Jesus' ministry took place in the early thirties of the first century A.D. The Gospels, which record his ministry, were probably written within a generation of that time. The book of Acts continues Church history until about A.D. 63. James's letter was probably written in the mid fifties, and Peter's two letters were written before his death in about 67. Paul's letters span from the early fifties until about 67. The last of these, 2 Timothy, carries a somber tone with repeated warnings about the growing heresies. So also does Jude's letter, written perhaps a decade later. John's writings, recorded near the end of the century, show unmistakable evidence of the spread of false doctrine and false leaders.
Paul had foretold that apostasy and aberrant behavior would be found in the "latter times" (1 Tim 4:1) Jude stated that they were living in the "last time" when the warning prophecies were being fulfilled (Jude 1:17-19). John stated emphatically concerning his own day—and repeated the phrase for emphasis—"it is the last time" (1 John 2:18) which could be translated more literally, "it is the last hour." These phrases refer to the last days of the Church, not the last days of the world. And they provide significant evidence that inspired leaders knew the Church would come to an end.
After the days of the apostles, and thus after the New Testament ended, a new Christian literature began to develop. The earliest writers of the post-New Testament era are frequently called the Apostolic Fathers, because it was believed that they knew, or knew persons who knew, the apostles themselves. Because of this connection with the generation of the apostles, the works and words of these early writers became authoritative among Christians of later generations.
The earliest of these was a man named Clement, who was the bishop of Rome shortly before the end of the first century. Clement wrote to the church in Corinth in about 96 to urge the Christians there to reject overt acts of recent rebellion The Church of Corinth had committed a coup d'etat, by removing from office their leaders who had been appointed by apostles, installing others in their places.
Clement emphasized, on doctrinal grounds, the importance of sustaining those who had been called by authority. "Christ received His commission from God, and the Apostles theirs from Christ." The apostles, in turn, set apart bishops and others to preside in the congregations.
Providing an impressive witness for the reality of the Apostasy, Clement pointed out the consequences of the Corinthians' rejection of their priesthood leaders: "All righteousness and peace among you is at an end. Everywhere men are renouncing the fear of God; the eye of faith has grown dim, and instead of following the commandments, and living as becomes a citizen of Christ, each one walks after the desires of his own wicked heart."
Clement spoke of the apostles in the past tense and gave no indication that there were any still in the church. Another important document, the Shepherd of Hermas, written perhaps in part quite early in the second century, also acknowledges that the apostles were gone.
