Early Christian Writings: The Apostolic Fathers (Penguin Classics)

by Andrew Louth (Translator), Andrew Louth (Editor), Andrew Louth (Introduction), Maxwell Staniforth (Translator), Andrew Louth (Translator), Andrew Louth (Introduction), Andrew Louth (Editor)

• New

  Paperback
  1987

  $11.84

  The writings in this volume cast a glimmer of light upon the emerging traditions and organization of the infant church, during an otherwise little-known period of its development. A selection of letters and small-scale theological treatises from a group known as the Apostolic Fathers, several of whom were probably disciples of the Apostles, they provide a first-hand account of the early Church and outline a form of early Christianity still drawing on the theology and traditions of its parent religion, Judaism. Included here are the first Epistle of Bishop Clement of Rome, an impassioned plea for harmony; The Epistle of Polycarp; The Epistle of Barnabas; The Didache; and the Seven Epistles written by Ignatius of Antioch - among them his moving appeal to the Romans that they grant him a martyr's death.