard to original sin, some denj'ing it entirelv, and others expressing themselves with great uncertainty — if their testimony to the inspiration of the New Testament is unsatisfac- tory and inconclusive, where was Christianity in those days .' l)id it reall v sleep for three long centuries ? . . . . Or may not the evangelical school be wrong in asserting that it is necessary for a man to believe in original sin, the Trinity, the atonement, and similar dogmas, before he can be a Christian .?' (vol. i, p. G4). Dr. Donaldson's work — considered as a 'Critical His- tory of Christian Literature' in the first three centu- ries— is highly valuable, and exhibits the results of ripe scholarship, and extensive reading and research; but considered as a ' Critical Historj' of Christian Doc- trine,' it is far from being a safe guide. His interpre- tation of many passages in the writings of the fathers is, to say the least, highly questionable, and at direct variance with that of such writers as Bull, and Water- land, and Faber. But, even were it more certain than it is, and did it afibrd proof that their writings were loss in accordance with .Scripture than we Ijelieve them to have been, we should still fall l)ack on the cardinal principle that they are to be tested by the only infalli- ble standard, the inspired Word of God. ' To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this Word, there is no light in them.' We should then be constrained to saj' of them, as the propliet said of ancient Israel, ' They have forsaken the word of the Lord, and what wisdom is in them ?' but we should have no difficulty in answering the question. Where was Christianit}- then ? for it existed then, as it exists still, in 'the Word of God, the Gospel of our salva- tion ;' and it was neither dead nor asleep, but alive and active in tlie Church of the Catacombs" (Buchan- an, Doctrine ofjustifcntion, Edinb. 18G7, p. 431).