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

  • TEXTThe Epistle of Adrian

Africanus ~ 160 – 240 AD

  • TEXTA Letter to Origen from Africanus about the History of Susanna

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

  • TEXTThe Epistle of Antoninus to the Common Assembly of Asia

AristidesDied ~134 AD

Athenagoras ~ 133 – 190 AD

  • TEXTA Plea for the Christians by Athenagoras the Athenian: Philosopher and Christian
  • TEXTThe Treatise of Athenagoras the Athenian… On the Resurrection of the Dead

Barnabas 1st century AD

Clement of Alexandria ~ 150 – 215 AD

  • TEXTPraise of the Corinthians Before the Breaking Forth of Schism Among Them
  • TEXTA Hymn to Christ the Saviour
  • TEXTFragments from Antonius Melissa
  • TEXTExhortation to the Heathen
  • TEXTFragments of Clemens Alexandrinus
  • TEXTThe Stromata, or Miscellanies: Book I (Chap. I to Chap. XV)
  • TEXTThe Stromata, or Miscellanies: Book II
  • TEXTThe Stromata, or Miscellanies: Book III
  • TEXTThe Stromata, or Miscellanies: Book IV (Chap. I to Chap. XIII)
  • TEXTThe Stromata, or Miscellanies: Book V (Chap. I to Chap. XII)
  • TEXTThe Stromata, or Miscellanies: Book VI (Chap. I to Chap. X)
  • TEXTThe Stromata, or Miscellanies: Book VII (Chap. I to Chap. X)
  • TEXTThe Stromata, or Miscellanies: Book VIII
  • TEXTWho Is the Rich Man That Shall Be Saved?

Commodianus ~ 250 AD

  • TEXTThe Instructions of Commodianus In Favour of Christian Discipline

Corderius ~1479 – 1564 AD

  • TEXTThe Catena on Luke

The Didache ~ 90 – 100 AD

Eusebius ~ 260 – 340 AD

  • TEXTEusebius — Ecclesiastical History Book 1
  • TEXTEusebius — Ecclesiastical History Book 2
  • TEXTEusebius — Ecclesiastical History Book 3
  • TEXTEusebius — Ecclesiastical History Book 4
  • TEXTEusebius — Ecclesiastical History Book 5
  • TEXTEusebius — Ecclesiastical History Book 6
  • TEXTEusebius — Ecclesiastical History Book 7
  • TEXTEusebius — Ecclesiastical History Book 8
  • TEXTEusebius — Ecclesiastical History Book 8 (Appendix) – The Martyrs of Palestine
  • TEXTEusebius — Ecclesiastical History Book 9
  • TEXTEusebius — Ecclesiastical History Book 10

Ignatius ~ Late 1st century – 140 AD

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

Irenaeus 130 – 202 AD

  • TEXTIrenaeus Against Heresies — Book I
  • TEXTIrenaeus Against Heresies — Book II
  • TEXTIrenaeus Against Heresies — Book III
  • TEXTIrenaeus Against Heresies — Book IV
  • TEXTIrenaeus Against Heresies — Book V
  • TEXTFragments from the Lost Writings of Irenaeus

Justin Martyr 100 – 165 AD

  • TEXTThe First Apology of Justin Martyr
  • TEXTThe Second Apology of Justin Martyr
  • TEXTJustin Describes His Studies In Philosophy and Other Articles
  • TEXTOther Fragments from the Lost Writings of Justin
  • TEXTFragments of the Lost Work of Justin on the Resurrection
  • TEXTIt Is Proved That This Prophecy Has Been Fulfilled and Other Articles
  • TEXTChrist Refers All Things to the Father and Other Articles
  • TEXTJustin’s Hortatory Address to the Greeks
  • TEXTJustin on the Sole Government of God
  • TEXTThe Discourse to the Greeks
  • TEXTDialog with Trypho

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

  • TEXTThe Encyclical Epistle of the Church At Smyrna Concerning the Martyrdom of the Holy Polycarp

