Historic writings

Martin Luther

Small Catechismis the abridged version of Luther's Large Catechism. Written in the traditional catechism form of a query followed by an answer, these brief Q and As explain the backbone of Lutheran theology.

First Council of Nicaea / Constantinople · 325 / 381

The confession of the undivided church, received at Nicaea and expanded at Constantinople.

The early church · received form by c. 700

The short baptismal confession of the Western church.

Unknown · c. 500

A precise confession of the Trinity and the incarnation.

Council of Chalcedon · 451

The church's confession that Christ is one person in two natures.

Gregory Thaumaturgus

This front matter introduces Gregory Thaumaturgus, recounting his education, conversion under Origen, episcopal ministry, and reputation for miracles. It also discusses the historical sources concerning his life and the translator’s presentation of his writings.

Tertullian

Blessed Martyrs Designate,—Along with the provision which our lady mother the Church from her bountiful breasts, and each brother out of his private means, makes for your bodily wants in the prison, accept also from me some contribution to your spiritual sustenance; for it is not good that the flesh be feasted and the spirit starve: nay, if that which is weak be carefully looked to, it is but r...

Tertullian

One proof of that ignorance of yours, which condemns[[cite:460]] whilst it excuses[[cite:461]] your injustice, is at once apparent in the fact, that all who once shared in your ignorance and hatred (of the Christian religion), as soon as they have come to know it, leave off their hatred when they cease to be ignorant; nay more, they actually themselves become what they had hated, and take to ha...

Pierus of Alexandria · c. 275

Among the very eminent men who flourished near his own time, Eusebius mentions Pierius, a presbyter of Alexandria, and speaks of him as greatly renowned for his voluntary poverty, his philosophical erudition and his skill in the exposition of Scripture and in discoursing to the public assemblies of the Church.[[cite:1266]] He lived in the latter part of the third century, and seems to have been...

Irenaeus of Lyons · c. 120–202

This history introduces us to the Church in her Western outposts. We reach the banks of the Rhone, where for nearly a century Christian missions have flourished.

Irenaeus of Lyons

1. In the first book, which immediately precedes this, exposing “knowledge falsely so called,”[[verse:1TI.6.20|1 Tim.

Irenaeus of Lyons

Thou hast indeed enjoined upon me, my very dear friend, that I should bring to light the Valentinian doctrines, concealed, as their votaries imagine; that I should exhibit their diversity, and compose a treatise in refutation of them. I therefore have undertaken—showing that they spring from Simon, the father of all heretics—to exhibit both their doctrines and successions, and to set forth argu...

Irenaeus of Lyons

1. By transmitting to thee, my very dear friend, this fourth book of the work which is [entitled] *The Detection and Refutation of False Knowledge*, I shall, as I have promised, add weight, by means of the words of the Lord, to what I have already advanced; so that thou also, as thou hast requested, mayest obtain from me the means of confuting all the heretics everywhere, and not permit them, b...

Irenaeus of Lyons

In the four preceding books, my very dear friend, which I put forth to thee, all the heretics have been exposed, and their doctrines brought to light, and these men refuted who have devised irreligious opinions. [I have accomplished this by adducing] something from the doctrine peculiar to each of these men, which they have left in their writings, as well as by using arguments of a more general...

Tertullian

Containing an Argument Against His Opinion that Matter is Eternal.

Tertullian

In Which He Defends, in all Essential Points, the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity. [[cite:7767]]

Tertullian

In Which the Author Gives a Concise Account of, Together with Sundry Caustic Animadversions on, the Very Fantastic Theology of the Sect. This Treatise is Professedly Taken from the Writings of Justin, Miltiades, Irenæus, and Proculus.

Tertullian

It happened very recently a dispute was held between a Christian and a Jewish proselyte. Alternately with contentious cable they each spun out the day until evening.

Westminster Assembly · 1647

A short catechism of Christian doctrine, beginning with man's chief end.

Church of England · 1563 / 1571

The Reformation confession of the English church.