The Apostolic Fathers
And when the Catholic Church judged, and as we see now wisely judged, that the Voice of Inspiration was hushed, we find that the literary remains of the primitive age of Christianity which have been preserved to us are cast in the same "letter" form, those few literary remains which have received the lofty title of "Apostolic." The word comes to us from Ignatius, and seems to bear the meaning that the writers of these "remains" were historically connected with the apostles.
These writings properly so styled come from four persons—from (1) Clement (of Rome), of whom the tradition, constant and definite, tells us he was the disciple of Peter and also of Paul.
(2) From Ignatius, whose early date and connexion with Antioch, a chief centre of apostolic work, render, as Lightfoot well urges, his personal intercourse with apostles at least probable. The earliest tradition represents Ignatius as the second of the Antiochene bishops. His martyrdom must be dated circa A.D. 110. He was evidently then an old man. He was certainly a younger contemporary of some of the apostles.
(3) From Polycarp, whose close connexion in youth with S. John is indisputable, since his own disciple, the well-known Irenæus, tells us that Polycarp was a scholar of the beloved disciple; and that he (Irenæus) had heard from his master, Polycarp, many anecdotes of the apostles, which he had treasured up in his memory.
(4) From Barnabas, whose immediate connexion with the apostle is less certain; but the early date of his Epistle, written apparently during the days of the Flavian dynasty, would render the ancient traditions of this connexion at least highly probable.
These writings, few and humble, which have come down to us, are all we can with any certainty ascribe to "Apostolic" men; and they are all cast in "letter-form," viz., the one somewhat lengthy Epistle of Clement, the seven authentic Epistles of Ignatius, the one brief Epistle of Polycarp, the
