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Historic writings
Creeds, councils, and other public-domain texts of the church.
446 writings
Early Church
Tertullian
On ModestyModesty, the flower of manners, the honour of our bodies, the grace of the sexes, the integrity of the blood, the guarantee of our race, the basis of sanctity, the pre-indication of every good disposition; rare though it is, and not easily perfected, and scarce ever retained in perpetuity, will yet up to a certain point linger in the world, if nature shall have laid the preliminary groundwork o...
Tertullian
On MonogamyHeretics do away with marriages; Psychics accumulate them. The former marry not *even* once; the latter not *only* once.
Tertullian
On PrayerThe Spirit of God, and the Word of God, and the Reason of God—Word of Reason, and Reason and Spirit of Word—Jesus Christ our Lord, namely, who is both the one and the other,[[cite:8761]]—has determined for us, the disciples of the New Testament, a new form of prayer; for in this particular also it was needful that new wine should be laid up in new skins, and a new breadth be sewn to a new garme...
Tertullian
On RepentanceTertullian explains repentance as a divinely instituted means of turning from sin and receiving salvation. He argues that true repentance must be directed only toward evil deeds, guided by fear of God, and accompanied by genuine amendment.
Tertullian
On the Apparel of WomenIf there dwelt upon earth a faith as great as is the reward of faith which is expected in the heavens, no one of you at all, best beloved sisters, from the time that she had first “known the Lord,”[[verse:HEB.8.11|Heb. viii.
Tertullian
On the Flesh of ChristThis was written by our author in confutation of certain heretics who denied the reality of Christ’s flesh, or at least its identity with human flesh—fearing that, if they admitted the reality of Christ’s flesh, they must also admit his resurrection in the flesh; and, consequently, the resurrection of the human body after death.
Novatian
On the Jewish MeatsAlthough, most holy brethren, the day in which I receive your letters and writings is most ardently longed for by me, and to be reckoned among the chief and happiest—for what else is there now to make me more joyous?[[cite:5303]]—still I think that the day is to be deemed not less notable, and among special days, wherein I return to you similar communications, with the affection of love that I...
Tertullian
On the PalliumTertullian defends his adoption of the pallium by arguing that clothing, cities, nations, and the natural world are all subject to continual change. He rebukes the Carthaginians for mocking the mantle while embracing other cultural and political innovations.
Justin Martyr
On the Resurrection, FragmentsJustin defends the authority of divine truth and argues against those who deny the resurrection of the flesh. He begins addressing objections concerning bodily corruption, human infirmities, and Christ’s bodily resurrection.
Tertullian
On the Resurrection of the FleshThe heretics against whom this work is directed, were the same who maintained that the demiurge, or the god who created this world and gave the Mosaic dispensation, was opposed to the supreme God. Hence they attached an idea of inherent corruption and worthlessness to all his works—amongst the rest, to the flesh or body of man; affirming that it could not rise again, and that the soul alone was...
Justin Martyr
On the Sole Government of GodJustin Martyr argues for the worship of one supreme and invisible God, contrasting monotheism with the popular practice of idol worship. He supports his case by citing Greek poets and philosophers, including Aeschylus, Sophocles, Philemon, Orpheus, and Pythagoras.
Tertullian
On the Veiling of VirginsHaving already undergone the trouble peculiar to my opinion, I will show in Latin also that it behoves our virgins to be veiled from the time that they have passed the turning-point of their age: that this observance is exacted by truth, on which no one can impose prescription—no space of times, no influence of persons, no privilege of regions. For these, for the most part, are the sources when...
Gregory of Nyssa
Oration Concerning Simeon and Anna On the Day that They Met in the Temple and Other FragmentsOn the Day that They Met in the Temple.[[cite:2986]]
Origen
Origen Against Celsus1. When false witnesses testified against our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, He remained silent; and when unfounded charges were brought against Him, He returned no answer, believing that His whole life and conduct among the Jews were a better refutation than any answer to the false testimony, or than any formal defence against the accusations.
Origen
Origen's Commentary on the Gospel of MatthewOrigen’s Commentary on Matthew was composed around 246–248, when Origen was over sixty. The work originally comprised twenty-five books, of which portions survive in Greek and Latin, and it discusses the Gospel’s authorship, textual traditions, and theological interpretation.
Justin Martyr
Other Fragments from the Lost Writings of JustinThe most admirable Justin rightly declared that the aforesaid demons[[cite:2636]] resembled robbers.—Tatian’s *Address to the Greeks*, chap. xviii.
Clement of Alexandria
Salvation of the Rich ManI. Those who bestow laudatory addresses on the rich[[cite:3838]] appear to me to be rightly judged not only flatterers and base, in vehemently pretending that things which are disagreeable give them pleasure, but also godless and treacherous; godless, because neglecting to praise and glorify God, who is alone perfect and good, “of whom are all things, and by whom are all things, and for whom ar...
Tertullian
Scorpiace. Antidote for the Scorpion's StingThe earth brings forth, as if by suppuration, great evil from the diminutive scorpion. The poisons are as many as are the kinds of it, the disasters as many as are also the species of it, the pains as many as are also the colours of it.
Tatian · c. 110–172
Tatian's Address to the GreeksIt was my first intention to make this author a mere appendix to his master, Justin Martyr; for he stands in an equivocal position, as half Father and half heretic. His good seems to have been largely due to Justin’s teaching and influence.
Archelaus · c. 277
The Acts of the Disputation with the Heresiarch ManesAn account of a disputation between Bishop Archelaus and the Manichaean teacher Manes in Mesopotamia. The work defends Christian doctrine against Manichaeism and survives chiefly in Latin, with Greek fragments, while its authorship and historical reliability remain disputed.