Adrian or, more famously, Hadrian was the emperor of Rome from 117 to 138. This letter, apparently written to Roman senator Gaius Minicius Fundanus, expresses Hadrian's view on legal proceedings involving Christians. We know of the letter only because it was preserved by Justin Martyr.
This epistle, or letter - also known as The Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus - was written by an unknown author during the second or third century. The author calls himself "Mathetes," which is simply the Greek word for disciple.
The Apology of Aristides was written in the early 2nd century by Marcianus Aristides of Athens. The text is his explanation for why Hadrian - Roman emperor from 117 - 138 AD - should believe that Christianity is true, and to follow Jesus as a result.
The so-called "Gospel of Judas" is neither a gospel nor written by Judas. It's a second-century document that was created to promote gnostic ideas that directly contradict what Jesus' disciples wrote in the New Testament.
Also known as “The Lord’s Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations,” the Didache is an ancient document containing what might be called a catechism. The word “didache” means “teaching” in the sense of passing on doctrine. Written anonymously in (probably) the first century, it is one of the oldest writings of Christian practice.
Nag Hammadi is a town in Egypt. In 1945, two Egyptian brothers found a large urn near Nag Hammadi, filled with ancient papyri. The Nag Hammadi library is a collection of manuscripts is believed to be from the 4th century, copies of documents written earlier. Most of the documents are indirectly related to early Christianity, though the content varies. None are considered inspired Scripture.
Discovered in 1945, the Gospel of Thomas is part of the Nag Hammadi library of manuscripts. Also known as the Coptic Gospel of Thomas, it is a collection of 114 supposedly secret sayings of Jesus.
The Book of Enoch is an ancient apocalyptic Jewish text. Written (approximately) between 300BC and 100BC, it carries the name of Enoch, the great-grandfather of Noah. Jude mentions the book in Jude 1:14-15...
The Epistle of Barnabas is a Greek letter traditionally attributed to Barnabas, an apostle and companion of Paul mentioned in the book of Acts. This letter was found in its entirety in Codex Sinaiticus.
As all men have sinned in Adam, lie under the curse, and are deserving of eternal death, God would have done no injustice by leaving them all to perish and delivering them over to condemnation on account of sin, according to the words of the apostle...
The Council of Orange was convened primarily due to the controversy between Augustine and Pelagius. The controversy had to do with the degree to which man is responsible for his own salvation, and the role of the grace of God in bringing about salvation.
Most who adhere to the King James Only nonsense have never read the preface to the Bible they claim is perfect. When you read the words of those who worked on it, you see that modern claims about what happened are ridiculous.
Pliny the Younger was governor of Pontus/Bithynia from 111-113 AD. He exchanged letters with the Roman emperor Trajan on some administrative matters. This exchange is the most famous, in which Pliny first encounters Christianity.
Peri Pascha ("On the Passover") was written by Melito of Sardis between 160 AD and 170 AD. Melito was the Bishop of Sardis, one of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation.
The Third Council of Constantinople (681 AD) picked up where The Definition of Chalcedon left off, addressing whether the two natures of Christ (human and divine) also had two separate wills.
Eutichus taught that Christ's two natures (human and divine) combined to create a third, distinct nature. He taught that Christ's two natures interacted with each other so that He was no longer really divine, and no longer really human. The Council of Chalcedon condemned this teaching in 451.
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.