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

  • TEXTThe Epistle of Marcus Aurelius

Mary of Cassobelae ~ Early 2nd century

  • TEXTThe Epistle of Maria the Proselyte to Ignatius

Martin Luther Nov 10, 1483 – Feb 18, 1546

Melito of Sardis Died ~ 80 AD

  • TEXTHTMLPeri Pascha (“On the Passover”)

Methetes Written ~ 130 – 200 AD

  • TEXTHTMLThe Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus

Minucius Felix Died ~ 250 AD

  • TEXTThe Octavius of Minucius Felix (Chap. I to Chap. XXI)

Nicetas ~ 1000 AD

  • TEXTNicetas Bishop of Heraclea — from His Catena

Origen ~ 184 – 253 AD

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

Papias, St. ~ 60 – 130 AD

  • TEXTFragments of Papias

Pastor, the

  • TEXTThe Pastor: Book First — Visions
  • TEXTThe Pastor: Book Second — Commandments
  • TEXTThe Pastor: Book Third — Similitudes
  • TEXTThe Pastor: Book First — Visions

Pliny the Younger 61 – 113 AD

  • TEXTHTMLPliny to the Emperor Trajan (and Trajan’s reply)

Polycarp 69 – 155 AD

  • TEXTThe Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians

Tatian ~ 120 – 180 AD

  • TEXTTatian’s Address to the Greeks

Tertullian 155 – 220 AD

  • TEXTAd Martyras
  • TEXTAgainst All Heresies
  • TEXTAgainst Hermogenes
  • TEXTThe Five Books Against Marcion — Book I
  • TEXTThe Five Books Against Marcion — Book II
  • TEXTThe Five Books Against Marcion — Book III
  • TEXTThe Five Books Against Marcion — Book IV
  • TEXTThe Five Books Against Marcion — Book V
  • TEXTAgainst Praxeas
  • TEXTAgainst the Valentinians
  • TEXTDe Fuga In Persecutione
  • TEXTOf Patience
  • TEXTOn Baptism
  • TEXTOn Exhortation to Chastity
  • TEXTOn Fasting
  • TEXTOn Modesty
  • TEXTOn Monogamy
  • TEXTOn Prayer
  • TEXTOn Repentance
  • TEXTOn the Apparel of Women
  • TEXTOn the Flesh of Christ
  • TEXTOn the Pallium
  • TEXTOn the Resurrection of the Flesh
  • TEXTOn the Veiling of Virgins
  • TEXTScorpiace: Antidote for the Scorpion’s Sting
  • TEXTAd Nationes — Book I
  • TEXTAd Nationes — Book II
  • TEXTAn Answer to the Jews
  • TEXTThe Apology (Chap. I to Chap. XXIII)
  • TEXTOn Idolatry
  • TEXTThe Prescription Against Heretics
  • TEXTThe Chaplet, or de Corona
  • TEXTThe Shows, or de Spectaculis
  • TEXTThe Soul’s Testimony
  • TEXTTo Scapula
  • TEXTA Treatise on the Soul
  • TEXTTo His Wife

Instructor, The Clement of Alexandria ~ 150 – 215 AD

  • TEXTThe Instructor — Book I
  • TEXTThe Instructor — Book II
  • TEXTThe Instructor — Book III
  • TEXTThe Instructor — Elucidations and Hymns

Theophilus of Antioch Died ~ 184 AD

  • TEXTTheophilus to Autolycus — Book I
  • TEXTTheophilus to Autolycus — Book II
  • TEXTTheophilus to Autolycus — Book III

Thomas a Kempis 1380 – July 25, 1471

  • TEXTThe Imitation of Christ

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

  • TEXTA Plain Account of Christian Perfection

Unknown

  • TEXTThe Martyrdom of Ignatius
  • TEXTThe Martyrdom of the Holy Martyrs: Justin, Chariton, Charites, Paeon, and Liberianus
  • TEXTPrayer to the Paedagogus
  • TEXTTo the Paedagogus
  • TEXTFragments Found In Greek Only In the Oxford Edition / Not Given In the Oxford Edition
  • TEXTThe Martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicitas
  • TEXTReply of the Blessed Virgin to This Letter
  • TEXTMaximus and Antonius Melissa

Pseudepigrapha

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.

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