[Back] Mathematical Bible

Church Fathers Commentary

What the early Church believed about Scripture - from those who knew the Apostles

Apostolic Fathers (AD 70-150)

Direct disciples of the Apostles and their immediate successors

Clement of Rome

d. ~99 AD | Bishop of Rome

Third or fourth Bishop of Rome; knew Peter and Paul

Works: 1 Clement, 2 Clement (attributed)

Key Commentaries:

Genesis 1:26-27

Uses God's creative work to call for unity in the church (1 Clement 33)

Genesis 4:3-8

Cain and Abel as warning against jealousy in the church (1 Clement 4)

Hebrews 11:5

Enoch's translation as example of obedience (1 Clement 9)

Romans 12:4-5

The body metaphor applied to church unity (1 Clement 37-38)

1 Corinthians 13

Love is the bond of perfection (1 Clement 49-50)

Ignatius of Antioch

d. ~110 AD | Bishop of Antioch

Tradition says he was a disciple of John; wrote letters on way to martyrdom

Works: 7 Epistles

Key Commentaries:

John 1:1

The Word existed with the Father before time (Magnesians 8)

John 6:53-56

The Eucharist is the flesh of Christ (Smyrnaeans 7)

Colossians 1:16

Christ is above all principalities (Trallians 5)

Matthew 3:15

Christ was baptized to fulfill all righteousness (Smyrnaeans 1)

Ephesians 5:1

Be imitators of God through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1)

Didache

~50-120 AD | Teaching of the Twelve Apostles

Early church manual; oldest non-biblical Christian document

Works: Didache

Key Commentaries:

Matthew 6:9-13

The Lord's Prayer with doxology (Didache 8)

Matthew 28:19

Baptize in name of Father, Son, Holy Spirit (Didache 7)

Matthew 7:6

Do not give holy things to dogs (Didache 9)

Matthew 24:42

Watch, for you know not the hour (Didache 16)

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Eucharistic prayers and thanksgiving (Didache 9-10)

Ante-Nicene Fathers (AD 100-325)

Before the Council of Nicaea - defending the faith against heresies

Justin Martyr

100-165 AD | Christian Apologist

Philosopher who defended Christianity; martyred under Marcus Aurelius

Works: First Apology, Second Apology, Dialogue with Trypho

Key Commentaries:

Isaiah 7:14

Defends virgin birth against Jewish objections (Dialogue 43-44, 66-68)

Psalm 22:16

They pierced my hands and feet - prophesies crucifixion (Dialogue 97)

Genesis 1:26

'Let us make' indicates plurality in Godhead (Dialogue 62)

John 1:1

The Logos was with God and was God (First Apology 63)

Psalm 110:1

The LORD said to my Lord - proves deity of Messiah (Dialogue 32-33)

Irenaeus of Lyon

130-202 AD | Bishop of Lyon

Disciple of Polycarp; major opponent of Gnosticism

Works: Against Heresies, Demonstration of Apostolic Preaching

Key Commentaries:

Matthew 16:18

Peter and Rome as foundation of church (Against Heresies III.3.2)

John 1:14

The Word became flesh - against Docetism (Against Heresies III.11.3)

Genesis 3:15

Protoevangelium - first prophecy of Christ (Against Heresies V.21.1)

Ephesians 1:10

Recapitulation - Christ sums up all things (Against Heresies III.16.6)

1 Corinthians 15:22

As in Adam all die, in Christ all made alive (Against Heresies III.22.4)

Tertullian

155-220 AD | Father of Latin Christianity

First major Latin theologian; coined 'Trinity' terminology

Works: Apology, Against Praxeas, Against Marcion, On Baptism

Key Commentaries:

John 10:30

'I and the Father are one' - Trinity formula (Against Praxeas 22)

Matthew 28:19

Baptismal formula proves Trinity (Against Praxeas 26)

Genesis 1:1-3

Father, Word, and Spirit in creation (Against Praxeas 12)

John 1:1

The Word was with God (apud Deum) as distinct person (Against Praxeas 5)

Acts 2:38

Baptism for remission of sins (On Baptism 13)

Clement of Alexandria

150-215 AD | Head of Catechetical School

Allegorical interpreter; teacher of Origen

Works: Stromata, Paedagogus, Exhortation to the Greeks

Key Commentaries:

John 1:18

No one has seen God except the Son who reveals Him (Stromata V.12)

Matthew 19:16-22

Rich young ruler - allegorical interpretation (Who Is the Rich Man That Shall Be Saved?)

