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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.
Readership: Undergraduate religion students
Edited by Bart D. Ehrman, James A. Gray Professor and Chair of Religious Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and Andrew S. Jacobs, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, University of California, Riverside
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
