The Apostolic Fathers: The Bridge Between the Apostles and the Early Church

[@GospelUnlocked]

Thank you so much for watching! If you enjoy this content, please like, subscribe, and share it with others. And if you'd like to help further, you can support the channel monetarily on Patreon at patreon.com/GospelUnlocked. God bless, and remember, Jesus loves you!

[@spod11]

who are those wearing those religious monkey suits?

[@GopnikVlad]

Knowing all this basic history is fundamental to anyone calling themselves a Christian. and...this should lead all honest Christians back to Orthodoxy.

[@ComeFollowHim]

Don't take everything the "fathers" said as truth. They were still trying to understand and wrote things that were not what the Apostles taught. They are good for understanding how the body of Christ got off track so fast with teachings in the Church that are not Scriptural but I still follow only Scripture.

[@RJ-ce6si]

Back to Orthodoxy? Basic History over the Inspired Word? What is history compared to Truth the Word? History has proved that History corrupts, we know the RCC corrupted History with forgeries as well as their teaching of its religion with so called church fathers they cut & paste. We have The Word, to claim it isn't enough, that we need more to example after or continue our faith on is not Faith. Men have always let us down and continually fall, I for one will trust in no other but my GOD & HIS Holy Word alone. You can go ahead & create your institution(s), doctrines & laws but I will stand before ALMIGHTY GOD on HIS Word only as Truth.

[@geordiewishart1683]

Orthodoxy is another false, works based religion steeped in idolatry

[@mrp4242]

I understand this history, and I consider these ‘Fathers’ apostate, not apostolic. It certainly doesn’t make me want to join the Orthodox Church.

[@GopnikVlad]

@ Then you are not a Christian-to deny the Church Fathers, you deny the Bible. They canonized it, after all.

[@chitrathayaseelan]

A great historical teaching. Thank you.

[@GospelUnlocked]

@@chitrathayaseelan thank you for watching!

[@doubtingthomas9117]

Informative and concise video with interesting AI illustrations. Could probably add the Epistle of Barnabas and Shepherd of Hermas to the mix, but the figures/document you mentioned are a great place to start 👍🏻

[@cv5369]

This is great, thank you!

[@GospelUnlocked]

@@cv5369 You’re welcome. Thank you for checking it out!

[@Jerryemcse]

Nice video the early Church is fascinating. The Apostolic fathers continued the work of Apostles.

[@DannyFesperman]

No, they didn't. They got many things wrong, namely, introducing futurism.

[@georgepierson4920]

@@DannyFesperman Nothing you say is based on reality.

[@DannyFesperman]

@@georgepierson4920 The Bible is reality.

[@davidstoeckl6439]

There's an awesome historical, Biblical novel, called Patmos, that covers St. John on Patmos, but includes many of the Apostolic Fathers, including Ignatius, Pappas, Timothy & young Polycarp.

[@MrZeuqsav]

@Lukes, 13:22-30, It might be a lucky day , if these self claimed christians can hit the ride to salvation,

[@Etzio123]

Ai period

[@GospelUnlocked]

Thank you for watching. Yes, all of my images are A.I. Being that the camera has only been around for about 110 years, we don’t have any photographs of these men from 1900 years ago and using anyone else’s images would require royalty payments. A.I. allows me to bring these messages and videos to you at the lowest costs possible.

[@Etzio123]

@@GospelUnlocked you should established Ai art academy

[@OrmondbeachDaniel]

@@GospelUnlockeddid you translate to English Etzio comment? lol not cool

[@OrmondbeachDaniel]

You will do good because you didn’t do full AI I can do man or woman voice with ai image’s glad I’m one of your first 300 subs because you will have many soon.

[@GospelUnlocked]

Thank you so much for being a part of it!

[@soccerhub2543]

I use to be very protestant, I mean the militant type until I heard about the Fathers. The works of Justin Martyr, Augustine, Clement, the Didache and the sermons of St Ambrose brought me back to the Catholic Church. Before Luther, there was the Church! I thank God I'm Catholic

[@jimpassi349]

WHEN I WAS A KID I READ THE BIBLE IT SAAID CALL NO MAN FATHER AFTER THAT I CALLED MY PASTER // PASTER FROM THER ONE OUT

[@georgepierson4920]

What do you call the person who knocked up your mother so that you could exist?

