THE FIRST GROUP OF APOSTOLIC FATHERS WERE THE AFRICAN FATHERS. THIS IS THE GROUP THAT WAS SITUATED SOUTH OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA (WEST OF ROME). THEY ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THE ALEXANDRIAN SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY AND INCLUDED THE GREAT AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO. THESE WERE THE 1ST REAL BIBLE STUDENTS. IN THIS GROUP WAS TERTULLIAN OF CARTHAGE.

“As a young adult, Tertullian was sent to Rome to study law, a vocation that made good use of his sharp mind and powers of analysis and persuasion. He soon became a proficient and noted public speaker. However, while in Rome, he became impressed by the unflinching courage of Christians in the face of persecution. Many believers were being thrown to the lions or burned publicly, yet without compromise or fear. Their bold witness had a profound effect on Tertullian, exposing his self-righteousness and bringing him under strong conviction. Through the witness of suffering Christians, he was dramatically converted to Christ around the age of forty”. – Steven J. Lawson

DURING THE 2ND AND 3RD CENTURIES A HERESY CALLED MONARCHIANISM DEVELOPED. THIS HERESY CAME IN THE FORM OF 2 FALSE TEACHINGS

  1. ADOPTIONISM: HELD THAT CHRIST WAS A MERE MAN, MIRACULOUSLY CONCEIVED, BUT CONSTITUTED THE SON OF GOD SIMPLY BY THE INFINITELY HIGH DEGREE IN WHICH HE HAD BEEN FILLED WITH DIVINE WISDOM AND POWER. THIS VIEW WAS TAUGHT AT ROME ABOUT THE END OF THE 2ND CENTURY BY THEODOTUS, WHO WAS EXCOMMUNICATED BY POPE VICTOR, AND TAUGHT SOMEWHAT LATER BY ARTEMON, WHO WAS EXCOMMUNICATED BY POPE ZEPHYRINUS. ABOUT 260 IT WAS AGAIN TAUGHT BY PAUL OF SAMOSATA.
  1. MODELISM: HELD THAT WHEN SCRIPTURE USED THE WORDS “FATHER” AND “SON” IT WAS ONLY DIFFERENT MODES OF THE ONE GOD.

IT WAS TAUGHT BY PRAXEAS, A PRIEST FROM ASIA MINOR, IN ROME ABOUT 206 AND WAS OPPOSED BY TERTULLIAN IN THE TRACT ADVERSUS PRAXEAN (C. 213), AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY.
TERTULLIAN DEFENDED THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY AGAINST THE FALSE DOCTRINE OF MONARCHIANISM. HE INSISTED (ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES) THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD IN THREE PERSONS AND THAT EACH OF THESE PERSONS WAS FULLY DIVINE. HE ALSO INSISTED THAT JESUS IS FULLY GOD AND FULLY MAN.

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