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The Apostolic Fathers

to c. AD 160

17 authors24 works All authors A–Z

The Didache

c. AD 50–120 · Church orders, liturgies and councils

The oldest surviving church manual.

1 work

Epistle of Barnabas

c. AD 70–132 · Greek East

An early letter reading the Old Testament as pointing to Christ.

1 work

Clement of Rome

d. c. AD 99 · Greek East

Bishop of Rome; his letter to the Corinthians is one of the oldest Christian writings after the New Testament.

4 works

Apocalypse of Abraham

1st–2nd century · Pseudonymous, apocryphal and doubtful writings

A Jewish apocalypse of Abraham's visions, kept in Old Slavonic.

1 work

Testament of Abraham

1st–2nd century · Pseudonymous, apocryphal and doubtful writings

A Jewish-Christian tale of Abraham's death.

1 work

Ignatius of Antioch

d. c. AD 108 · Greek East

Bishop of Antioch, martyred in Rome; author of seven letters written on the way.

1 work

Odes of Solomon

late 1st–2nd century · Pseudonymous, apocryphal and doubtful writings

Forty-two short Christian hymns of praise, preserved in Syriac and (in part) in Greek and Coptic and ascribed to Solomon; they are among the earliest Christian songs and their date and origin are still debated.

1 work

The Shepherd of Hermas

c. AD 100–160 · Greek East

A Roman book of visions, commands and parables on repentance.

1 work

Aristides of Athens

2nd century · Greek East

Athenian philosopher; wrote one of the oldest Christian apologies.

1 work

Quadratus of Athens

fl. c. AD 125 · Greek East

Apologist who addressed an apology to Hadrian.

1 work

Papias of Hierapolis

c. AD 60–130 · Greek East

Bishop in Asia Minor who collected sayings of the Lord from those who knew the apostles.

3 works

Aristo of Pella

fl. c. AD 140 · Greek East

Author of a lost dialogue of Jason and Papiscus.

1 work

Epistle to Diognetus

c. AD 130–200 · Greek East

An anonymous defense of the Christian way of life.

1 work

Apocalypse of Peter

2nd century · Pseudonymous, apocryphal and doubtful writings

A second-century vision of heaven and hell put under Peter's name.

2 works

Gospel of Peter

2nd century · Pseudonymous, apocryphal and doubtful writings

A second-century account of the passion and resurrection, found in Egypt in 1886.

1 work

Protoevangelium of James

c. AD 150 · Pseudonymous, apocryphal and doubtful writings

An apocryphal gospel of the birth and childhood of Mary.

1 work

Polycarp of Smyrna

c. AD 69–155 · Greek East

Bishop of Smyrna and disciple of John; martyred at about eighty-six.

2 works

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