Apostolic Fathers

American  

plural noun

1. the fathers of the early Christian church whose lives overlapped those of any of the apostles.

2. the collection of works attributed to them.

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Apostolic Fathers British  

plural noun

1. the Fathers of the early Church who immediately followed the Apostles

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Etymology

Origin of Apostolic Fathers

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

High point of The Apostolic Fathers is the "Letter to Diognetus."

From Time Magazine Archive

The first volume of the series,* The Apostolic Fathers, is already out.

From Time Magazine Archive

The degree of historic claim which these various writings have to rank as the works1 of Apostolic Fathers varies greatly on any definition of “apostolic.”

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 3 "Apollodorus" to "Aral" by Various

Thus briefly may these Apostolic Fathers be dismissed, since their testimony fades away as soon as it is examined, as a mist evaporates before the rays of the rising sun.

From The Freethinker's Text Book, Part II. Christianity: Its Evidences, Its Origin, Its Morality, Its History by Besant, Annie Wood

Although it is commonly included among the Apostolic Fathers, the date is uncertain, it is anonymous, and the reason for its inclusion is not clear.

From A Source Book for Ancient Church History by Ayer, Joseph Cullen