Page 13 - History of Christianity - Student Textbook

Study Section 3: Apologists in the Early Church - continued

3.1 Connect

In America, on July 4, we celebrate our Declaration of Independence. If you live in other countries,
I’m sure you have a special day to celebrate your independence as a nation. In America, the people
back then had to fight a war for their independence. Between 37,000 and 82,000 (not known for
sure) men gave their lives in the fight for freedom. So during our celebration, we not only revel in
our freedom, but also think back in appreciation to all those men who were willing to give up their
very lives that we today might be free.

In the same manner, as Christians, we can look back to the many who contributed to the spreading of the
Gospel, but to those who were willing to give up their lives that we might have a copy of the Word of God or a
pure faith. Let’s learn about some who were willing to “give their all” that we might possess the truth today.

3.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to describe how Irenaeus battled the Gnostics of his day.

2. The student should be able to describe the contribution that Tertullian and Clement gave to the development
of a pure church.

3. The student should be able to identify the contribution that Polycarp made to stand up for his faith.

4. The student should be able to describe the significant of Constantine coming to power in Rome and
how that changed the course of the development of the church.

3.3 Irenaeus of Lyons (cir. 135-202)

Irenaeus, a bishop in Gaul sometime in the latter half of the second century is mainly
known for his work Against Heresies circa 175-185. The title is actually Refutation and
Overthrow of Knowledge, falsely so-called - thus the shorter title. This work is a
summary and brief history of all the heresies known by Irenaeus, focusing on
Gnosticism. Indeed, Gnosticism was the dominant heresy of that time, even
overshadowing the orthodox faith in the Egyptian region to some extent.

Irenaeus served as the bishop of Lyons until 202 when it is thought he may have died during the
persecution under Emperor Severus. He was buried under the Church of Saint John in Lyon, which
was later renamed St. Irenaeus in his honor. The tomb and his remains were utterly destroyed in 1562 by
the Huguenots. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irenaeus)

Tertullian (cir. 155–230)

It is not known exactly when Tertullian was born, but he was born in Carthage, North Africa,
the son of a Roman centurion. He was trained in law and apparently served as a jurist in
Rome for a while. We do not know how he came to faith, but he does seem to indicate in
some of his writings that he was not always in the faith.

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