These church fathers flourished before or a little after the Nicaean Council in AD 325. They believed in prophecies, dreams and vision. Some even got them, after the apostles died.
As noted in Part 1, these sample excerpts seem to assume ongoing manifestations of the gifts of the Spirit and represent many churches. They are not one-offs nor restricted to the elders, bishops, and other leaders recorded here.
The universality of these gifts was a blessing because people needed help in the middle of paganism and the worship of false deities. whom the church leaders understood to be demons. Possession was real. Medical treatments were primitive. And the kingdom of God advanced through the gifts. They apply to our world today, for the same reasons. They are expressions of the mercy and grace and love of God for needy, hurting people.
All bold font has been added. Links have been provided to identify who the leaders are, in more detail.
Lets begin without a longer introduction.
EPISTLE OF BARNABAS (AD 70-132):
He Himself is prophesying in us. (1.147)
DIDACHE (end of first to early second centuries):
13:1 But every true prophet desiring to settle among you is worthy of his food.
13:2 In like manner a true teacher is also worthy, like the workman, of his food.
13:3 Every first-fruit then of the produce of the wine-vat and of the threshing-floor, of your oxen and of your sheep, you shall take and give as the first-fruit to the prophets;
13:4 For they are your chief-priests.
IGNATIUS (died c. 108/140 AD):
I received no report from any man. Rather, the Spirit proclaimed these words: “Do nothing without the bishop. Keep your bodies as the temple of God. Love unity. Avoid divisions. Be the followers of Jesus Christ, even as He is of His Father.” (Ignatius 1.83, 784)
MARTYRDOM OF POLYCARP (150-60 AD):
And while praying he fell into a trance three days before his arrest, and he saw his pillow burning with fire. He turned and said to those that were with him: “It must needs be that I shall be burned alive.” […] Then they thought fit to shout out with one accord that Polycarp should be burned alive. For it must needs be that the matter of the vision should be fulfilled, which was shown him concerning his pillow, when he saw it on fire while praying, and turning round he said prophetically to the faithful who were with him, “I must needs be burned alive.” (Martyrdom of Polycarp, 5.2, 12.3)
IRENAEUS (c. 130 to c. 202):
For some do certainly and truly drive out devils, so that those who have thus been cleansed from evil spirits frequently both believe [in Christ], and join themselves to the Church. Others have foreknowledge of things to come: they see visions, and utter prophetic expressions. Others still, heal the sick by laying their hands upon them, and they are made whole. Yea, moreover, as I have said, the dead even have been raised up, and remained among us for many years. And what shall I more say? It is not possible to name the number of the gifts which the Church, [scattered] throughout the whole world, has received from God, in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and which she exerts day by day for the benefit of the Gentiles, neither practising deception upon any, nor taking any reward from them [on account of such miraculous interpositions]. For as she has received freely from God, freely also does she minister [to others]. (ANF, 1.409)
It appears probable enough that this man [Marcus] possesses a demon as his familiar spirit, by means of whom he seems able to prophesy, and also enables as many as he counts worthy to be partakers of his Charis themselves to prophesy. He devotes himself especially to women, and those such as are well-bred, and elegantly attired, and of great wealth, whom he frequently seeks to draw after him […] that the gift of prophecy is not conferred on men by Marcus, the magician, but that only those to whom God sends His grace from above possess the divinely-bestowed power of prophesying; and then they speak where and when God pleases, and not when Marcus orders them to do so. (ANF 1.334, 335)
[…] In like manner we do also hear many brethren in the Church, who possess prophetic gifts, and who through the Spirit speak all kinds of languages, and bring to light for the general benefit the hidden things of men, and declare the mysteries of God, whom also the apostle terms “spiritual,” they being spiritual because they partake of the Spirit, […] (ANF, 1.531-532).
HERMAS (late first half of the second century):
Try the man who has the Divine Spirit by his life. First, he who has the Divine Spirit proceeding from above is meek, and peaceable, and humble, and refrains from all iniquity and the vain desire of this world, and contents himself with fewer wants than those of other men, and when asked he makes no reply; nor does he speak privately, nor when man wishes the spirit to speak does the Holy Spirit speak, but it speaks only when God wishes it to speak. When, then, a man having the Divine Spirit comes into an assembly of righteous men who have faith in the Divine Spirit, and this assembly of men offers up prayer to God, then the angel of the prophetic Spirit, who is destined for him, fills the man; and the man being filled with the Holy Spirit, speaks to the multitude as the Lord wishes. (Commandment Eleventh)
HIPPOLYTUS OF ROME (170-236):
Because of visions, many have come to make their abode with Jesus (ANF 1.489)
DIONYSIUS OF ALEXANDRIA (2nd or early 3rd century to 22 March 264):
The prophets of old did not speak of their own power–let there be no mistake as to that. Nor did they declare what pleases themselves. But, first of all, they were endowed by wisdom by the Word. And then again they were rightly instructed in the future by means of visions. And then, when they themselves were fully convinced, they spoke those things that were revealed by God to them alone, and concealed from all others. For with what reason should a prophet be called a prophet unless he in spirit foresaw the future? For, if the prophet spoke of any chance event, he would not then be a prophet. For he would be speaking of things that were under the eye of all. But one who set forth in detail things yet to be, he was rightly judged a prophet. (ANF 5.204, 205)
After the lapse of four days, God gave me instructions to leave. And He opened the way for me. (ANF 6.104)
I was strengthened by a vision that was sent me from God. And a word spoken to me, expressly commanded me, saying, “Read everything that will come into your hands. For you are fit to do so.” (ANF 6.102, 103)
PERPETUA (c. 182—died March 7, 203):
Without delay, on that very night, this was shown to me in a vision. […] The day before the day we were to fight, I saw in a vision, that Pomponius came here to the gate of the prison […] Moreover, the blessed Saturus also related this, his vision (Passion of Perpetua and Felicitas 3.701, 702)
CYPRIAN (c. 210 – 14 September 258 AD; baptized c. 246):
Be constant in both prayer and reading. Now speak with God; then let God speak with you. Let him instruct you with His teaching, let Him direct you. (ANF 5.279, 280)
By the kindness of the Lord instructing me, I am very often instigated and warned (ANF 5.347)
Besides the visions of the night, by day also, the innocent age of boys is among us filled with the Holy Spirit–seeing in an ecstasy with their eyes and hearing and speaking those things by which the Lord warns and instructs us through his grace. (ANF, 5.290)
By the suggestion of the Holy Spirit and the admonition of the Lord, conveyed by many and manifest visions, we have determined […] to gather the soldiers of Christ within the camp and to examine the case of each one (ANF 5.372)
EUSEBIUS (c. 60/265 – 30 May 339):
Natalius was persuaded by them to let himself be chosen bishop of this heresy. […] Connecting himself with other heretics, he was admonished by the Lord in visions on many occasions […] But he gave little heed to the visions. (Eusebius, quoting Caius, ANF 5.602.)
ARTICLES IN SERIES
1. Gifts of the Spirit in Early Church Fathers
2. Healings and Deliverances in Early Church Fathers
3. Prophecies, Visions, and Hearing from God in Early Church Fathers
RELATED
Dreams and Visions: How to Interpret Them
Other Posts about Church Fathers:
1. Church Fathers and Matthew’s Gospel
2. Church Fathers and Mark’s Gospel
3. Church Fathers and Luke’s Gospel
4. Church Fathers and John’s Gospel
SOURCES
A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs. Ed. David W. Bercot (Hendrickson, 2017)
Ante-Nicene Fathers
New Advent,
Early Christian Commentary: Spiritual Gifts
Dr. Jim's Essential Bible Teaching 