Documents of the Rise of Christianity

by Kevin W. Kaatz

Overview

An introduction to the history of early Christianity, this reference provides roughly 60 primary source documents from the first five centuries of the Christian Era, each accompanied by explanatory material.

Christianity has been one of the most powerful influences on world history, and for this reason the world of the early Christians figures prominently in film, fiction, and popular culture. The first centuries of Christianity provided the foundation for the faith institutions of today; this book examines the history of early Christianity through its use of primary texts written by early Christians. In doing so, it helps readers to understand that multiple sects of Christianity competed for dominance, and it sheds light on the struggles of early Christians that their differences entailed.

The book covers the first five centuries of the Christian Era, with sections devoted to each century. Some 60 primary source documents appear within those sections, and each is accompanied by background information. This chronological arrangement helps readers to understand how Christianity evolved over time, and it provides insights into the theological debates and persecutions that marked the lives of early Christians and characterized the early Church.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440854316
Publisher:	ABC-CLIO, Incorporated
Publication date:	03/14/2019
Series:	ABC-CLIO Eyewitness to History Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	244
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Kevin W. Kaatz is assistant professor of ancient history at California State University, East Bay Campus. He specializes in Roman history and the digital humanities.

Table of Contents

Preface xi

Evaluating and Interpreting Primary Documents xiii

Chronology xv

Introduction xix

Chapter 1 First Century 1

Introduction 1

1 The Thanksgiving Psalms, Dead Sea Scrolls 2

2 Some Accounts of the Crucifixion of Jesus from the New Testament (Mark and Luke) 5

3 Anti-Jewish Texts from the New Testament, New Revised Standard Version 10

4 Suetonius, The Lives of the Twelve Caesars, Life of Nero, 34-37 14

5 Josephus, Jewish Wars, 5.11.1-2, 4-5 19

6 Josephus, Jewish Wars, 5.5.4-6: A Description of the Temple Holy of Holies 23

7 Eusebius, Church History, 3.17-20 on Domitian and Roman History, by Cassius Dio, 67.14, 1-3 27

Chapter 2 Second Century 33

Introduction 33

8 Clement of Rome, The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians, 1-9 33

9 Epistle of Barnabas, 1-4 38

10 Shepherd of Hermas, Book 2, Chapter 1-4 43

11 Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, 1-2, 8-9 48

12 Tertullian, To the Martyrs 54

13 Tertullian, On Prayer, 2-8 59

14 Tatian, Diatessaron 64

15 Clement of Alexandria, On the Salvation of the Rich Man, Chapters 1-5 68

16 Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Preface 1-3 and Book 3.1-3.2 72

17 The Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs 76

18 The Gospel According to Peter 79

Chapter 3 Third Century 85

Introduction 85

19 Against Celsus by Origen, 1.38-41 85

20 Origen, Against Celsus II (on the resurrection of the body), 5.14, 18-19, 23 89

21 Cyprian, Letter 35: To the Clergy, Concerning the Care of the Poor and Strangers and Letter 36: To the Clergy, Bidding Them Show Every Kindness to the Confessors in Prison 94

22 Cyprian, Letter 26: To the Lapsed and Letter 53: To Cornelius, Concerning Granting Peace to the Lapsed 96

23 Pontius the Deacon, The Life and Passion of Cyprian, Bishop and Martyr, 1, 14-19 102

24 Julius Africanus (spurious), The Passion of St. Symphorosa and Her Seven Sons 106

25 Gregory the Wonderworker, The Oration and Panegyric Addressed to Origen, Argument 6 109

26 Gregory the Wonderworker, Canonical Letter (Canon 1-2 and 6-10) 114

27 Alexander of Lycopolls, Against the Manichaeans 117

Chapter 4 Fourth Century 123

Introduction 123

28 Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History, The Plan of the Work 124

29 Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History, 8.1-3 and 8.12 128

30 Selections of Letters from Arms, Theodoret, Church History, Book 1 Chapter 4; Athanasius, On the Synods, 16 and Sozomen, Church History, 2.27 133

31 Hilary of Poitiers, On the Councils, 1-10 and 91-92 137

32 Lactantius, On the Anger of God, 1, 4-5, 16 143

33 Lactantius, On the Deaths of the Persecutors, 1-4, 7 149

34 Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History, Book 10.1-3 and 10.9 154

35 Constantine on the Donatists, Taken from Eusebius, Church History, 10.5.18-24 and Optatus of Milevius, On the Schism of the Donatists, Appendix 3 and 9 158

36 Emperor Julian, Against the Galileans 163

37 Ambrose, Letter 22 168

38 Augustine, Against Fortunatus the Manichaean, Book 2.19-22 174

39 Augustine, Confessions, Chapter 1.1-3 and 5.3.3-6 179

40 Augustine, Letter 28 to Jerome 184

41 Jerome, The Perpetual Virginity of Blessed Mary, Against Helvidius, 1; 20-24 189

42 The Synodical Letter, Second Ecumenical Council 381 CE 194

Chapter 5 Fifth Century 199

Introduction 199

43 Socrates Scholasticus, Church History, 1.1; 1.5-6 199

44 Theodoret of Cyrrhus, Church History, Prologue and 1.1 205

45 Theodoret, Church History, Book 1.5 The Letter of Eusebius, Bishop of Nicomedia, to Paulinus, Bishop of Tyre 208

46 Helena, the Mother of Constantine, in Eusebius of Caesarea, Life of Constantine, 3.30-32 and Sozomen, Church History, 2.1 212

47 Canons of Chalcedon, 1-2, 4, 7-8, 10, 15-16, 18, 23, 28 216

48 Leo the Great, Letter 4 221

49 Leo the Great, Letter 16 224

50 Leo the Great, Letter to Augusta Pulcheria, Letter 31 229

51 Leo the Great's Letters on the Manichaeans, Letter 7 233

Bibliography 237

Index 239

Editorial Reviews

Recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates; general readers.” —Choice

“An excellent addition to any theology or religion collection related to Christian primary source studies.” —ARBA

From the Publisher