[A.D. 100-200.] The Apostolic Fathers are here understood as filling up the second century of our era. Irenaeus, it is true, is rather of the sub-apostolic period; but, as the disciple of Polycarp, he ought not to be dissociated from that Father's company. These were times of heroism, not of words; an age, not of writers, but of soldiers; not of talkers, but of sufferers. These writings come down to us as the earliest response of converted peoples to the testimony of Jesus. They are primary evidences of the Canon and the credibility of the New Testament (abbreviated as NT).

A Witness asks an honest question of David Reed

Mr. Reed,

I have pored over the many pages on your site, your books, I have seen at the Christian book store and at other places, and have also been to Randall Watters site many times at Free Minds. While it is true that looking at your site and others has informed me of a lot, I don't necessarily believe it has helped me. You have heard the statement "ignorance is bliss," but I am not sure if that were the case in my situation. The reason being that I am more confused now than ever. Why? My thinking is, how could such a wonderful organization and group of people be guilty of so much wrong, as they are being accused? Could it be that they honestly believe the things they teach, and are not liars as you and others have suggested? I have read "Crisis of Conscience," and was disturbed at some of the things I read. But one can't help but notice how one sided it was, and that to this date the Society has never published anything as to the events of 1980 at Bethel, nor have they published the events of your "apostasy" from your congregation. For example, Franz mentions how the Governing Body got witnesses of statements he made to testify on audio-cassette as to statements he made that they felt leaned toward apostate thinking. Yet Franz never wrote in his book what some of those things were that he said that provoked them to such a course of action. Could it not be said then, that Franz is simply appealing to the emotions of his readers, as if to get them to say 'What a travesty! Poor Brother Franz was not given a chance.'