Church Father (Noun)
Meaning
(Christianity) any of about 70 theologians in the period from the 2nd to the 7th century whose writing established and confirmed official church doctrine; in the Roman Catholic Church some were later declared saints and became Doctor of the Church; the best known Latin Church Fathers are Ambrose, Augustine, Gregory the Great, and Jerome; those who wrote in Greek include Athanasius, Basil, Gregory Nazianzen, and John Chrysostom.
Classification
Nouns denoting people.
Examples
- St. Augustine is one of the most renowned Church Fathers of the Latin tradition, profoundly shaping Western Christian thought through his writings.
- The writings of early Church Fathers such as Athanasius, Basil, and John Chrysostom are still studied in various Christian traditions for their insight into biblical interpretation and theology.
- The prominent Church Fathers of the Roman Catholic Church provided a solid foundation for church doctrine through their works, helping to guide believers in faith and practice.
- St. Jerome's work in translating biblical texts made him a notable Church Father, shaping the development of Christian scripture in the Latin tradition.
- Athanasius of Alexandria, known for his powerful defense of Jesus Christ as fully human and fully divine, is widely recognized as a pivotal Church Father in the early Christian Church.