How Dependable are Apostolic Fathers Writings?

[Markie Boy]

Does anyone know how dependable the writings we have of the Apostolic Fathers are? Especially Ignatius of Antioch?

It seems we don't have many copies. I read at first there were 15 letters of Ignatius, then 8 of them were deemed apocryphal. Of the seven left there are some variations that make me pause.

With my dis-trust of the institution of Catholicism, I am wondering if at times they altered them to support what they wanted. We just seem to have scant few copies to verify things - nothing at all like the New Testament where there are copies a mile high.

 

[HTacianas]

Does anyone know how dependable the writings we have of the Apostolic Fathers are? Especially Ignatius of Antioch?

It seems we don't have many copies. I read at first there were 15 letters of Ignatius, then 8 of them were deemed apocryphal. Of the seven left there are some variations that make me pause.

With my dis-trust of the institution of Catholicism, I am wondering if at times they altered them to support what they wanted. We just seem to have scant few copies to verify things - nothing at all like the New Testament where there are copies a mile high.

The writings of the Church Fathers are as reliable as they can be. While there are what we would in modern times call forgeries, even those were not created for any nefarious reasons. Most of them, and some books attributed to the apostles, are what we might call fan fiction today.

Now, before my Catholic friends come along and kick me out, what causes the distrust you feel toward the Roman Church?