The Apostolic Fathers · AD 70–130
Quadratus of Athens
fl. c. 124; d. mid-2nd c. · Earliest apologist · Bishop of Athens · Athens
The Apostolic Fathers
Who Quadratus of Athens was
Quadratus presented to the emperor Hadrian, on one of his Athenian visits, the earliest Christian apology of which anything survives — a defence appealing, remarkably, to still-living evidence. Eusebius preserves its one fragment: that some of those Jesus healed and raised “survived even to our own times,” so recent was the age of miracle. Eusebius also counts him bishop of Athens in the line begun by Dionysius the Areopagite, rebuilding the church there after a lapse. First in the long tradition of the philosopher-defenders.
Also listed in bishops beyond the great sees.
Common questions
When was Quadratus active?
Quadratus of Athens is dated fl. c. 124; d. mid-2nd c. in the archive, which places Quadratus in the Apostolic Fathers (AD 70–130). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
What did Quadratus write?
Quadratus of Athens has 1 catalogued writing in the archive: Apology to Hadrian (surviving fragment).
Which early sources mention Quadratus?
Quadratus of Athens is named in 3 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Eusebius of Caesarea and Jerome of Stridon. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Quadratus from?
The archive associates Quadratus of Athens with Athens.
Writings (1)
Apology to Hadrian (surviving fragment)
c. 124–125The works of our Saviour were always present, for they were genuine — those that were healed, those that rose from the dead… some of them have survived even to our own times.Read the interlinear source text →
Primary-source mentions (3)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Ecclesiastical History IV.3
c. AD 325But the works of our Saviour were always present, for they were genuine: those that were healed, and those that rose from the dead… some of them have survived even to our own day.Eusebius of Caesarea · IV.3 · source text
Chronicle of Jerome ('Quadratus, disciple of the apostles')
c. AD 380On Illustrious Men 19
c. AD 392Quadratus, disciple of the apostles, delivered to Adrian a book composed in behalf of our religion, indispensable, full of sound argument and faith.Jerome of Stridon · On Illustrious Men 19 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
- Aristides of Athens
- Emperor Hadrian
- Dionysius the Areopagite
- Publius of Athens
- The Epistle to Diognetus (anonymous)
Events in this lifetime
- AD 62 · James the Just stoned, AD 62
- AD 64 · The Great Fire and Nero’s persecution, AD 64
- AD 70 · The fall of Jerusalem, AD 70
- AD 95 · Domitian’s reprisals, AD 95
- AD 96 · Rome writes to Corinth: 1 Clement, AD 96
- AD 112 · Pliny writes Trajan, AD 112
- AD 117 · Symeon and Ignatius martyred, AD 117
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Quadratus.