ABSTRACT
The Fathers freely and openly, though also often perhaps unconsciously, employed language forms, linguistic and other symbols, habits and practices of thought, ideas and beliefs drawn from the societies and communities in which they lived and worked. A number of Fathers clearly share the contemporary Greco-Roman horror at civic discord and schism, particularly the Rome-based ones although Ignatius also must be included here, and thereby embrace the concomitant high valuation of the qualities of civic and ecclesiastical harmony and concord as reflecting the world arranged in an orderly manner by God. Attitudes towards wealth creation and engagement in commercial activities on the part of Christians vary but while some, like Cyprian, see personal wealth and Christian commitment as utterly incompatible, most merely recognise the potential distractions of wealth and business for those seeking to live out their Christian obligations.
