The Church Fathers or Fathers of the Church are the early and influential theologians and writers in the Christian Church, particularly those of the first five centuries of Christian history. The term means specifically writers and teachers of the Church, not saints in general; usually it is not meant to include the New Testament authors. "In the late second century Irenaeus stated simply, 'He who has received the teaching from another's mouth is called the son of his instructor, and he is called his father.' Clement of Alexandria elaborated thus: 'Words are the progeny of the soul. Hence, we call those that instructed us fathers... and everyone who is instructed is in respect of subjection the son of his instructor" (Hall, Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers, p. 50). The study of Ch