After the New Testament

"[Ehrman's] collection presents a broad range of primary texts from the early years of Christianity, with as full a set of texts as possible within the restrictions of providing these works in a single volume. The texts deal with a range of significant issues within early Christianity, such as evangelism, persecution and martyrdom, apologetics, heresies, apocrypha/pseudepigrapha, church offices, liturgics and ethics, arranged according to the topics themselvesrather than according to the categories of systematic theology....Ehrman has sought to include large selections: complete texts when possible, and lengthy excerpts when not....In spite of having most of these texts in various editions I found myself excitedly looking through the selections for theintelligent topical arrangement, and looking forward to using this as a required textbook...." [this review takes up 2 fields; see below for conclusion]"Each chapter begins with a sketch of the important historical aspects of the topic, and each individual text is introduced with brief comments concerning its historical context and significance. The topical introduction of each chapter is not a brief and passing mention, but rather an in-depth essay to the stated topic, with a brief bibliography before the primary text on good current titles for further reading. This reader is a welcome and needed addition tothe increasing titles available on early Christianity, especially since it is not an anthology of secondary scholarly opinion on the history of early Christianity, but provides the opportunity for students to become immersed in the primary sources themselves."--John Voelker, Marquette University, inthe Journal of Early Christian Studies"An outstanding collection of relevant primary sources for courses on the history of early Christianity. Students found the texts exciting, readable (because of the modern translation), and informative. They also appreciated the helpful introductions to each section."--William Tabbernee, Phillips Theological Seminary"Finally! Just what I have been looking for: a judiciously selected anthology with appropriate-length early texts."--Stephen Healey, University of Bridgeport"A wonderful text. It is a comprehensive and provocative collection of early Christian writings sufficient to induce even the most sleepy-headed reader to ask questions. Those who teach Christian history should welcome this anthology."--Lawrence Snyder, Western Kentucky University"An excellent Ante-Nicean primary source reader. The thematic approach is well thought out. A very useful text for a class on Christian origins."--Gaston Espinosa, Westmont College"Ehrman's shrewd chapter topics, along with his brief (but pithy) introductions enable good use of these 2nd and 3rd century texts which together well represent the breadth and variety of Christian beginnings. We now have a fresh and student-friendly set of resources for examination of early Christian literature 'after the New Testament.'"--Bob Gregg, Stanford University"This is a splendid anthology that should replace several others that have been in use during the past decades. It should be of tremendous benefit to teachers and students of the New Testament and Early Christianity."--Elizabeth A. Clark, Duke University"This volume will be invaluable to teachers of early Christian history who have lacked such a broad-ranging collection of key texts. It is likely to be sufficient in itself for a college or seminary introduction to early church history. Ehrman's selection of texts and of passages to excerpt is judicious, covering a wonderfully vast territory of topics with depth sufficient both to map central issues and to allow students to explore more obscure regions."--DerekKrueger,The University of North Carolina, Greensboro"This is a tremendous anthology of early church writings--will be of better value to my church history class than previous anthologies."--Merrill Hawking, Carson Newman College"The readings are most beneficial. Students are very interested in 'other writings'...An excellent reference book for professors."--Marianne Ferguson, Buffalo State College"Exceptional selection of texts--perfect for a course centered in pre-Nicene Christianity."--Charles Bobertz, St. John's University"A judicious selection of 2nd/3rd c. writers that provides the student with both a balanced view of varieties of Christianity and sufficient text readings for appreciation of the ancient context."--D.H Williams, Loyola University"Excellent source readings for the 2nd and 3rd centuries of Christianity. Well-edited primary readings covering the major writers of this period. Courses devoted to this period will welcome this anthology."