Apostolic Fathers
Preserved but no longer current.
Christian authors born in the 1st century, when the apostles lived. John is supposed to have died about A.D. 99, and Polycarp, the last of the Apostolic Fathers, born about 69, was his disciple. Clement of Rome (died about 100), Ignatius (died about 115), Polycarp (about 69-155), St.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Apostolic Fathers” mean?
Christian authors born in the 1st century, when the apostles lived. John is supposed to have died about A.D. 99, and Polycarp, the last of the Apostolic Fathers, born about 69, was his disciple. Clement of Rome (died about 100), Ignatius (died about 115), Polycarp (about 69-155), St.
Is “Apostolic Fathers” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.