[@Izumi-sp6fp]

Normally I'm totally into AI generated imagery, but it feels shallow and obvious here. For this, it would have been better to use genuine historical imagery.

[@arosalesmusic]

People who believe in ¨Sola Scriptura¨think that after The Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, millions of bibles dropped out of the sky. Here is why I no longer believe in Sola Scriptura: 2 Thessalonians 2:15: "So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us." This suggests that traditions passed down orally are also authoritative. 1 Timothy 3:15: "The church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth." This verse implies that the Church has a role in upholding and interpreting truth, which could challenge the sole authority attributed to Scripture. John 21:25: "And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written." This highlights that not all teachings of Jesus were documented, suggesting the importance of oral traditions and the teachings of the Church. Matthew 16:18-19: "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it... I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven." This indicates a special authority given to the Church, which could be seen as complementary to Scripture. Acts 8:30-31: The story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, where the eunuch says, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" This can be interpreted to imply that understanding Scripture often requires guidance from others, possibly including church leaders or traditions. Hebrews 13:17: "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls." This suggests an authority structure within the Church that may support the idea of tradition and leadership alongside Scripture.

[@DannyFesperman]

2 Thes 2:15 - "The traditions which ye have been taught" is what Paul taught them. At first, he spoke it to them, then, later, they received his letters. Nothing contradicts that. 1 Tim 3:15 - There is nothing in that verse that has anything to do with interpreting scripture. Pillar and ground supports the truth that already is. It doesn't make it something different. John 21:25 - The apostolic canon of scripture is complete. There are no oral traditions of Christ that have any credibility. They are all proven to be made up lies. Matt 16 - "This rock" is the testimony of who Christ is, not who Peter was. What's funny in all your verses is that you say "implies", "indicates", "suggests", and "can be", when you ignore every emphatic and didactic statement. Either the Bible is the final authority, or you don't have a leg to stand on. If a man supercedes scripture, then he can teach a spaghetti jesus, and you can't refute it.

[@andys3035]

@@DannyFespermanfor the Thessalonian church, Paul left them 2 small letters. Do you think those letters contain everything they needed for faith and practice?

[@DannyFesperman]

@@andys3035 Paul had taught them personally and thoroughly. He had even taught them things that he didn't write in his letters. But, more importantly, it was God who was writing a book, and each epistle was just a piece of the whole. The world would need the full canon after his appearing.

[@maryaskin4757]

Not true most people who are interested in this subject know the history

[@andys3035]

@ good. So it wasn’t just the 2 letters they went off of but the traditions Paul laid out that are not contained within the text right? You do know the church at Thessalonia did not have a full canon. In fact, they probably only had a couple of his letters at best.

[@HaroldShipley]

The so-called "apostolic fathers" were the men who mostly introduced apostasy into the Christian church. They were the ones Paul warned the elders in Ephesus about. They wanted prominence and created clergy to get it.

[@bairfreedom]

Ignacious and Polycarp were Johns disciples, Clement was a disciple of James. These are not the people Paul was talking about. In fact Polycarp talks about Paul and calls him blessed.

[@georgepierson4920]

Nothing you say is based on reality.

[@HaroldShipley]

@@georgepierson4920 what makes your opinion more valid than mine?

[@georgepierson4920]

​@@HaroldShipley Simple; I can look up the writings of the early Church fathers; you, however, are forbidden to do so.

[@geordiewishart1683]

The church fathers were mere men, liable to err. Even if some personally knew the apostles, why assume their understanding and practice of the faith was perfect? Jesus had to rebuke Peter and that's with Peter having Christ to instruct him.

[@kiwihans100]

The above intro picture of the so called 'apostolic Fathers' is comopletely in CONTRAST to what would look like a picture of Jesus and his apostles! No robes, no crosses on standards no rigmarole! Also the teachings were so DIFFERENT! Gone was the pure gospel that was preached from pentecost that "Jesus had sat down at the right hand of the Father and revceived from the Father the promised Holy Spirit" ( Acts 2:33) Now a band of educated philospohers debated as to Jesus whether was in fact "God himself", e.t.c That they could now 'lord it over the flock' as 'bishops' with special priveledge & position rathen being part of a body of 'overseers & older men' in each congregation! Now they 'ruled over whole areas! with great authority!

[@mr.loidoltloidolt4474]

You SHOULD know that the Gospel found it's strongest hold among the philosophical and learned classes because they could read the prophecies and grasp what Jesus Christ and His disciples were talking about! Robes were the common garment for nearly everyone.

