Church fathers have historical value — especially the earliest second-century writers — but should not be granted extra theological authority; they are windows into early church history, not infallible teachers.

Mike distinguishes apostolic-era witnesses like Polycarp (who reports on the gospel authors) and Justin Martyr ('memoirs of the apostles') from later church fathers. Their historical proximity gives their testimony extra weight for historical questions. But theology went wrong early; the NT is the safe source for doctrine.