Nicene

Open library

Historic writings

Creeds, councils, and other public-domain texts of the church.

446 writings

Early Church

  • Eusebius Pamphilus

    NPNF2-01. Eusebius Pamphilius: Church History, Life of Constantine, Oration in Praise of Constantine

    With over twenty volumes, the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a momentous achievement. Originally gathered by Philip Schaff, the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a collection of writings by classical and medieval Christian theologians.

  • Socrates Scholasticus

    NPNF2-02. Socrates and Sozomenus Ecclesiastical Histories

    With over twenty volumes, the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a momentous achievement. Originally gathered by Philip Schaff, the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a collection of writings by classical and medieval Christian theologians.

  • Theodoret, Jerome, Gennadius, and Rufinus

    NPNF2-03. Theodoret, Jerome, Gennadius, & Rufinus: Historical Writings

    With over twenty volumes, the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a momentous achievement. Originally gathered by Philip Schaff, the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a collection of writings by classical and medieval Christian theologians.

  • Athanasius

    NPNF2-04. Athanasius: Select Works and Letters

    With over twenty volumes, the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a momentous achievement. Originally gathered by Philip Schaff, the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a collection of writings by classical and medieval Christian theologians.

  • Gregory of Nyssa

    NPNF2-05. Gregory of Nyssa: Dogmatic Treatises, Etc.

    With over twenty volumes, the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a momentous achievement. Originally gathered by Philip Schaff, the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a collection of writings by classical and medieval Christian theologians.

  • St. Jerome

    NPNF2-06. Jerome: The Principal Works of St. Jerome

    With over twenty volumes, the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a momentous achievement. Originally gathered by Philip Schaff, the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a collection of writings by classical and medieval Christian theologians.

  • Cyril of Jerusalem

    NPNF2-07. Cyril of Jerusalem, Gregory Nazianzen

    With over twenty volumes, the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a momentous achievement. Originally gathered by Philip Schaff, the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a collection of writings by classical and medieval Christian theologians.

  • Basil the Great

    NPNF2-08. Basil: Letters and Select Works

    With over twenty volumes, the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a momentous achievement. Originally gathered by Philip Schaff, the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a collection of writings by classical and medieval Christian theologians.

  • Hilary of Poitiers

    NPNF2-09. Hilary of Poitiers, John of Damascus

    With over twenty volumes, the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a momentous achievement. Originally gathered by Philip Schaff, the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a collection of writings by classical and medieval Christian theologians.

  • Ambrose of Milan

    NPNF2-10. Ambrose: Selected Works and Letters

    With over twenty volumes, the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a momentous achievement. Originally gathered by Philip Schaff, the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a collection of writings by classical and medieval Christian theologians.

  • Sulpicius Severus

    NPNF-211. Sulpitius Severus, Vincent of Lerins, John Cassian

    With over twenty volumes, the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a momentous achievement. Originally gathered by Philip Schaff, the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a collection of writings by classical and medieval Christian theologians.

  • Leo the Great

    NPNF-212. Leo the Great, Gregory the Great

    With over twenty volumes, the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a momentous achievement. Originally gathered by Philip Schaff, the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a collection of writings by classical and medieval Christian theologians.

  • Gregory the Great

    NPNF-213. Gregory the Great (II), Ephraim Syrus, Aphrahat

    With over twenty volumes, the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a momentous achievement. Originally gathered by Philip Schaff, the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a collection of writings by classical and medieval Christian theologians.

  • The Seven Ecumenical Councils of the Undivided Church

    NPNF2-14. The Seven Ecumenical Councils

    With over twenty volumes, the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a momentous achievement. Originally gathered by Philip Schaff, the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a collection of writings by classical and medieval Christian theologians.

  • Tertullian

    Of Patience

    I fully confess unto the Lord God that it has been rash enough, if not even impudent, in *me* to have dared compose a treatise on Patience, for *practising* which I am all unfit, being a man of no goodness;[[verse:ROM.7.18|Rom. vii.

  • Alexander of Lycopolis · c. 301

    Of the Manichaeans

    A treatise refuting Manichæan doctrines by Alexander, formerly a pagan and adherent of Manichæism who converted to Christianity and became bishop of Lycopolis. Drawing on his personal knowledge of the sect, the work contrasts Christian moral philosophy with the errors and contentious divisions of heretical teaching.

  • Tertullian

    On Baptism

    Happy is our[[cite:8542]] sacrament of water, in that, by washing away the sins of our early blindness, we are set free *and admitted* into eternal life! A treatise on this matter will not be superfluous; instructing not only such as are just becoming formed (in the faith), but them who, content with having simply believed, without full examination of the grounds[[cite:8543]] of the traditions,...

  • Tertullian

    On Exhortation to Chastity

    I doubt not, brother, that after the premission in peace of your wife, you, being wholly bent upon the composing of your mind (to a right frame), are seriously thinking about the end of your lone life, and of course are standing in need of counsel. Although, in cases of this kind, each individual ought to hold colloquy with his own faith, and consult its strength; still, inasmuch as, in this (p...

  • Tertullian

    On Fasting

    I should wonder at the Psychics, if they were enthralled to voluptuousness alone, which leads them to repeated marriages, if they were not likewise bursting with gluttony, which leads them to hate fasts. Lust without voracity would certainly be considered a monstrous phenomenon; since these two are so united and concrete, that, had there been any possibility of disjoining them, the pudenda woul...

  • Tertullian

    On Idolatry

    The principal crime of the human race, the highest guilt charged upon the world, the whole procuring cause of judgment, is idolatry.[[cite:163]] For, although each single fault retains its own proper feature, although it is destined to judgment under its own proper name also, yet it is marked off under the *general* account of idolatry. Set aside names, examine works, the idolater is likewise a...