 Oldest document we have since the time of the apostles. Dated AD  Published in 1883 and copied from a greek version found in Jerusalem by Metropolitan Philotheos of Nicomedia  Gives an accurate description of the life of the early church

 Subject:  Moral and ethical commandments  Instructions to regulate church life  Directions on liturgical prayers

 Content: 16 chapters in 2 groups: Part 1: Chapter 1-10 Liturgical arrangements Part 2: Chapters Organizational instructions Conclusion: The second coming (Paroussia)

 Chapters 1-6: Instructions to the Catechumens (way of life and way of death)  Chapters 7-10 Instructions regarding Baptism  Commandment of fasting (Wednesday and Friday)  Chapters 9-10 have prayers said during the liturgy, also a prayer said after communion

 Description of the baptism on the eve of resurrection  Description of the service of the Eucharist

 Bishop of Hierapolis in Asia minor  Contemporary to St Polycarp and Ignatius and knew St John the evangelist and oter apostles  Lived around  Wrote 5 books titled “Explanation of the Lords Sayings’ but only few excrepts remained

 Spoke of the oral tradition and about the Gospels of Matthew and Mark  Faulted for his belief in the 1000 years reign (Millennium)

 Christian apologist  Born a pagan in Judea, studied in Greece and unsatisfied with education till he meets a Christian elder in Ephesus 135AD  Martyred in the name of the Lord in Rome  Many writings, 3 remain 1.First Apology: Defends Christian morality, and faith to the emperor his son and the senate  2. Dialogue with Trypho: Christianity is the new law for all men  3. On the Resurrection:

 Explained Christianity as the True religion for all men, predated by the seeds of Judaism and Greek philosophy: The Logos predating the incarnation  The church is the new Israel  Judaism from Christian view:  Historical mission  Mission concluded by the coming of Christ  Jesus is the divine answer to the gentiles hope

 “No man with a sound mind would give up the Truth for the sake of vanity. Do to us what you wish. We are Christians and we cannot sacrifice to idols”

 Written by Hermas brother of Pius the 9 th bishop of Rome 140AD in Greek  Allegorical story of an old lady symbolizing the church and an angel as a shepherd  Considered scriptures by some of the early churches  Very popular reading in 2 nd and 3 rd centuries

 Contents:  Five visions Twelve commandments Ten Parables

 Repentance  The Person of Christ (Christology)  The Church  Baptism

 Considered the father of Christian theology  Born 135 in Asia minor  Disciple of St Polycarp  Become bishop of Lyons (France) 177 and was martyred 202 AD

 Proof of Apostolic preaching  Against the heretics (5 books)  Defended the faith against the Gnostics  Taught that Salvation is for all  Spiritual knowledge for all  Christ the second Adam  Salvation from sin and from death through the cross  The church is the body of Christ  The work of the Holy Spirit through the church

 The Epistle of St Clement of Rome  Epistle of Barnabas  Epistle to Diogentus  Tatian the Assyrian  Theophilus of Antioch  Melito of Sardis