The label Apostolic Fathers has been applied to these writers only since the 17th century, to indicate that they were thought of as representing the generation that had personal contact with the Twelve Apostles.
Label Bapa Apostolik telah diterapkan oleh para penulis hanya sejak abad ke-17, untuk menunjukkan bahwa mereka dianggap mewakili generasi yang memiliki kontak pribadi dengan Kedua Belas Rasul.