Readings in World Christian History

by Coakley, John W.

• ISBN13: 9781570755200
• ISBN10: 1570755205
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-05-01
• Publisher: Orbis Books

Author Biography

John W. Coakley is L. Russell Feakdes Memorial Professor of Church History af New Brunswick Theological Seminary, New Jersey Andrea Sterk is assistant professor of history at the University of Florida

Table of Contents

Introduction	ix
Acknowledgments	xi
Note on Texts and Translations	xi
PART ONE: TO 300 C.E.
Early Christian Communities
Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Magnesians	3	(2)
The Gospel of Thomas	5	(7)
Didache	12	(5)
Hippolytus of Rome, Apostolic Tradition	17	(6)
Christianity and Society before Constantine
Correspondence of Pliny and Trajan	23	(1)
The Martyrs of Lyons (Letter of the Churches of Lyons and Vienne, ca. 177)	24	(6)
The Martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicity	30	(7)
Justin Martyr, Second Apology	37	(6)
Certificate of Sacrifice	43	(1)
Tertullian of Carthage, On the Apparel of Women	44	(4)
Acts of Paul and Thecla	48	(5)
Theological Currents in the Second and Third Centuries
The Second Treatise of the Great Seth	53	(5)
Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies	58	(8)
The Muratorian Fragment	66	(2)
Origen of Alexandria, On First Principles	68	(8)
Cyprian of Carthage, Letter 55	76	(6)
Bardaisan of Edessa, The Book of the Laws of Countries	82	(5)
PART TWO: 300-600 C.E.
The Opening of the Constantinian Era: Conversion and Controversy
Eusebius of Caesarea, Life of Constantine	87	(11)
Letters of Arius and Alexander of Alexandria	98	(3)
The Nicene Creed and the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed	101	(1)
Auxentius of Durostorum, Letter on the Life and Work of Ulfila, Apostle of the Goths	102	(3)
The Emperor Julian, Rescript on Christian Teachers (Letter 36)	105	(2)
The Christianization of Ethiopia and Georgia: Rufinus of Aquileia, Ecclesiastical History	107	(3)
The Martyrdom of Martha, Daughter of Posi, Who Was a Daughter of the Covenant	110	(3)
Ephrem the Syrian, Hymn 1	113	(4)
Basil of Caesarea, Letter 150	117	(2)
Gregory of Nyssa, Ad Graecos	119	(3)
The Christianization of Armenia: Agathangelos, History of the Armenians	122	(9)
Varieties of Ascetic Life for Men and Women
Athanasius of Alexandria, Life of Anthony of Egypt	131	(13)
Basil of Caesarea, Longer Rule	144	(3)
Gregory of Nyssa, Life of Macrina	147	(8)
Lives of Ascetics: Palladius, Lausiac History	155	(4)
Egeria, Diary of a Pilgrimage	159	(6)
Christology and Diverging Identities in the East
Letters of Cyril of Alexandria and Nestorius of Constantinople	165	(10)
Definition of Faith of the Council of Chalcedon	175	(1)
Zacharias the Scholastic, Life of Severus of Antioch	176	(7)
John of Ephesus, Life of Susan	183	(5)
The Evangelization of Nubia: John of Ephesus, Ecclesiastical History	188	(4)
Christians in India: Cosmas Indicopleustes, Christian Topography	192	(3)
The Coming of Age of Latin Christianity
Augustine of Hippo, City of God	195	(11)
Pelagius, To Demetrias	206	(4)
Augustine of Hippo, On Nature and Grace	210	(3)
Ambrose of Milan, Letters 2 and 3	213	(8)
Patrick, Confession	221	(10)
PART THREE: 600--1000 C.E.
Early Medieval Christianity in Asia
Apology of Patriarch Timothy of Baghdad before the Caliph Mahdi	231	(12)
Inscription of the Monument of the Church of the East at Xian	243	(4)
Chinese Christian Sutras	247	(6)
Early Medieval Christianity in the West
Acts of the Third Council of Toledo	253	(2)
Columbanus, Letter 2	255	(3)
Bede, Ecclesiastical History	258	(6)
Rudolph of Fulda, Life of Leoba	264	(7)
The Heliand	271	(9)
Hrotsvit of Gandersheim, Dulcitius	280	(5)
Adso of Montier-en-Der, Letter on the Origin and Time of the Antichrist	285	(4)
The Byzantine Commonwealth
John of Damascus, On the Divine Images	289	(8)
Letters of Patriarch Photius of Constantinople and Pope Nicholas I on Disputed Issues	297	(5)
Life of Constantine [Cyril]	302	(8)
The Christianization of Russia: Russian Primary Chronicle	310	(9)
PART FOUR: 1000-1453 C.E.
Reform, Crusade, Reconquest
Pope Gregory VII, Letter to Hermann of Metz	319	(5)
Guibert of Nogent, The Deeds of God through the Franks	324	(10)
Ibn al-Athir on the Fall of Jerusalem, 1099	334	(1)
Nicetas Choniates on the Sack of Constantinople, 1204	335	(1)
James I of Aragon on the Fall of Valencia, 1238	336	(3)
Spirituality and Theology in the Latin West in the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries
Anselm of Canterbury, Cur Deus Homo	339	(8)
Bernard of Clairvaux, On Loving God	347	(7)
Thomas of Celano, First Life of Francis of Assisi	354	(5)
Thomas Aquinas on the Existence of God	359	(3)
Letters and Visions of Hadewijch of Brabant	362	(11)
Asian and African Christianity in the Late Middle Ages
The Lives of Mar Yahbh-Allaha and Rabban Sawma	373	(11)
The War Chronicle of Amda Tseyon	384	(4)
Kebra Nagast	388	(9)
Latin and Byzantine Christianity in the Late Middle Ages
Documents by or about Boniface VIII: Unam Sanctam; Account of Events at Anagni, 1303	397	(5)
Gregory Palamas, Triads	402	(8)
Geert Grote, Letter 29	410	(4)
The Council of Constance, Haecsancta and Frequens	414	(1)
The Council of Florence on Church Union: Laetentur caeli	415	(3)
Index	418