Patristics
The study of the Church Fathers—the first centuries of Christian thought.
The Apologists
Defenders of the faith against pagan criticism.
- Justin Martyr: Logos theology—Christ as the divine Reason.
- Irenaeus: Against Heresies—refuting Gnosticism, recapitulation theory.
- Tertullian: Latin theology, Trinity terminology, faith and reason.
The Great Fathers
The towering figures of patristic theology.
- Athanasius: Champion of Nicaea—defender of Christ's full divinity.
- The Cappadocians: Basil, Gregory of Nazianzus, Gregory of Nyssa—Trinitarian theology.
- Augustine: Grace, Trinity, City of God—the most influential Western Father.