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

Description

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 Roman Empire, 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 English translation 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 selections historically, 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 an excellent companion to Bart D. Ehrman's After the New Testament (OUP, 1998) and an exceptional resource for scholars.

Table of Contents

Preface
Time Line
Map
1. General Introduction
2. The End of Persecution
1. The Acts of Saint Felix
2. Lactantius: The Death of the Persecutors
3. Christianity and the Imperial House
3. The Origin of Constantine
4. Eusebius: The Life of Constantine
5. Zosimus: The New History
6. Julian: Letters on Religion
7. Ephraim: Hymns Against Julian
8. Ambrose: On the Death of Theodosius
Christianity and Roman Law
9. Theodosian Code: On Religion
10. The Novellas
5. Becoming a Christian
Conversion
11. Augustine: Confessions
12. Sulpicius Severus: The Life of Saint Martin
13. Severus of Minorca: Letter on the Conversion of the Jews
Catechesis and Initiation
14. Augustine: On Catechizing the Unlearned
15. John Chrysostom: Second Baptismal Instruction
6. Christian Leadership
16. Canons of Hippolytus
17. Testament of the Lord
18. Gregory of Nazianzus: On Himself and the Bishops
19. Aphrahat: Demonstration 10: On Pastors
7. Heresy and Orthodoxy
Trinitarian Controversy
20. Arius: Thalia
21. Alexander of Alexandria: Letter to Alexander of Constantinople
22. Arius: Letter to Alexander of Alexandria
23. Gregory of Nazianzus: Third Theological Oration
Christological Controversy
24. Nestorius: Letter to Cyril of Alexandria
25. Cyril of Alexandria: Third Letter to Nestorius
The Nature of Humanity
26. Athanasius: On the Incarnation of the Word
27. Jerome: Letter to Ctesiphon (Against Pelagius)
The Nature of the Church
28. Optatus: Against the Donatists
29. Augustine: Sermon on the Dispute with the Donatists
Judaizing Heresies
30. John Chrysostom: First Speech Against the Judaizers
31. Epiphanius: Medicine Chest Against Heresies: The Nazoraeans
8. Canons and Creeds
32. Canons of Elvira
33. Creed and Canons of Nicaea
34. Creed and Canons of Constantinople
35. Canons of Ephesus
36. Definition and Canons of Chalcedon
9. Asceticism and Monasticism
37. Jerome: Letter to Eustochium
38. Pachomian Rules
39. Sayings of the Desert Fathers
40. Antony: Letters
41. Aphrahat: Demonstration 6: On Covenanters
10. PIlgrims, Relics, and Holy Places
42. Egeria: Travel Journal
43. Gregory of Nyssa: Letter on Pilgrimage
44. Victricius of Rouen: In Praise of the Saints
45. Lucianus: On the Discovery of Saint Stephen
11. Saints' Lives
46. Athanasius: Life of Antony
47. Theodoret: Religious History
48. History of the Monks of Egypt
49. The Life of Pelagia
12. The Christian Bible
Canon and Apocrypha
50. Eusebius: Church History
51. Athanasius: Easter Letter 39
52. Priscillian: On Faith and Apocrypha
53. Augustine: On Christian Doctrine
Biblical Interpretation
54. Tyconius: Book of Rules
55. Diodore of Tarsus: Commentary on Psalms
56. Gregory of Nyssa: Homilies on the Song of Songs
13. Christian Art and Architecture
57. Paulinus of Nola: Song on Felix's Church
58. Christian Art in Late Antiquity
14. Christianity Outside the Roman Empire
59. Sozomen: Church History
60. Acts of the Persian Martyrs
61. Passion of Saint Shushanik