Difference between Apostolic Fathers and Church Fathers

• The apostolic fathers were the follower of the apostles; they were either known the apostles and the immediate disciples of the apostle. They represent the writings of those who were still alive during the lifetime of N.T apostles, or they were contemporary of the apostles. They were men who knew the apostles and apostolic doctrine continue the task of writing Christian literature. These men were known as the apostolic fathers.

• While the church fathers were the title given to bishop in 2nd and 3rd centuries to describe the orthodox champion of the church and the exponent of the faith, and defender of the Christian faith.

• The writings of apostolic fathers must be distinguished from N.T Apocrypha because of two points: Their writings are rooted in the historical situation of the church; They are generally orthodox rather than Gnostic.

• The apostolic fathers wrote what was devotional and edifying the church, but the apologist product literature that defended the faith.

• The fathers known as the fathers of the theologian began doing systematic theology.