The Teaching of the Early Fathers of the Church

Tags: Early Church Teachings | Fr. Macarius

The Early Fathers of the Church were greatly faithful and had great love to God. Besides, they had immense spiritual hunger and thirst. Because of this, they were given the treasures of darkness and the hidden riches of secret places (Isaiah 45: 3); they were entrusted with the keys and mysteries of the Kingdom of God. They were enriched by the unsearchable riches of Christ and were filled with grace after grace. As a result, they became gigantic in the spirit. They left for us this spiritual inheritance and the landmarks of the way so that Christ may be formed in us as He was formed in them.

The Holy Spirit revealed to Apostle Paul, who was entrusted with the mystery of the Church, the following mystery:‘Christ in you the hope of glory’ (Colossians 1: 27). So, Apostle Paul poured himself out in prayer so that the Church may be strengthened with might through the Spirit of God in the inner man so that Christ may dwell in her heart through faith (Ephesians 3: 14 – 17); in order that he may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus (Colossians 1: 28).

The fathers of the Church in all generations followed this same pattern. They poured themselves out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of our faith (Philippians 2: 17) and filled up in their flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church (Colossians 1: 24) so that Christ may be formed in their spiritual children, the believers.

Throughout the past centuries, due to the weakness of the Church and being drained for an extended period of time, the devil buried this spiritual inheritance and filled with earth the wells of the knowledge of God and the richness of the glory of His salvation which were manifested in the life and teaching of the Early Fathers of the Church. This left the Church spiritually poor, weak and thirsty for the fresh water of the Spirit. This continued until we reached the End Times. The Lord now reopens these old rich wells through those who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, supported and strengthened by the Holy Spirit. This restores to us the teaching and life of the fathers of the Church who had gone deep in the Knowledge of God and understanding the Scriptures. This in turn paves the way one more time before those called for eternal life so that they may be made perfect as the Bride of the Bridegroom, Jesus, adorned and prepared for His second coming.

Therefore, we are in great need to go back to the teaching of the early Church so that the Holy spirit may ‘turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord’ (Luke 1: 17).