E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Fathers of the Church.
The early advocates of Christianity, who may be thus classified:—
1
(1) Five apostolic fathers, who were contemporary with the apostles—viz. Clement of Rome, Bar’nabas, Hermas, Igna’tius, and Pol’ycarp.
2
(2) The primitive fathers. Those advocates of Christianity who lived in the first three centuries. They consisted of the five apostolic fathers (q.v.), together with the nine following:—Justin, Theoph’ilus of Antioch, Irenæus, Clement of Alexandria, Cyp’rian of Carthage, Or’igen, Gregory Thaumatur’gus, Dionysius of Alexandria, and Tertullian.
3
(3) The fathers, or those of the fourth and fifth century, who were of two groups, those of the Greek and those of the Latin Church. (See below.)
