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The Historic Faith Podcast  /  "The Balance of Faith and Works"  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 2
Dean says the phoenix passage is “a perfect example why we’re very thankful” for drawing a firm line at canon, even while calling the Apostolic Fathers “the most excellent commentary on the word of God”; what does that combination (high value but non-inspired) require from us in how we read, quote, and argue from early Christian texts?
Another way to ask: Dean says the Apostolic Fathers are very valuable, but not Scripture because they aren’t in the canon. How should that change the way we read them, quote them, and use them in arguments?

Direct Answer It requires careful humility: we should learn from the Apostolic Fathers as close witnesses to apostolic teaching, but we must not quote them as if they carry the authority of Scripture. Based on the transcript, the right approach is to use them as historical and interpretive help while keeping “a line at canon” so errors (like the phoenix) don’t become binding.

Support from Transcript:

  • Dean calls the phoenix “a perfect example why we’re very thankful” the book “didn’t” become canon, because it would be a “gigantic scientific blunder.”
  • He warns that if you blur the canon line, you “move the debates and the textual criticisms… down the line” to writings with “no claim of being inspired.”
  • Dean: “We are obviously extremely excited about the early church… the most excellent commentary on the word of God, but it is not the word of God.”
  • David says Clement provides “a window into what people thought and believed… with all the scientific errors,” meaning we should read it as history and context.
  • David: God preserved Scripture, but also preserved “key writings… so that we have… light” on how they understood the New Testament—without treating them as infallible.
Discussion Follow-ups When you cite Clement in a debate, do you treat it as final proof, or as early testimony that should push you back to Scripture? What safeguards help you do that?

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