“Introduction to Early Christian Literature”
Two volumes below are of note as indicated by Mr. (Dr. Prof.) Richardson. Odes of Solomon, an early Greek hymnbook written before 150 B.C. and Irenaeus' Against Heresies. We plan to get the first; we do not have it; this will probably afford significant insights to early theology. We have the second and will, Lord willing, review Mr. Irenaeus. Some notes from Mr. Richardson. He taught at Union Seminary, New York. We have most of his references below and need to retour them.
Mr. (Dr. Prof.) Richardson lays out six groupings:
1. Letters predominate: (a) The Letter of the Church of Smyrna to the Church at Philomilium giving details about Polycarp’s Martyrdom, (b) Letter of Barnabas, (c) 1st Clement, (d) Letter to Diognetus
2. Apologists. Apologies of Aristides, Justin, Tatian, Athenagoras, Theophilus and later in the 2nd century, Clement of Alexandria and Tertullian. Here,
Mr. Richardson, summarizes them as “showing the superiority of Christianity” and the “weakness of paganism.”
3. Apocryphal literature. He calls this “Christian romance,” filling in the un-expounded sections of the canonical Gospels with numerous fancies.
4. Poetry. Odes of Solomon. The first Christian hymnbook. Written in Greek before 150 B.C. This looks like an absolute must-get. Available at: http://www.amazon.com/
5. Stories of Martyrdoms. We’ve mentioned Polycarp’s. But, there were accounts from Lyons and Vienne.
Owen, E.C.E. Some Authentic Acts of Martyrs. It is noted, but is unavailable as per: http://www.amazon.com/
Also, Grant, R.M. Second Century Christianity. SPCK London, 1946. http://www.amazon.com/
6. Gnostics. Justin, Rhodo, Melito, Theophilus, but, notably, Irenaeus’s Against Heresies.
Available here: http://www.amazon.com/
All five books by Mr. Irenaeus are available online at: http://books.google.com/
Mr. Richardson states (claims) that Irenaeus is “neither a penetrating nor a systematic thinker” but “he sums up the main lines of Catholic development” (18).
But, as always, with all secondary sources and commentators, one has to do one's own reading of the primary documents.
7. Hegisippus’ 5 books have been lost except for fragments in Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History. Hegisippus is largely, allegedly, a polemic against Gnosticism, although it includes accounts of martyrs.
Mr. Richardson makes an interesting note that “Judaizing” or “Judaizers” continued into Ignatius’s time and down to Epiphanius’ times (19). Of note, some Palestinian Christians maintained their Jewish rituals and involvements, not requiring such of Gentile Christians. Another faction of Palestinian Christians did require such of believers. In this brief note, he alludes or quickly refers to a complexity within Palestinian Christianity.
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