[@kiwihans100]

@@mr.loidoltloidolt4474 So if "They could read the prophecies" are you suggesing that others, say the ordinary people could NOT read them? Was it only the EDUCATED classes that could UNDERSTAND the NT and therefore become true Christians? If this is the case why did "God chose the FOLLISH things of the woirld to put the WISE men to shame"? 1 Cor 1:10-17 is clear on this matter that education. learning, and secular position meant nothing to God! Why did Jesus chose mostly fishermen e.t.c as his principle worker? Why were Jesus disciples labelled "Unlettered and ordinary men" ( Acts 4:13). By all accounts the one apostle that betrayed Jesus was the MOST educated amoung them and was chosen as the 'accountant'. So I feel that too much credit is given to these 'chuirch fathers' whose philosophies and teachings led on to the 'death nell' for true Christoianity, the 'Council of Nicea when the gospel was capitulated to the Roman empire to be used as a coinvenient tool of state!

[@kiwihans100]

@@mr.loidoltloidolt4474 Col 2:8 also!

[@earlwhite3760]

I do believe the philosophers & so called learned men were infected by the love of the world, had more resistance to the Holy Spirit because of arrogance and much more wisdom came from the simple man filled with the Holy Spirit. We see it today with those with a doctorate who enjoy being addressed as Dr or professor & a scholar.l believe that today especially now that GOD as HE used men as tools to canonize HIS inspired Word that we can enjoy the Word with the Holy Spirits leading & teaching. It hasn't been all that long since we broke away from the evils of catholsism where the world was held captive by the threat of persecution, torture & finally mass murder from a new religion & it's religious Emporer. Just as those who will take the mark had given up & submitted just to live their earthly lived. The false religion & doctrines were passed down to this day to the worldly wise. Simple men called by GOD now preach the gospel & teach it but as always as in the Roman religion Satan has come in with vountetfeits of false prophets & teachers. We still have men who prefer traditions of men rather than the Word. We still believe Christianity progressed & had to into new doctrines as we modernized into deeper corruption. Flesh still has the hidden desire to feel as if it did something to deserve salvation & that doing rituals & sacraments filled with the pomp of men is Holy. Our ignorance wants to point to one man who is Holy & can interpet GODS word so that we can bypass our High Priest and that our chosen man can speak for the Hy Spirit to us. I feel like The Holy Spirit cries out here I am, the door is even wide open come on in. It is blasphemous to many that I can say I can come directly into the throne room of grace to the Lord & bypass your chosen men of flesh and ceremony

[@francissweeney7318]

Apostolic fathers is a catholic invention. Jesus picked His Apostles. There is no " direct link " to Jesus and the catholic or Orthodox churches. His church never split as did the catholic and orthdox churches in 1054 AD.

[@andys3035]

Can you name me that church that never split? I want to join them.

[@francissweeney7318]

The original christians called themselves The Way. The word catholic was not in use until around 110 AD.

[@andys3035]

@@francissweeney7318 Ok, and who is the Way now? Point me to that church.

[@andys3035]

@@francissweeney7318 ok. Who is that church that's called The Way?

[@andys3035]

@@francissweeney7318 and who is that?

[@cbooth151]

If the so-called Apostolic Fathers were the "bridge" between the apostles and the early church, then, all three groups would have learned from the same source, which was Jesus himself. As Jesus said: “If you obey *MY* teaching, you are really my disciples; you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31, 32) Well, we know that Jesus' apostles were taught personally by him. As Jesus himself said: "For instance, Jesus said to them... 1. "The Father is greater than I." (John 14:28) However, does the Catholic Church say that the Father is greater than Jesus? No, it doesn't. Instead, in the Athanasian Creed, it says: "In this Trinity...None is greater or less than Another." So, who do you believe? Jesus or a man-made Catholic creed? 2. that his Father was also his God. As Jesus said to his apostles: "'I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." Is this what the Catholic Church teaches its members? No, it doesn't. Instead, it teaches that "[the Father, Son, and holy spirit] are not three Gods, but *one God." 3. that his Father is the "only true God." (John 17:3) Is this what the Catholic Church teaches? No, it doesn't. Instead, it teaches that... a. the Father is God, the Son is God, and the holy spirit is God. That's not one God; that's THREE Gods. b. In Biblical truth, the Father is "the ONLY true God." (John 17:3) Jesus is the Son of God. (Mark 1:1) The holy spirit is not a person, but a divine energy or power.” As A Catholic Dictionary says: "The third Person was asserted at a Council of Alexandria in 362…and finally by the Council of Constantinople of 381.” It adds: "On the whole the New Testament, like the Old, speaks of the spirit as a divine energy or power” (W.E. Addis and Thomas Arnold, A Catholic Dictionary, 1960, p. 810).

