There were in
many voices in a very different way, among the apologists started. There were
groups of people in the early church fathers who defended the false charges of
the from the state and from all pagan acquisition. They were learned scholars
and philosophers. Most of them were converted from non Christian background.
Their main works were to write to the emperor or rulers that Christians did not
deserve the punishment that those rulers were trying to do. They argued that
Christianity was the oldest and best religion and philosophy. Several
apologists rose to the situation. Their apologies were mostly addressed by the
intellectual people. Quadratus of Athens was the first apologist to write in
125 A.D. He wrote his apology to the emperor Hardian. Aristicles was the second
apologist who wrote in 140 A.D. He was an Athens Christian apology who wrote to
the emperor Antonius Pius. Justin Martyr who wrote 153 A.D.His apology was the
most famous one. Tatian disciple of Justin. Another Meleto, bishop of Sardis
who wrote between 169 and 180 A.D. Athenagorash wrote in 177 A.D. All these
apologist defended the Christianity. Most of them are philosophical background
and interpret Christianity from the philosophically and rationally. They
provided for modern theology.
Justin Marty: Most outstanding
apologist (Eastern apologist) was born in the city of Sachem. During Jesus it
was in the province of Samaria. Later, they moved from Sachem to Ephesus and
conversion took place there. He was a student of philosophy and attracted many
philosophical ideas. He first accepted Stoicism and later he came under the
influence of Aristotelian philosophy. He studied several philosophies one after
the other. While he was studying all these philosophies, he was directed to
prophet and as a result of that he disregarded the other philosophies and
became convinced that the prophets of the Old Testament were wiser than any
other philosophers. He recognized them as the men filled with God’s spirit
because they were able to prophesize the coming Christ. He came to the
conclusion that the summary of all these prophets as this Christ as the son of
God. All of a sudden a flame was kindle in him and became convince that the
Christianity is the oldest and truest and the most decisive to all
philosophies. And it is this convincing which made him Christian. Even after
his conversion he regarded himself as a philosopher. He wrote his apologies to
the emperor Antonius Pius. He was trying to defend Christianity from governmental
antagonism and from hidden criticism. He rote several books but one of his most
famous books are written to Antonius Pius and Marcus Aurelius in which he
defended Christianity. He argued in his apology that Christians are good
citizens, quiet, peace loving and constantly pray for the welfare of the
empire. His appeal was very sincerely, saint and scholarly. His appeal was that
it is the fulfillment of the Old Testament religion. He explained the Christian
Sacrament and Christian worship. He was regarded as the most outstanding
apologist.
Western Apologists: They were the Latin
speaking people. There were some differences between Western and Eastern
apologists. Eastern apologists used philosophy in their arguments while the
Western apologists basically wrote in Latin and more practical. Eastern
apologists tried to compare Greek faith with other faiths. Whereas Western
Apologists tried to emphasize and finality and Christianity was distinguished
from the other faith. They said that Christianity as a final and ultimate
answer and there is only one savior.
Tertullian of Carthage: He was one of
the outstanding apologists from the Western Church and son of a Roman officer,
Roman centurion. He was trained in both Greek and Latin classics. He also
learned the public speaking. He also practiced law and later he converted to
Christianity. Compared with many other people, his teaching on the fall of man
is very clear. He clearly stated the doctrine of Trinity and it is said that he
is the one who first used the term Trinity. For this reason, Western Church was
not affected the Trinitarian controversy which actually affected in the East.
In fact before
325, Tertullian settled in Western Church. He is also clear on the doctrine of
the fall of man. He says that by the fall of man likeness of man in God was not
affected. He believed that the likeness of God in man is his soul and that was
not marked or totally taken out by the fall of man. He started doctrine that
says the soul is transmitted from parents to the children. He also lays great
emphasize on baptism and he says that sin committed after baptism is
unforgivable. He is very often regarded as father of Latin theology. He had a
very negative attitude towards worldly life. All forms of present age is not
only alien to God but also hostile to God. He also defined the logos
Christology and his logos Christology is defined “against praxis” or against
heresy. He is the one who introduced several theologies in trinity, sacrament,
satisfaction, married, substance etc.
Cyprian of Carthage (200-258) 19.8.11.
V.V.Thomas.: He was a wealthy and very highly educated person who converted
into Christianity in around 246 A.D. He
was very good example of Christian life. About three years after his
conversion, he was elected as the bishop of Carthage, which was one of the most
outstanding Churches in North Africa in 248. Position was held until he was
martyred in 258. He was a great
organizer and administrator. Around 250 A.D. a terrible persecution broke out
after his election and it seems he escaped by hiding from his place. Therefore,
many people doubted his commitment but his biographer says that he was directed
to hide himself to guide his church during the time of persecution through his
letters. One of the very most influential of his day. He is noted for his great
emphasis on a unity of the church. He repeatedly said that there is only one
Church in each locality and one and two bishops in each church and no salvation
outside the Catholic Church. He gave primacy to the patriarchs of the Rome,
because of Rome’s connection with Peter.
If Tertullian is the one who formulated the doctrine of Trinity and gave
the name to that doctrine, we can say that Cyprian is the one who gave or
shaped the doctrine of the apostolic succession and the primacy of honor to the
Roman bishop in the Church. He also his doctrine of Communion. He thought about
the real presence of Christ in the element. He also said that the person or the
clergy who is celebrating became the sacrificing Priest. By this, he meant that
it is the repeating and continuous Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. (Roman
Catholic developed the doctrine of Transubstantial which means it became
Christ’s body)
Clement of Alexandria: He was a wondering philosopher and later
converted into Christianity. He succeeded his teacher in Alexandrian School in 119
A.D. and gave leadership in 202. A.D. There were two Schools:- Alexandrian
School and Antiochan School. He belonged to the Alexandrian School. He did not
see Christianity and Philosophy opposed to each other. He belied that Greek
philosophy was given to the Greek people like the Old Testament was given to
the Jewish people as school master as a guide to lead them to Christ. He said that
Christianity is the Crown of all philosophies. He thought that faith is not
enough to obtain salvation. According to him, besides faith knowledge also
needed to obtain salvation. He said that knowledge is higher than the faith.
This knowledge is developed in Jesus Christ.
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