READINGS IN WORLD CHRISTIAN HISTORY Volume 1 Earliest Christianity to 1453 Edited by John W. Coakley Andrea Sterk
Founded in 1970, Orbis Books endeavors to publish works that enlighten the mind, nourish the spirit, and challenge the conscience. The publishing arm of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, Orbis seeks to explore the global dimensions of the Christian faith and mission, to invite dialogue with diverse cultures and religious traditions, and to serve the cause of reconciliation and peace. The books published reflect the views of their authors and do not represent the official position of the Maryknoll Society. To learn more about Maryknoll and Orbis Books, please visit our website at www.maryknoll.org. Copyright 2004 by John W. Coakley and Andrea Sterk Published by Orbis Books, Maryknoll, New York, U.S.A. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. For permissions, write to Orbis Books, P.O. Box 308, Maryknoll, New York 10545-0308, U.S.A. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Readings in world Christian history / John W. Coakley, Andrea Sterk, editors. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 1-57075-520-5 (pbk. : v. 1) 1. Church history. I. Coakley, John Wayland. II. Sterk, Andrea. BR145.3.R43 2004 270 dc22 2003021865
Contents Introduction ix Acknowledgments xi Note on Texts and Translations xi PART ONE: TO 300 C.E. Early Christian Communities 1. Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Magnesians 3 2. The Gospel of Thomas 5 3. Didache 12 4. Hippolytus of Rome, Apostolic Tradition 17 Christianity and Society before Constantine 5. Correspondence of Pliny and Trajan 23 6. The Martyrs of Lyons (Letter of the Churches of Lyons and Vienne, ca. 177) 24 7. The Martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicity 30 8. Justin Martyr, Second Apology 37 9. Certificate of Sacrifice 43 10. Tertullian of Carthage, On the Apparel of Women 44 11. Acts of Paul and Thecla 48 Theological Currents in the Second and Third Centuries 12. The Second Treatise of the Great Seth 53 13. Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies 58 14. The Muratorian Fragment 66 15. Origen of Alexandria, On First Principles 68 16. Cyprian of Carthage, Letter 55 76 17. Bardaisan of Edessa, The Book of the Laws of Countries 82 v
Contents PART TWO: 300-600 C.E. The Opening of the Constantinian Era: Conversion and Controversy 18. Eusebius of Caesarea, Life of Constantine 87 19. Letters of Arius and Alexander of Alexandria 98 20. The Nicene Creed and the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed 101 21. Auxentius of Durostorum, Letter on the Life and Work of Ulfila, Apostle of the Goths 102 22. The Emperor Julian, Rescript on Christian Teachers (Letter 36) 105 23. The Christianization of Ethiopia and Georgia: Rufinus of Aquileia, Ecclesiastical History 107 24. The Martyrdom of Martha, Daughter of Posi, Who Was a Daughter of the Covenant 110 25. Ephrem the Syrian, Hymn 1 113 26. Basil of Caesarea, Letter 150 117 27. Gregory of Nyssa, Ad Graecos 119 28. The Christianization of Armenia: Agathangelos, History of the Armenians 122 Varieties of Ascetic Life for Men and Women 29. Athanasius of Alexandria, Life of Anthony of Egypt 131 30. Basil of Caesarea, Longer Rule 144 31. Gregory of Nyssa, Life of Macrina 147 32. Lives of Ascetics: Palladius, Lausiac History 155 33. Egeria, Diary of a Pilgrimage 159 Christology and Diverging Identities in the East 34. Letters of Cyril of Alexandria and Nestorius of Constantinople 165 35. Definition of Faith of the Council of Chalcedon 175 36. Zacharias the Scholastic, Life of Severus of Antioch 176 37. John of Ephesus, Life of Susan 183 38. The Evangelization of Nubia: John of Ephesus, Ecclesiastical History 188 39. Christians in India: Cosmas Indicopleustes, Christian Topography 192 The Coming of Age of Latin Christianity 40. Augustine of Hippo, City of God 195 41. Pelagius, To Demetrias 206 42. Augustine of Hippo, On Nature and Grace 210 vi
Contents 43. Ambrose of Milan, Letters 2 and 3 213 44. Patrick, Confession 221 PART THREE: 600 1000 C.E. Early Medieval Christianity in Asia 45. Apology of Patriarch Timothy of Baghdad before the Caliph Mahdi 231 46. Inscription of the Monument of the Church of the East at Xian 243 47. Chinese Christian Sutras 247 Early Medieval Christianity in the West 48. Acts of the Third Council of Toledo 253 49. Columbanus, Letter 2 255 50. Bede, Ecclesiastical History 258 51. Rudolph of Fulda, Life of Leoba 264 52. The Heliand 271 53. Hrotsvit of Gandersheim, Dulcitius 280 54. Adso of Montier-en-Der, Letter on the Origin and Time of the Antichrist 285 The Byzantine Commonwealth 55. John of Damascus, On the Divine Images 289 56. Letters of Patriarch Photius of Constantinople and Pope Nicholas I on Disputed Issues 297 57. Life of Constantine [Cyril] 302 58. The Christianization of Russia: Russian Primary Chronicle 310 PART FOUR: 1000-1453 C.E. Reform, Crusade, Reconquest 59. Pope Gregory VII, Letter to Hermann of Metz 319 60. Guibert of Nogent, The Deeds of God through the Franks 324 61. Ibn al-athèµr on the Fall of Jerusalem, 1099 334 62. Nicetas Choniates on the Sack of Constantinople, 1204 335 63. James I of Aragon on the Fall of Valencia, 1238 336 vii
Spirituality and Theology in the Latin West in the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries 64. Anselm of Canterbury, Cur Deus Homo 339 65. Bernard of Clairvaux, On Loving God 347 66. Thomas of Celano, First Life of Francis of Assisi 354 67. Thomas Aquinas on the Existence of God 359 68. Letters and Visions of Hadewijch of Brabant 362 Asian and African Christianity in the Late Middle Ages 69. The Lives of Mâr Yahbh-Allâhâ and Rabban S âwmâ 373 70. The War Chronicle of Amda Tseyon 384 71. Kebra Nagast 388 Latin and Byzantine Christianity in the Late Middle Ages 72. Documents by or about Boniface VIII: Unam Sanctam; Account of Events at Anagni, 1303 397 73. Gregory Palamas, Triads 402 74. Geert Grote, Letter 29 410 75. The Council of Constance, Haec sancta and Frequens 414 76. The Council of Florence on Church Union: Laetentur caeli 415 Index 418 Contents viii