--Donald M. Lake, Wheaton College"A good selection of primary texts--rather like a 'greatest hits' of early Christianity. The introductory remarks are helpful, too."--Jeffrey A. Trumbower, St. Michael's College"An excellent selection of early Christian writings, organized logically according to types and themes. Indispensable for students of early Christian theology."--Antonio Buens, Andrews University"A welcome addition in the quest for convenient primary source materials, and an excellent companion to Ehrman's The New Testament and Other Early Christian Writings."--Robert Craft, University of Pennsylvania"An excellent collection of source documents, well arranged and introduced."--Everett Ferguson, Abilene Christian University"A perfect fit for a survey of the Early Church, grouping its fine selections of readings under topics that are native to any course on the first four centuries of Christendom. Ehrman's section introductions are masterful, setting the literature in its historical, theological, and sociological settings."--Wayne G. Rollins, Hartford Seminary

• Preface1. General Introduction2. The Spread of Christianity: Early Christians and their Converts1.: The Acts of John2.: The Acts of Thomas3.: Justin: Dialogue with Trypho3. The Attack on Christianity: Persecution and Martyrdom in the Early Church4.: The Letter of Ignatius to the Romans5.: The Martyrdom of Polycarp6.: The Letter of the Churches of Vienne and Lyons7.: The Acts of the Scillitan Martyrs8.: The Martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicitas4. The Defense of Early Christianity: The Early Christian Apologists9.: Minucius Felix:Octavius10.: Justin: First Apology11.: Athenagoras: Plea Regarding the Christians12.: The Letter to Diognetus13.: Tertullian: Apology14.: Origen: Against Celus5. Anti-Judaic Polemic: The Opposition to Jews in Early Christianity15.: The Epistle of Barnabas16.: Justin: Dialogue with Trypho17.: Melito of Sardis: On the Passover18.: Tertullian: Answer to the Jews6. The Diversity of Early Christianity: Writings Later Deemed HereticalJewish-Christian Texts19.: The Gospel According to the Ebionites20.: The Letter of Peter to James and Its Reception21.: The Homilies of ClementGnostic-Christian Texts22.: The Secret Book of John23.: The First Thought in Three Forms24.: The Gospel of Truth25.: Ptolemy's Letter to Flora26.: On the Origin of the World27.: The isdom of Jesus Christ28.: The Treatise on the Resurrection29.: The Hymn of the Pearl30.: The Gospel of Philip7. The Internal Conflicts of Christianity: Writings against the "Heretics"Proto-Orthodox Heresiologists31.: Irenaeus: Against the Heresies32.: Tertullian: Prescription of the Heretics33.: Tertullian: On the Flesh of Christ34.: Tertullian: Against PraxeasGnostic Heresiologists35.: The Coptic Apocalypse of Peter36.: The Second Treatise of the Great Seth8. "Apostolic" Writings Outside the Canon: New Testament Apocrypha/PseudepigraphaApocryphal Gospels37.: The Gospel of Thomas38.: The Gospel of Peter39.: The Proto-Gospel of James40.: The Infancy Gospel of Thomas41.: The Epistle of the ApostlesApocryphal Acts42.: The Acts of Peter43.: The Acts of Paul44.: The Acts of Thecla45.: The Acts of JohnApocryphal Epistles46.: Paul's Third Letter to the Corinthians47.: The Correspondence Between Paul and Seneca48.: Paul's Letter to the LaodiceansApocryphal Apocalypses49.: The Apocalypse of Peter50.: The Apocalypse of Paul9. The New Scriptures: Canonical Lists in Early Christianity51.: The Muratorian Canon52.: Irenaeus: Against the Heresies53.: Origen of Alexandria54.: Eusebius: Ecclesiastical History10. The Structure of Early Christianity: The Development of Church Offices55.: First Clement56.: The Didache57.: The Letters of Ignatius to the Ephesians, Magnesians, and Smyrneans58.: Hippolytus: The Apostolic Tradition59.: The Didascalia60.: Cyprian: The Unity of the Catholic Church11. The Development of the Liturgy: Ritual Practices in Early Christianity61.: The Didache62.: Justin: First Apology63.: Tertullian: Apology64.: Tertullian: On the Crown65.: Hippolytus: The Apostolic Tradition66.: The Didascalia12. The Proclamation of the World: Homilies in Early Christianity67.: Second Clement68.: Origen: Homilies on Luke69.: Origen: Homilies on Genesis13. Leading the Upright Life: The Role of Ethics in Early Christianity70.: The Didache71.: Clement of Alexandria: The Educator72.: Tertullian: To His Wife14. The Emergence of Orthodoxy: Theological Writings of Proto-Orthodox Christians73.: Tertullian: Against Praxeas74.: Origen: On First Principles75.: Novatian: On the Trinity76.: Dionysius of Rome: Letter to Dionysius of Alexandria