Colossians 1:15

Christ is the image of the invisible God (Stromata V.6)

Proverbs 8:22-31

Wisdom as Christ, preexistent with God (Stromata V.14)

Origen

185-254 AD | Head of Alexandria School

Most prolific early writer; systematic theologian; allegorist

Works: On First Principles, Against Celsus, Hexapla, Commentaries

Key Commentaries:

John 1:1

The Word was God - eternal generation of Son (Commentary on John I.22-23)

Romans 5:12

All sinned in Adam - inherited sin nature (Commentary on Romans V.1)

1 Corinthians 15:28

God will be all in all - possible apokatastasis (On First Principles I.6.1-4)

Matthew 19:12

Spiritual interpretation of eunuchs for kingdom (Commentary on Matthew XV.1-5)

Song of Songs

Allegory of Christ and the Church (Commentary on Song of Songs)

Cyprian of Carthage

210-258 AD | Bishop of Carthage

Major voice on church unity; martyred under Valerian

Works: On the Unity of the Church, On the Lapsed, Letters

Key Commentaries:

Matthew 16:18

On this rock - Peter and episcopal succession (On the Unity of the Church 4)

John 17:21

Unity of believers reflects Trinity (On the Unity of the Church 6)

Ephesians 4:4-6

One Lord, one faith, one baptism (On the Unity of the Church 4)

1 Peter 3:20-21

Outside the ark no salvation - church as ark (Letters 73.21)

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers (AD 325-500)

The Golden Age of Patristic theology

Athanasius

296-373 AD | Bishop of Alexandria

Champion of Nicaea; exiled 5 times for defending Trinity

Works: On the Incarnation, Against the Arians, Life of Antony

Key Commentaries:

John 1:1

The Word was God - homoousios with Father (Against the Arians I.9)

John 10:30

I and the Father are one in essence (Against the Arians III.3-6)

Philippians 2:6-7

Christ did not grasp equality - against Arianism (Against the Arians I.40-42)

Colossians 1:15

Firstborn of creation - not first created (Against the Arians II.62-64)

John 14:28

Father greater - in economy, not essence (Against the Arians I.58)

Basil the Great

330-379 AD | Bishop of Caesarea

Cappadocian Father; established monasticism in East

Works: On the Holy Spirit, Hexaemeron, Longer Rules

Key Commentaries:

Genesis 1:2

Spirit of God moved - Holy Spirit in creation (Hexaemeron II.6)

Matthew 28:19

Baptismal formula proves Spirit's deity (On the Holy Spirit 10-15)

John 15:26

Spirit proceeds from Father through Son (On the Holy Spirit 18)

1 Corinthians 12:4-6

Same Spirit, same Lord, same God (On the Holy Spirit 16)

Gregory of Nazianzus

329-390 AD | Archbishop of Constantinople

Cappadocian Father; 'The Theologian'; defined Trinity at Constantinople

Works: Theological Orations, Poems, Letters

Key Commentaries:

John 1:1

Three Theological Orations on the Trinity (Orations 27-31)

Matthew 28:19

Co-equal divine names in baptism (Oration 40.41-45)

Philippians 2:7

Christ emptied Himself while remaining God (Oration 29.18-19)

John 14:28

Greater refers to cause, not essence (Oration 30.7)

Gregory of Nyssa

335-395 AD | Bishop of Nyssa

Cappadocian Father; mystical theologian; brother of Basil

Works: Life of Moses, On the Making of Man, Against Eunomius

Key Commentaries:

Exodus 3:14

I AM - infinity of divine essence (Life of Moses II.19-26)

Song of Songs

Mystical ascent of the soul to God (Commentary on Song of Songs)

Genesis 1:26

Image of God - human dignity and purpose (On the Making of Man 16)

1 Corinthians 15:28

Apokatastasis - possible universal restoration (On the Soul and Resurrection)

John Chrysostom

347-407 AD | Archbishop of Constantinople

'Golden-mouthed'; greatest preacher; literal interpreter

Works: Homilies on Matthew, John, Romans, etc., On the Priesthood

Key Commentaries:

Matthew 5-7

Extensive homilies on Sermon on Mount (Homilies on Matthew 15-24)

Romans 9:5

Christ is God over all - against Arianism (Homilies on Romans 16)

John 1:1

'Was' indicates eternal existence (Homilies on John 2-4)

1 Timothy 2:4

God desires all to be saved (Homilies on 1 Timothy 7)

Philippians 2:6-11

Christ's humiliation and exaltation (Homilies on Philippians 6-7)

Jerome

347-420 AD | Biblical Scholar

Translated Vulgate; greatest biblical scholar of ancient church

Works: Vulgate Translation, Commentaries, Letters

Key Commentaries:

Matthew 16:18

Peter the rock on which church is built (Commentary on Matthew)

Isaiah 7:14

Almah means virgin in this context (Commentary on Isaiah)

Galatians 2:11

Peter vs Paul - Peter was wrong (Commentary on Galatians)

Hebrews authorship

Western church uncertain; style differs from Paul (Letter to Dardanus)

Augustine of Hippo

354-430 AD | Bishop of Hippo

Most influential Western Father; shaped Catholic and Protestant theology

Works: Confessions, City of God, On the Trinity, On Christian Doctrine

Key Commentaries:

John 1:1

The Word eternally proceeding from Father (On the Trinity XV.14-20)

Romans 5:12

Original sin inherited from Adam (Against Two Letters of the Pelagians I.13)

Romans 9:10-24

Predestination and election (On the Predestination of the Saints)

John 6:44

No one comes unless Father draws - grace precedes (On the Spirit and the Letter)

Genesis 1-3

Multiple interpretations possible (Literal Commentary on Genesis)

Matthew 16:18

Peter represents the church, not just himself (Retractions I.21)

Mathematical Bible - Oracle Collective Platform

Standing on the shoulders of giants.