Church History | RetroChristianity

In response to numerous requests for some suggestions on how to begin reading the primary sources for second century Christianity, I put together the following primary source reading list. I placed these writings in general chronological order, according to my conservative date ranges (in parentheses) and the “average” date for ordering purposes in brackets. In their corresponding footnotes I include my preferred English translation as well as the preferred original language edition—usually Greek, but sometimes Latin or other languages. Most of these texts are also available online through http://www.ccel.org/. I have hyperlinked the text to various easily-accessible public domain online resources when possible. You may also purchase more recent published translations, which I included with hyperlinks to amazon.com listings when possible.

Transition from First to Second Century:

1. The Didache (50–70 [60])— English and Greek: Michael W. Holmes, The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations, 3d ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2008). The standard critical text for all Apostolic Fathers is Franz Xaver Funk, et al., eds, Die Apostolischen Väter: Griechisch-Deutsche Parallelausgabe (Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 1992).

2. 1 Clement (95–97 [96])—English and Greek: Holmes, The Apostolic Fathers.

3. Shepherd of Hermas, Visions and Mandates (90–100 [95])—English and Greek: Holmes, The Apostolic Fathers.

4. Epistle of Barnabas (75–135 [105])— English and Greek: Holmes, The Apostolic Fathers.

B. Early Second Century:

5. Ignatius of Antioch, Ephesians, Magnesians, Trallians, Romans, Philadelphians, Smyrnaeans, Polycarp (110–117 [113])— English and Greek: Holmes, The Apostolic Fathers.

6. Polycarp, Philippians (110–117 [113])— English and Greek: Holmes, The Apostolic Fathers.

7. Shepherd of Hermas, Parables (100–150 [125])— English and Greek: Holmes, The Apostolic Fathers.

8. Gospel of Peter (125)— English and Greek: Thomas J. Kraus and Tobias Nicklas, eds., Neutestamentliche Apokryphen, vol. 1, Das Petrusevangelium und die Petrusapokalypse: Die griechischen Fragmente mit deutscher und englisher Übersetzung, Die Griechischen Christlichen Shriftsteller der ersten Jahrhunderte, vol. 11 (Berlin: de Gruyter, 2004), 1-77.

9. 2 Clement (100–150 [125])— English and Greek: Holmes, The Apostolic Fathers.

10. Aristides, Apology (125)— English: J. Rendel Harris, ed., The Apology of Aristides on Behalf of the Christians, ed. J. Armitage Robinson, 2d ed., Texts and Studies, vol. 1/1 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1893). Greek and Syriac: Bernard Pouderon and others, Aristide: Apologie, Sources Chrétiennes (Paris: Cerf, 2003).

11. Odes of Solomon (100–150 [125])— English and Syriac: James H. Charlesworth, The Odes of Solomon: The Syriac Texts, corrected reprint ed., Texts and Translations, vol. 13 (Missoula, MT: Scholars Press, 1978).

12. Fragments of Papias (125–155 [140])—English and Greek: Holmes, The Apostolic Fathers.

13. Epistula Apostolorum (150)— English: M. R. James, ed., The Apocryphal New Testament (Oxford: Clarendon, 1924).

C. Late Second Century:

14. Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, 1 Apology, 2 Apology (150–160 [155])— English: Thomas B. Falls, Michael Slusser, and Thomas P. Halton, eds., St. Justin Martyr: Dialogue with Trypho, Selections from the Fathers of the Church (Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press, 2003); Leslie W. Barnard, ed., St. Justin Martyr: The First and Second Apologies, Ancient Christian Writers, vol. 56 (New York: Paulist, 1997). Greek: Miroslav Marcovich, ed., Apologiae pro Christianis, Dialogus cum Tryphone, ed. H. Christian Brennecke and E. Mühlenberg, Patristische Texte und Studien, vols. 38 and 47 in one vol. (Berlin: De Gruyter, 2005).

