Christianity in Late Antiquity, 300-450 C.E. A Reader

by Ehrman, Bart D.; Jacobs, Andrew S.

• ISBN13: 9780195154610
• ISBN10: 0195154614
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-09-25
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Christianity in Late Antiquity, 300-450 C.E.: A Reader collects primary sources of the early Christian world, from the last "Great Persecution" under the Emperor Diocletian to the Council of Chalcedon in the mid-fifth century. During this period Christianity rose to prominence in the RomanEmpire, developed new notions of sanctity and heresy, and spread beyond the Mediterranean world. This reader incorporates standard texts--from authors such as Athanasius, Augustine, and Eusebius--in the most recent translations and also includes less familiar texts, some of which appear in Englishtranslation for the first time. Presented in their entirety or in long excerpts, the texts are arranged thematically and cover such topics as orthodoxy, conversion, asceticism, and art and architecture. The editors provide introductions for each chapter, text, and image, situating the selectionshistorically, geographically, and intellectually. Christianity in Late Antiquity, 300-450 C.E.: A Reader highlights the ways in which religion and culture were mutually transformed during this crucial historical period. Ideal for courses in Early Christianity, Christianity in Late Antiquity, and History of Christianity, this reader is anexcellent companion to Bart D. Ehrman's After the New Testament (OUP, 1998) and an exceptional resource for scholars.

Table of Contents

Preface	x
Time Line	xii
Map	xiv
1 General Introduction	12
2 The End of Persecution	8	(16)
1. The Acts of Saint Felix	10	(1)
2. Lactantius: The Deaths of the Persecutors	11	(13)
3 Christianity and the Imperial House	24	(44)
3. The Origin of Constantine	26	(4)
4. Eusebius: The Life of Constantine	30	(14)
5. Zosimus: The New History	44	(4)
6. Julian: Letters on Religion	48	(5)
7. Ephraim: Hymns Against Julian	53	(4)
8. Ambrose: On the Death of Theodosius	57	(11)
4 Christianity and Roman Law	68	(10)
9. Theodosian Code: On Religion	70	(4)
10. The Novellas	74	(4)
5 Becoming a Christian	78	(51)
Conversion
11. Augustine: Confessions	80	(12)
12. Sulpicius Severns: The Life of Saint Martin	92	(4)
13. Severns of Minorca: Letter on the Conversion of the Jews	96	(11)
Catechesis and Initiation
14. Augustine: On Catechizing the Unlearned	107	(16)
15. John Chrysostom: Second Baptismal Instruction	123	(6)
6 Christian Leadership	129	(26)
16. Canons of Hippolytus	131	(3)
17. Testament of the Lord	134	(5)
18. Gregory of Nazianzus: On Himself and the Bishops	139	(11)
19. Aphrahat: Demonstration 10: On Pastors	150	(5)
7 Heresy and Orthodoxy	155	(87)
Trinitarian Controversy
20. Anus: Thalia	158	(1)
21. Alexander of Alexandria: Letter to Alexander of Constantinople	159	(7)
22. Anus: Letter to Alexander of Alexandria	166	(1)
23. Gregory of Nazianzus: Third Theological Oration	167	(12)
Christological Controversy
24. Nestorius: Letter to Cyril of Alexandria	179	(3)
25. Cyril of Alexandria: Third Letter to Nestorius	182	(8)
The Nature of Humanity
26. Athanasius: On the Incarnation of the Word	190	(10)
27. Jerome: Letter to Ctesiphon (Against Pelagius)	200	(12)
The Nature of the Church
28. Optatus: Against the Donatists	212	(6)
29. Augustine: Sermon on the Dispute with the Donatists	218	(9)
Judaizing Heresies
30. John Chrysostom: First Speech Against the Judaizers	227	(10)
31. Epiphanies: Medicine Chest Against Heresies: The Nazoraeans	237	(5)
8 Canons and Creeds	242	(26)
32. Canons of Elvira	244	(7)
33. Creed and Canons of Nicaea	251	(5)
34. Creed and Canons of Constantinople	256	(3)
35. Canons of Ephesus	259	(2)
36. Definition and Canons of Chalcedon	261	(7)
9 Asceticism and Monasticism	268	(63)
37. Jerome: Letter to Eustochium	270	(21)
38. Pachomian Rules	291	(9)
39. Sayings of the Desert Fathers	300	(8)
40. Antony: Letters	308	(8)
41. Aphrahat: Demonstration 6: On Covenanters	316	(15)
10 Pilgrims, Relics, and Holy Places	331	(35)
42. Egeria: Travel Journal	333	(14)
43. Gregory of Nyssa: Letter on Pilgrimage	347	(3)
44. Victricius of Rouen: In Praise of the Saints	350	(10)
45. Lucianus: On the Discovery of Saint Stephen	360	(6)
11 Saints' Lives	366	(51)
46. Athanasius: Life of Antony	368	(9)
47. Theodoret: The Religious History	377	(12)
48. History of the Monks of Egypt	389	(15)
49. The Life of Pelagic	404	(13)
12 The Christian Bible	417	(49)
Canon and Apocrypha
50. Eusebius: Church History	420	(2)
51. Athanasius: Easter Letter 39	422	(5)
52. Priscillian: On Faith and Apocrypha	427	(6)
53. Augustine: On Christian Doctrine	433	(7)
Biblical Interpretation
54. Tyconius: Book of Rules	440	(15)
55. Diodore of Tarsus: Commentary on Psalms	455	(6)
56. Gregory of Nyssa: Homily on the Song of Songs	461	(5)
13 Christian Art and Architecture	466	(15)
57. Paulinus of Nola: Song on Felix's Church	468	(6)
58. Christian Art in Late Antiquity	474	(7)
14 Christianity Outside the Roman Empire	481
59. Sozomen: Church History	483	(9)
60. Acts of the Persian Martyrs	492	(7)
61. The Passion of Saint Shushanik	499