Early Christian Fathers
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Early Christian Fathers Author(s): Richardson, Cyril C. (1909-1976) Publisher: Grand Rapids, MI: Christian Classics Ethereal Library Description: Part of the Library of Christian Classics series, Early Christian Fathers is the best single-book introduction to the early church fathers, providing an enriching and informative intro- duction to first and second century Christian thought. Con- taining carefully selected letters and works from early church fathers--including among others St. Clement, St. Ignatius, St. Polycarp, St. Justin the Martyr, and St. Irenaeus--Early Christian Fathers gives a representative, though not exhaust- ive, overview of early Christian thought. A brief introduction and extensive notes also accompany each letter or work, making Early Christian Fathers a great study aid. Thus, with flowing and contemporary translations, Early Christian Fath- ers is ideal for beginners and scholars alike; it is essential reading for anyone interested in the early church fathers. Tim Perrine CCEL Staff Writer Subjects: Christianity Early Christian Literature. Fathers of the Church, etc. i Contents Title Page 1 General Editor's Preface 8 Original Table of Contents 9 Preface 12 Introduction to Early Christian Literature and Its Setting 13 The Literature 14 The Setting 18 Basic Works on Early Christian Literature and History 24 Letters in Crises 28 The Letter of the Church of Rome to the Church of Corinth, Commonly Called 29 Clement's First Letter Introduction 30 Manuscripts and Books 36 Text 39 The Letters of Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch 66 Introduction 67 Manuscripts 72 Text 76 To the Ephesians 77 To the Magnesians 83 To the Trallians 87 To the Romans 90 To the Philadelphians 94 To the Smyrnaeans 98 To Polycarp 102 The Letter of Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, to the Philippian 106 ii Introduction 107 Books 111 Text 114 The Way of Martyrdom 121 The Martyrdom of Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, as Told in the Letter of the Church 122 of Smyrna to the Church of Philomelium Introduction 123 Books 126 Text 129 A Church Manual 138 The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, Commonly Called the Didache 139 INTRODUCTION 140 Manuscripts and Books 145 Text 148 An Early Christian Sermon 157 An Anonymous Sermon, Commonly Called Clement's Second Letter to the 158 Corinthians Introduction 159 Manuscripts and Books 164 Text 166 In Defense of the Faith 175 The So-called Letter to Diognetus 176 Introduction and Books 177 The Text: (I) An Anonymous Brief for Christianity Presented to Diognetus 184 The First Apology of Justin, the Martyr 194 Introduction 195 Manuscripts and Books 206 The Text 209 A Plea Regarding Christians by Athenagoras, the Philosopher 249 Introduction 250 Manuscripts and Books 256 The Text 258 iii An Exposition of the Faith 293 Selections from the Work Against Heresies by Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons 294 Introduction 295 Books 305 Text 308 Indexes 341 Index of Scripture References 342 Index of Names 346 Latin Words and Phrases 358 Index of Pages of the Print Edition 359 iv This PDF file is from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library, www.ccel.org. The mission of the CCEL is to make classic Christian books available to the world. • This book is available in PDF, HTML, ePub, Kindle, and other formats. See http://www.ccel.org/ccel/richardson/fathers.html. • Discuss this book online at http://www.ccel.org/node/2983. The CCEL makes CDs of classic Christian literature available around the world through the Web and through CDs. We have distributed thousands of such CDs free in developing countries. If you are in a developing country and would like to receive a free CD, please send a request by email to [email protected]. The Christian Classics Ethereal Library is a self supporting non-profit organization at Calvin College. If you wish to give of your time or money to support the CCEL, please visit http://www.ccel.org/give. This PDF file is copyrighted by the Christian Classics Ethereal Library. It may be freely copied for non-commercial purposes as long as it is not modified. All other rights are re- served. Written permission is required for commercial use. v Title Page Title Page 1 THE LIBRARY OF CHRISTIAN CLASSICS GENERAL EDITORS JOHN BAILLIE 2 Principal, New College, Edinburgh JOHN T. McNEILL Auburn Professor of Church History, Union Theological Seminary, New York HENRY P. VAN DUSEN President, Union Theological Seminary, New York THE LIBRARY OF CHRISTIAN CLASSICS 3 Volume 1 Title Page I. Early Christian Fathers. Editor: Cyril C. Richardson, Washburn Professor of Church History, Union Theological Seminary, New York. II. Alexandrian Christianity. Editors: Henry Chadwick, Regius Professor of Divinity and Canon of Christ Church, Oxford; J. E. L. Oulton, late Professor