[@ikechukwuolise281]

I'm not a Catholic, but if you don't see where Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as a person, then you haven't read the John gospel

[@GopnikVlad]

All of this does NOT lead to the conclusion you give. IE, that Apostles and early church have no bridge...Timothy is full of instructions on how to ordain the next succession of holy men/church leaders. your statements would only discredit positions of the Roman Catholic Church, but not Orthodoxy.

[@billy-kr3xx]

The Father calls the son "God" too, not 3 God's, one God, as the Bible says.

[@cbooth151]

@@ikechukwuolise281"If you don't see where Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as a person, then you haven't read the John gospel." Did you bother to read everything I said? Apparently, not. If you had, you would know that there is not Biblical trinity, whether the holy spirit is a person or not. For instance, Jesus called his Father the "ONLY true God." (John 17:3) The word "only" means, "to the exclusion of others." So, since the Father is the true God to the exclusion of others, how many other true Gods are there? NONE!! You completely ignored what I said in my first post concerning where the "person" of the holy spirit came from, which was NOT the Bible. As A Catholic Dictionary says: "The third Person was asserted at a Council of Alexandria in 362…and finally by the Council of Constantinople of 381.” It adds: "On the whole the New Testament, like the Old, speaks of the spirit as a divine energy or power” (W.E. Addis and Thomas Arnold, A Catholic Dictionary, 1960, p. 810). Did you get that? The Catholic Church invented the "personage" of the holy spirit at two Catholic Councils, namely, the Council of Alexandria in 362 and the Council of Constantinople of 381. So, since the holy spirit is not a person, it can't be the so-called third person of a three-person deity. In other words, there is no trinity. Sorry for my late reply.

[@cbooth151]

@@billy-kr3xx "The Father calls the son "God" too, not 3 God's, one God, as the Bible says." Have you forgotten that the subject at hand is the trinity, which teaches that three persons make up one God? Do you see a trinity at Heb. 1:9, which says: "You loved justice and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, anointed you with the oil of gladness above your companions." BTW, God didn't call Jesus God. Instead, God called Jesus his Son. For instance, after Jesus' baptism, God said from the heavens: "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." (Luke 3:22) Also, Heb.1:5 adds: "For to which of the angels did God ever say: "You are my son; this day I have begotten you"? Or again: "I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me"?"

[@jimpassi349]

WHAT DOES JESUS SAY/// CALL NO MAN FATHER BUT ONE GOD THE FATHER// SO IF YOU CALL ANY PREST FATTHER GUSS WHAT GOD DOES NOT LIKE IT

[@GospelUnlocked]

This verse is part of Jesus’ broader critique of the religious leaders of his time, where he warns his disciples against adopting titles or attitudes that elevate individuals above their proper role under God. The Greek word for “father” used here is πατέρα (patéra), which carries both literal and figurative meanings. It could refer to biological fathers, spiritual mentors, or figures of authority. However, the emphasis is not on forbidding the term altogether but on avoiding the misuse of titles that imply ultimate authority or supremacy, which belongs to God alone. The central theological takeaway from Matthew 23:9 is the primacy of God’s fatherhood. Titles like “father” or “teacher” are not inherently wrong but must not replace or obscure God’s unique role as the source of life, authority, and guidance. Instead, any use of such terms should point back to God and reflect humility, servanthood, and accountability to him.

[@GopnikVlad]

So what do you call your dad? Obviously, this is not a literal instruction, and there is context to this. Christ is clearly not talking about priesthood--Jews had priests since the beginning, and God never instructed otherwise. Also note that all caps makes you look irrational, and is uncomfortable to read.

[@da33smith37]

It does tend to make one cringe when the Pope is called Holy Father.

