Historic writings

Early Church

• Justin Martyr

  The First Apology

  Crescens, a cynic, has the ill-renown of stirring up the persecution in which Justin and his friends suffered for Christ. The story that he died by the hemlock seems to have originated among the Greeks, who naturally gave this turn to the sufferings of a philosopher.

• Tertullian

  The Five Books Against Marcion

  I am gratified to have your permission to dedicate this volume to your Lordship. It is the fruit of some two years’ leisure labour.

• Unknown

  The Gospel of Peter

  The important fragment of which Mr. J. Armitage Robinson’s translation here follows was discovered by the French Archæological Mission, Cairo, in a grave (supposed to be a monk’s) in an ancient cemetery at Akhmîm (Panopolis), in Upper Egypt, in 1886. It was published in 1892 under the care of M. Bouriant in vol. ix., fasc.

• Justin Martyr

  The Hortatory Address to the Greeks

  Justin Martyr urges the Greeks to abandon traditional pagan religion and examine Christianity as the true religion. He critiques the immoral and contradictory portrayals of the gods in the works of Homer and other poets.

• Commodianus · c. 240

  The Instructions of Commodianus

  A Christian poem presented in prose, urging Christian discipline and exposing the vanity of pagan gods. In the preface, Commodianus describes his conversion from paganism and his desire to teach the ignorant the truth.

• Clement of Alexandria

  The Instructor

  As there are these three things in the case of man, habits, actions, and passions; habits are the department appropriated by *hortatory* discourse the guide to piety, which, like the ship’s keel, is laid beneath for the building up of faith; in which, rejoicing exceedingly, and abjuring our old opinions, through salvation we renew our youth, singing with the hymning prophecy, “How good is God t...

• Church at Smyrna

  The Martyrdom of Polycarp

  Internal evidence goes far to establish the credit which Eusebius lends to this specimen of the martyrologies, certainly not the earliest if we accept that of Ignatius as genuine. As an encyclical of one of “the seven churches” to another of the same Seven, and as bearing witness to their aggregation with others into the unity of “the Holy and Catholic Church,” it is a very interesting witness,...

• Zosimus

  The Narrative of Zosimus

  The Greek text of this work is printed for the first time in the same part of “Texts and Studies” as the Acts of Xanthippe and Polyxena. The sources for it are two manuscripts—one in Paris, belonging to the twelfth century, and the other in Oxford, dating from the fifteenth or sixteenth.

• Minucius Felix · c. 210

  The Octavius of Minucius Felix

  A Latin Christian apologetic dialogue in which the Christian Octavius argues against the pagan Cæcilius, addressing accusations against Christianity and presenting Christian belief as rational and morally superior. Its precise date is disputed, but it is commonly placed around the beginning of the third century.

• Theophilus of Antioch

  Theophilus to Autolycus - Book I

  [a.d. 115–168–181.] Eusebius praises the pastoral fidelity of the primitive pastors, in their unwearied labours to protect their flocks from the heresies with which Satan contrived to endanger the souls of believers.

• Theophilus of Antioch

  Theophilus to Autolycus - Book II

  A fluent tongue and an elegant style afford pleasure and such praise as vainglory delights in, to wretched men who have been corrupted in mind; the lover of truth does not give heed to ornamented speeches, but examines the real matter of the speech, what it is, and what kind it is. Since, then, my friend, you have assailed me with empty words, boasting of your gods of wood and stone, hammered a...

• Theophilus of Antioch

  Theophilus to Autolycus - Book III

  Theophilus to Autolycus, greeting: Seeing that writers are fond of composing a multitude of books for vainglory,—some concerning gods, and wars, and chronology, and some, too, concerning useless legends, and other such labour in vain, in which you also have been used to employ yourself until now, and do not grudge to endure that toil; but though you conversed with me, are still of opinion that...

• Various early Christian writers

  The Paschal Canon of Anatolius of Alexandria, and Fragments of the Books on Arithmetic

  A collection of writings and fragments from Anatolius of Alexandria and other Alexandrian Christian writers, including Alexander of Cappadocia, Theognostus, Pierius, Theonas, Phileas, and Pamphilus. The introduction highlights Anatolius’s learning, ecclesiastical career, and surviving works on Easter chronology and mathematics.

• Tertullian

  The Passion of the Holy Martyrs Perpetua and Felicitas

  Nobody, will blame me for placing here the touching history of these Martyrs. It illustrates the period of history we are now considering, and sheds light on the preceding treatise.

• Rutherford An

  The Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs

  An account of the trial and execution of twelve Christian martyrs at Carthage on 17 July 180 under the proconsul Saturninus. The martyrs refuse to sacrifice to the emperor and are condemned to death for their Christian faith.

• Hermas · c. 160

  The Pastor of Hermas

  The fragment known as the “Muratorian Canon” is the historic ground for the date I give to this author.[[cite:1]] I desired to prefix *The Shepherd* to the writings of Irenæus, but the limits of the volume would not permit. *The Shepherd* attracted my attention, even in early youth, as a specimen of primitive romance; but of course it disappointed me, and excited repugnance.

• Tertullian

  The Prescription Against Heretics

  An editorial introduction to Tertullian’s anti-heretical writings, especially The Prescription Against Heretics and Against Marcion. It discusses Tertullian’s gradual movement from Catholic orthodoxy toward Montanism and explains the organization and editorial treatment of the American edition.

• Hippolytus · c. 170–236

  The Refutation of All Heresies

  Unvalidated import.

• Justin Martyr

  The Second Apology

  Romans, the things which have recently[[cite:1922]] happened in your city under Urbicus,[[cite:1923]] and the things which are likewise being everywhere unreasonably done by the governors, have compelled me to frame this composition for your sakes, who are men of like passions, and brethren, though ye know it not, and though ye be unwilling to acknowledge it on account of your glorying in what...

• Arnobius · c. 297–303

  The Seven Books of Arnobius Against the Heathen

  A seven-book apology defending Christianity against pagan accusations and arguing that Christian faith is not responsible for the calamities afflicting the Roman Empire. The work also offers a valuable account of pagan religion and the intellectual transition from heathenism to Christianity at the end of the third century.