of Divinity, Trinity College, Dublin. III. Christology of the Later Fathers. Editor: Edward Rochie Hardy, Professor of Church History, Berkeley Divinity School, New Haven, Connecticut. IV. Cyril of Jerusalem and Nemesius of Emesa. Editor: William Telfer, formerly Master of Selwyn College, Cambridge. V. Early Latin Theology. Editor: S. L. Greenslade, Regius Professor of Eccle- siastical History and Canon of Christ Church, University of Oxford. VI. Augustine: Earlier Writings. Editor: J. H. S. Burleigh, Professor of Ecclesiast- ical History, University of Edinburgh, and Principal of New College, Edin- burgh. VII. Augustine: Confessions and Enchiridi- on. Editor: Albert Cook Outler, Profess- or of Theology, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist Univer- sity, Dallas, Texas. VIII. Augustine: Later Works. Editor: John Burnaby, Fellow of Trinity College and formerly Regius Professor of Divinity, University of Cambridge. 2 Title Page IX. Early Medieval Theology. Editor: George E. McCracken, Professor of Classical Languages, Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa. X. A Scholastic Miscellany: Anselm to Ockham. Editor: Eugene R. Fairweath- er, Associate Professor of Dogmatic Theology and Ethics, Trinity College, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. XI. Nature and Grace: Selections from the Summa Theologica of Thomas Aquinas. Editor: A. M. Fairweather, Lecturer in Philosophy, University of Edinburgh. XII. Western Asceticism. Editor: Owen Chadwick, Master of Selwyn College and Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical History, University of Cambridge. XIII. Late Medieval Mysticism. Editor: Ray C. Petry, Professor of Church History, The Divinity School, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. XIV. Advocates of Reform: From Wyclif to Erasmus. Editor: Matthew Spinka, Waldo Professor Emeritus of Church History, Hartford Theological Semin- ary, Hartford, Connecticut. XV. Luther: Lectures on Romans. Editor: Wilhelm Pauck, Professor of Church 4 History, Union Theological Seminary, New York. XVI. Luther: Early Theological Works. Edit- or: James Atkinson, Canon Theologian of Leicester. 3 Title Page XVII. Luther and Erasmus on Free Will. Edit- or: E. Gordon Rupp, Professor of Eccle- siastical History, University of Manchester. XVIII. Luther: Letters of Spiritual Counsel. Editor: Theodore G. Tappert, Schieren Professor of the Synod of New York and New England, Church History, Lutheran Theological Seminary, Phil- adelphia, Pennsylvania. XIX. Melanchthon and Bucer. Editor: Wil- helm Pauck, Professor of Church His- tory, Union Theological Seminary, New York. XX. Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Reli- gion. Editor: John T. XXI. McNeill, Auburn Professor Emeritus of Church History, Union Theological Seminary, New York. XXII. Calvin: Theological Treatises. Editor: J. K. S. Reid, Professor of Church Dogmatics, University of Aberdeen. XXIII. Calvin: Commentaries. Editor: Joseph Haroutunian, Professor of Systematic Theology, The Divinity School, Univer- sity of Chicago. XXIV. Zwingli and Bullinger. Editor: G. W. Bromiley, Professor of Church History and Historical Theology, Fuller Theo- logical Seminary, Pasadena, California. XXV. Spiritual and Anabaptist Writers. Edit- ors: George Huntston Williams, Winn Professor of Ecclesiastical History, The Divinity School, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts; ANGEL 4 Title Page M. MERGAL, Professor of Theology, Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. XXVI. English Reformers. Editor: T. H. L. Parker, Vicar of Oakington, Cam- bridge, England. 5 VOLUME I EARLY CHRISTIAN FATHERS THE LIBRARY OF CHRISTIAN CLASSICS Volume I 6 7 EARLY CHRISTIAN FATHERS Newly translated and edited by CYRIL C. RICHARDSON, Th.D., D.D. Washburn Professor of Church History in the Union Theological Seminary, New York 5 Title Page In collaboration with EUGENE R. FAIRWEATHER, Th.D. Associate Professor of Dogmatic Theology in Trinity College, Toronto EDWARD ROCHIE HARDY, Ph.D. Professor of Church History in the Berkeley Divinity School, New Haven MASSEY HAMILTON SHEPHERD, Jr., Ph.D. Professor of Church History in the Episcopal Theological School, Cambridge, Massachusetts Philadelphia THE WESTMINSTER PRESS 8 Published simultaneously in Great Britain and the United States of America. by the S.C.M. Press, Ltd., London, and The Westminster Press, Philadelphia. First published MCMLIII 6 Title Page Printed in the United States of America 7 General Editor©s Preface General Editor's Preface GENERAL EDITORS' PREFACE The Christian Church possesses in its literature an abundant and incomparable treasure. But it is an inheritance that must be reclaimed by each generation. The Library of Christian Classics is designed to present in the English language, and in twenty-six volumes of con- 9 venient size, a selection of the most indispensable Christian treatises written prior to