[@RJ-ce6si]

@@GopnikVlad Don't even try! We have a Spititual/Heavenly FATHER & an earthly father.. What we do not have & refuse is to give a mere fleshly, sinful man that special title. It is a Roman thing of power, the desire to be an Emporer for a religion with all the adoration. No man has that right for our Lord, King & Mediator is Christ alone. Catholsism & Orthodox went off the rails with this & it's followers have chosen to follow & adore the man rather than Christ alone. Of course you justify it to make you feel better

[@jimpassi349]

what DOES THE BIBLE SAY// CALL NO MAN FATHER BUT THE ONE IN HEAVEN// SO WHY DOES HE OR ANYONE CALL THEMSELVES FATHER

[@TheMenghi1]

Funny, St Paul says that he is the father to the Galatians. By the way, what did you call your progenitor growing up?

[@waynedyer7651]

Keep in mind you are dealing with simple minded who don't think rationally! Even Jesus called Abraham: 'father'. ​@@TheMenghi1

[@geordiewishart1683]

Jesus referred to Abraham as father . He did not call him father directly.

[@geordiewishart1683]

And did the Galatians call Paul father when they addressed him?

[@waynedyer7651]

What!!! That makes absolutely no sense!!!​@@geordiewishart1683

[@DannyFesperman]

Polycarp did not know John. The earliest that Polycarp could have been born was 69AD. John was martyred during the great tribulation, just as Jesus told him he would be.

[@GospelUnlocked]

@@DannyFesperman Polycarp lived in the SAME TIME PERIOD as John. Polycarp was born AD 69/70, and John died AD 98-117, meaning John was still around for Polycarp’s 28th birthday, possibly longer. Polycarp lived in the SAME REGION as John. John spent his later years in Ephesus. Polycarp was the bishop of Smyrna, both of which are in present-day Turkey, and only about 35 miles (56 km) apart. Not to mention John was familiar and/or aquainted with the Christian community in Smyrna, cf. Rev 2. Polycarp was a early church bishop. Considering he was an early church head & leader of some authority, it’s likely he was ORDAINED by the apostles / someone within the apostolic circle. John falls into that category, and remains a suitable candidate. Irenaeus (AD 180), himself a pupil of Polycarp, testifies that Polycarp learnt under John. Tertullian (AD 207) testifies that Polycarp was appointed by John. Eusebius and Jerome also confirm this.

[@DannyFesperman]

@GospelUnlocked John was martyred in the great tribulation. He could not have lived past the Parousia, else the Bible isn't true.

[@GospelUnlocked]

@@DannyFesperman The Bible tells us in Revelation 1:9 that the apostle John was exiled for his faith late in life. However, given the apostle John was probably the last to die, there is nothing in the Bible about how he died. The most plausible tradition regarding John’s death states that John was arrested in Ephesus and faced martyrdom when his enemies threw him in a huge basin of boiling oil. However, John was miraculously delivered from death. The authorities then sentenced John to slave labor in the mines of Patmos. On this island in the southern part of the Aegean Sea, John had a vision from Jesus Christ and wrote the prophetic book of Revelation. The apostle John was later freed, possibly due to old age, and he returned to what is now Turkey. He died as an old man sometime after AD 98, the only apostle to die peacefully.

[@DannyFesperman]

@GospelUnlocked Wrong. Jesus told him that he and James would be martyred. Trust Jesus, not Irenaeus. Also, Rev 1:9 says nothing about "late in life". Stop making up stuff.

[@GospelUnlocked]

@ please do explain further because Jesus only tells John and James that they will share in his suffering.

[@rodneycruz4850]

False Shepherds

[@Dlee-eo5vv]

Foolish pagan.

[@Chinmookchin]

Because they contradicted Protestantism?

[@johndorilag4129]

​@@ChinmookchinHahahaha - So True

[@louiemarkfrialde-gn5er]

Modern Pharisee Spotted.. The Protesters

[@TheMenghi1]

False. You've got serious problems explaining how the Scriptures came to you. The writings that were selected were used in the liturgy when Christians gathered. What was their worship like? What were their beliefs? Lastly, where are these Christians you speak of? I have yet to have someone answer that question. The early Church has many churchmen, Apostolic Fathers and Early Fathers of the Church. I don't see any "protestant" Christians until many, many centuries later. Rather than argue about your brand of theology, first justify the foundations of your doctrine. You can't solely quote the Scriptures because your theology is reformational, and we all know that the Christian church was around for many centuries prior to that newfound faith.