Ancient Documents Collection

Trying to find that obscure document for a homework assignment? It just might be here. I’ve collected a pretty sizeable group of documents from the early Christian church and the rest of the ancient world. Let me know if you think I should add something…and let me know if I’ve misattributed a text.

Ancient Christian Texts

Adrian 700 – 795 AD

The Epistle of Adrian

Africanus ~ 160 – 240 AD

A Letter to Origen from Africanus about the History of Susanna

Antoninus September 18, 86 AD – March 7, 161 AD

The Epistle of Antoninus to the Common Assembly of Asia

Athenagoras ~ 133 – 190 AD

A Plea for the Christians by Athenagoras the Athenian: Philosopher and Christian
The Treatise of Athenagoras the Athenian…On the Resurrection of the Dead

Barnabas 1st century AD

The Epistle of Barnabas

Clement of Alexandria ~ 150 – 215 AD

Praise of the Corinthians Before the Breaking Forth of Schism Among Them
A Hymn to Christ the Saviour
Fragments from Antonius Melissa
Exhortation to the Heathen
Fragments of Clemens Alexandrinus
The Stromata, or Miscellanies: Book I (Chap. I to Chap. XV)
The Stromata, or Miscellanies: Book II
The Stromata, or Miscellanies: Book III
The Stromata, or Miscellanies: Book IV (Chap. I to Chap. XIII)
The Stromata, or Miscellanies: Book V (Chap. I to Chap. XII)
The Stromata, or Miscellanies: Book VI (Chap. I to Chap. X)
The Stromata, or Miscellanies: Book VII (Chap. I to Chap. X)
The Stromata, or Miscellanies: Book VIII
Who Is the Rich Man That Shall Be Saved?

Commodianus ~ 250 AD

The Instructions of Commodianus In Favour of Christian Discipline

Corderius ~1479 – 1564 AD

The Catena on Luke

Eusebius ~ 260 – 340 AD

Eusebius — Ecclesiastical History

Ignatius ~ Late 1st century – 140 AD

The Second Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians
The Third Epistle of the Same St. Ignatius
The Epistle of Ignatius to the Antiochians
The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians
The Epistle of Ignatius to Hero
The Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians
The Epistle of Ignatius to Mary At Neapolis, Near Zarbus
The Epistle of Ignatius to the Philadelphians
The Epistle of Ignatius to the Philippians
The Epistle of Ignatius to Polycarp
The Epistle of Ignatius to the Romans
The Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyraeans
The Epistle of Ignatius to St. John the Apostle
A Second Epistle of Ignatius to St. John
The Epistle of Ignatius to the Tarsians
The Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallians
The Epistle of Ignatius to the Virgin Mary

Irenaeus 130 – 202 AD

Irenaeus Against Heresies — Book I
Irenaeus Against Heresies — Book II
Irenaeus Against Heresies — Book III
Irenaeus Against Heresies — Book IV
Irenaeus Against Heresies — Book V
Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenaeus

Justin Martyr 100 – 165 AD

The First Apology of Justin Martyr
The Second Apology of Justin Martyr
Justin Describes His Studies In Philosophy and Other Articles
Other Fragments from the Lost Writings of Justin
Fragments of the Lost Work of Justin on the Resurrection
It Is Proved That This Prophecy Has Been Fulfilled and Other Articles
Christ Refers All Things to the Father and Other Articles
Justin’s Hortatory Address to the Greeks
Justin on the Sole Government of God
The Discourse to the Greeks
Dialog with Trypho

Marcion of Smyrna Authorship unknown, written ~ 160 – 200 AD

The Encyclical Epistle of the Church At Smyrna Concerning the Martyrdom of the Holy Polycarp

Marcus Aurelius April 26, 121 – March 17, 180 AD

The Epistle of Marcus Aurelius

Mary of Cassobelae ~ Early 2nd century

The Epistle of Maria the Proselyte to Ignatius

Martin Luther Nov 10, 1483 – Feb 18, 1546

95 Theses

Melito of Sardis Died ~ 80 AD

Peri Pascha (“On the Passover”)

Methetes Written ~ 130 – 200 AD

The Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus

Minucius Felix Died ~ 250 AD

The Octavius of Minucius Felix (Chap. I to Chap. XXI)

Nicetas ~ 1000 AD

Nicetas Bishop of Heraclea — from His Catena

Origen ~ 184 – 253 AD

Origen Against Celsus — Book I
Origen Against Celsus — Book II
Origen Against Celsus — Book III
Origen Against Celsus — Book IV
Origen Against Celsus — Book V
Origen Against Celsus — Book VI
Origen Against Celsus — Book VII
Origen Against Celsus — Book VIII
Origen De Principiis
A Letter from Origen to Africanus
A Letter from Origen to Gregory

Papias, St. ~ 60 – 130 AD

Fragments of Papias

Pastor, the

The Pastor: Book First — Visions
The Pastor: Book Second — Commandments
The Pastor: Book Third — Similitudes
The Pastor: Book First — Visions

Pliny the Younger 61 – 113 AD

Pliny to the Emperor Trajan (and Trajan’s reply)

Polycarp 69 – 155 AD

The Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians

Tatian ~ 120 – 180 AD

Tatian’s Address to the Greeks

Tertullian 155 – 220 AD

Ad Martyras
Against All Heresies
Against Hermogenes
The Five Books Against Marcion — Book I
The Five Books Against Marcion — Book II
The Five Books Against Marcion — Book III
The Five Books Against Marcion — Book IV
The Five Books Against Marcion — Book V
Against Praxeas
Against the Valentinians
De Fuga In Persecutione
Of Patience
On Baptism
On Exhortation to Chastity
On Fasting
On Modesty
On Monogamy
On Prayer
On Repentance
On the Apparel of Women
On the Flesh of Christ
On the Pallium
On the Resurrection of the Flesh
On the Veiling of Virgins
Scorpiace: Antidote for the Scorpion’s Sting
Ad Nationes — Book I
Ad Nationes — Book II
An Answer to the Jews
The Apology (Chap. I to Chap. XXIII)
On Idolatry
The Prescription Against Heretics
The Chaplet, or de Corona
The Shows, or de Spectaculis
The Soul’s Testimony
To Scapula
A Treatise on the Soul
To His Wife

Instructor, The Clement of Alexandria ~ 150 – 215 AD

The Instructor — Book I
The Instructor — Book II
The Instructor — Book III
The Instructor — Elucidations and Hymns

Theophilus of Antioch Died ~ 184 AD

Theophilus to Autolycus — Book I
Theophilus to Autolycus — Book II
Theophilus to Autolycus — Book III

Thomas a Kempis 1380 – July 25, 1471

The Imitation of Christ

Wesley, John June 28, 1703 – March 2, 1791

A Plain Account of Christian Perfection

Unknown

The Martyrdom of Ignatius
The Martyrdom of the Holy Martyrs: Justin, Chariton, Charites, Paeon, and Liberianus
Prayer to the Paedagogus
To the Paedagogus
Fragments Found In Greek Only In the Oxford Edition / Not Given In the Oxford Edition
The Martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicitas
Reply of the Blessed Virgin to This Letter
Maximus and Antonius Melissa

Pseudepigrapha

The Book of Enoch

Disclaimer:

These documents are included for your reference. I don’t agree with everything written in each of these documents. I offer them as a service, and appreciate any feedback you feel appropriate, from broken links to documents that you think I should add to my collection. If you believe that I have violated a copyright, please contact me.