Fathers of the Second Century: Hermas, Tatian, Athenagoras, Theophilus, and Clement of Alexandria: Cross-linked to the Bible (Ante-Nicene Fathers Book 2)

This is volume 2 of the Ante-Nicene Fathers, the fathers of the early Christian church before the 4th century. Their works are invaluable since they give a rare window into the nascent, growing Christian community. This volume contains works by the following authors:

St. Clement of Alexandria (150 - 215 AD), was a Christian theologian who taught at the Catechetical School of Alexandria, Egypt. A convert to Christianity, he was an educated man who was familiar with classical Greek philosophy and literature. As his three major works demonstrate, Clement was influenced by Hellenistic philosophy to a greater extent than any other Christian thinker of his time, and in particular by Plato and the Stoics.

Tatian of Adiabene (120 - 180 AD) was an Assyrian Christian writer and theologian of the 2nd century. His most influential work is the Diatessaron, a Biblical paraphrase, or "harmony", of the four gospels that became the standard text of the four gospels in the Syriac-speaking churches until the 5th-century.

Theophilus was the 7th Bishop of Antioch (169 - 183 AD), whose only surviving book is his Apology to Autolycus (Apologia ad Autolycum), a series of books defending Christianity written to a pagan friend.

Athenagoras (133 - 190 AD) was a Christian apologist who was an Athenian, a philosopher, and a convert to Christianity. In his writings he styles himself as "Athenagoras, the Athenian, Philosopher, and Christian". There is some evidence that he was a Platonist before his conversion.

The Shepherd of Hermas is a Christian literary work of the late first half of the second century, considered a valuable book by many Christians, and canonical scripture by some of the early Church fathers such as Irenaeus. The Shepherd was very popular among Christians in the 2nd and 3rd centuries.

This ebook edition is cross-linked to the Bible. Footnote are in-text linked to the back of the book for easy reference.