APOSTOLIC FATHERS. - Since J.-B. Cotelier (d. 1686) brought together in one collection the works of Barnaba, Clemente di Roma, Ignazio, Policarpo, and Erma as « patres aevi apostolici », P. A. have been spoken of. Later Papia, the fragments of the presbyters in s. Ireneo, the Epistola a Diogneto, and the Didaché were added.
This designation has only a practical value, because chronologically it does not in every case correspond to its claims; dogmatically it is likewise unclear, nor does this designation indicate the different literary genre of all these works.
BIBL.: among the editions of the P. A. are cited: O. Gebhardt-Ad. Harnack-Th. Zahn, Lipsia 1875-77; I. B. Lightfoot, 3 vols., Londra 1889-91; F. X. Funk, I. Tubinga 1901, II. published by Fr. Dickamp, ivi 1913; S. Colombo, Torino 1934. See also E. I. Godspeed, Index Patristicus sive citati Patrum Apost., Lipsia 1907. Studies: H. Reinhold, De graecitate Patrum Apostolicorum (Dissertationes philologicae Halensee, 14 [1898]); A. Casamassa, I P. A., Roma 1938. See also the commentaries in H. Lietzmann, Handbuch zum neuen Testament. Ergänzungsband, Tubinga 1920-23. Erik Peterson