15. Martyrdom of Polycarp (155–165 [160])— English and Greek: Holmes, The Apostolic Fathers.

16. Melito of Sardis, On Pascha (160–170 [165]) [no online resource available]— English and Greek: Stuart George Hall, Melito of Sardis: On Pascha and Fragments, ed. Henry Chadwick, Oxford Early Christian Texts (Oxford: Clarendon, 1979); English: Alistair Stewart-Sykes, On Pascha: With the Fragments of Melito and other Material Related to the Quartodecimans, Popular Patristics (Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2001).

17. Tatian, Address to the Greeks (165–172 [168])— English: Molly Whittaker, Tatian: Oratio ad Graecos and Fragments, ed. Henry Chadwick, Oxford Early Christian Texts (Oxford: Clarendon, 1982). Greek: Miroslav Marcovich, ed., Tatiani Oratio ad Graecos, ed. H. Christian Brennecke and E. Mühlenberg, Patristische Texte und Studien, vol. 43 (Berlin: De Gruyter, 1995).

18. Epistle to Diognetus (150–200 [175])— English and Greek: Holmes, The Apostolic Fathers.

19. Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus (170–185 [177])—English: Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe, eds., Fathers of the Second Century: Hermas, Tatian, Athenagoras, Theophilus, and Clement of Alexandria, 1926 American ed., The Ante-nicene Fathers, vol. 2 (New York: Scribner’s, 1926). Greek: Miroslav Marcovich, ed., Theophili Antiocheni Ad Autolycum, ed. H. Christian Brennecke and E. Mühlenberg, Patristische Texte und Studien, vol. 44 (Berlin: De Gruyter, 1995).

20. Athenagoras, Embassy for the Christians, Resurrection of the Dead (177–180 [178])— English: Joseph Hugh Crehan, ed. Athenagoras, Embassy for the Christians, the Resurrection of the Dead, Ancient Christian Writers, ed. Johannes Quasten and Joseph C. Plumpe (Westminster, MD: Newman, 1956). Greek: Miroslav Marcovich, ed., Athenagoras: Legatio Pro Christianis, ed. Miroslav Marcovich, Patristische Texte und Studien, vol. 31 (Berlin: de Gruyter, 1990).

21. Irenaeus, Against Heresies 1–5, Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching (180–190 [185])— English: Iain M. MacKenzie, Irenaeus’s Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching: A Theological Commentary and Translation, trans. J. Armitage Robinson (Burlington, VT: Ashgate, 2002); Dominic J. Unger and John J. Dillon, eds., St. Irenaeus of Lyons, Adversus haeresis 1/1, Ancient Christian Writers 53 (New York: Newman, 1992); Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, eds., The Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1: The Apostolic Fathers, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus (Edinburgh: Christian Literature Publishing Company, 1885; reprint, New York: Scribner’s, 1899). Original languages: Adelin Rousseau, ed., Irénée de Lyon, Démonstration de la prédication apostoloque, Sources chrétiennes 46 (Paris: Cerf, 1995); Adelin Rousseau and L. Doutreleau, eds., Irénée de Lyon: Contre les hérésies, Livre 1, vol. 2: Texte et traduction, Sources chrétiennes 264 (Paris: Cerf, 1979); Adelin Rousseau and L. Doutreleau, eds., Irénée de Lyon: Contre les hérésies, Livre 2, vol. 2: Texte et traduction, Sources chrétiennes 294 (Paris: Cerf, 1982); Adelin Rousseau and L. Doutreleau, eds., Irénée de Lyon: Contre les hérésies, Livre 3, vol. 2: Texte et traduction, Sources chrétiennes 211 (Paris: Cerf, 1974); Adelin Rousseau et al., eds., Irénée de Lyon: Contre les hérésies, Livre 4, vol. 2: Texte et traduction, Sources chrétiennes 100 (Paris: Cerf, 1965); Adelin Rousseau, C. Mercier, and L. Doutreleau, eds., Irénée de Lyon: Contre les hérésies, Livre 5, vol. 2: Texte et traduction, Sources chrétiennes 153 (Paris: Cerf, 1969).

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