Some of the Ante Nicene Fathers were supposed to have been disciples of the Apostles and even mentioned in the New Testament itself. Moreover, some of their writings do seem legitimate and wholesome, while other parts remain wildly strange and impossible to believe. That mixture definitely destroys the credibility of the whole, since we cannot know how to filter out the forgeries and many errors.
People have heard of the Church Fathers influencing people to the point where they actually departed from the faith and converted to Catholicism. Even non Catholic sources, like David Bercot, have de-emphasized scripture by magnifying the Church Fathers! Such teachings and testimonies are based on the faulty premise that we have accurate copies of the Ante Nicene Fathers that are also error-free in doctrine. That unique criterion is only present with the scriptures (the Bible), but certainly NOT to the writings of the Ante Nicene Fathers too. Any conversions to Catholicism from the Church Fathers have been based on spurious and fraudulent information.
Be assured, any message that leads one away from the Bible alone as the final spiritual authority is from the deceiver (the devil) and is designed to destroy SOULS. The earliest Christians preached God's word (2 Tim. 4:2), reasoned from scripture (Acts 17:2), spread God's word (Acts 8:4; Col. 3;16; etc.), believed it wasn't to be departed from (1 Cor. 4:6), didn't distort the word of God (2 Cor. 4:2) and definitely considered it to be final spiritual authority and the basis for all Christian doctrine (2 Tim. 3:16,17), etc.
Jesus himself said, there is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day (John 12:48). Therefore, you do NOT need to know the voluminous writings of the so-called Ante Nicene Church Fathers. Instead, you definitely need to know specifically what the New Testament says and conform your beliefs and practices to that vital message. Repent and commit to the Lord Jesus Christ to follow and serve him unashamedly; then carefully read it for yourself. There is no need to bother with the unreliable writings of the Ante Nicene Fathers.
Simon Peter said to them, "Mary should leave us, because women aren't worthy of life." Jesus said, "Look, am I to make her a man? So that she may become a living spirit too, she's equal to you men, because every woman who makes herself manly will enter the kingdom of heaven." [Saying 114]
OTHER TOPICS:
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Exposing The Deeds Of Darkness
Evangelical Outreach Alphabetical Map
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