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The term ‘Church Fathers’ (or rather, simply ‘Fathers’, for the noun’s complement was a very late addition) dates back to the patristic period itself. It is rooted in Scripture (the ‘fathers’ of Israel) but around the middle of the 4th century, and especially in Athanasius of Alexandria, it takes on a new meaning in a specific context: namely, in reference to the Council of Nicea. Those who took part in this first ecumenical council were to be the ‘fathers’ of the faith defined by the creedal definition drawn up there. The Fathers are therefore first and foremost the council fathers, i.e. those who participated in the first ecumenical council. The expression was then extended to cover the other ecumenical councils, or in certain cases isolated authors. Yet the tendency remained to maintain its collective or anonymous sense: it is not as individuals that the Fathers are authoritative, but as a communion, whose particular function is to define the faith.