*A Source Book for Ancient Church History* *From the Apostolic Age to the Close of the Conciliar Period* *by Joseph Cullen Ayer, Jr., Ph.D.* Professor of Ecclesiastical History in the Divinity School of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Philadelphia New York Charles Scribner’s Sons 1913 CONTENTS Errata. Preface. General Bibliographical Note The First Division Of Ancient Christianity: The Church Under The Heathen Empire: To A. D. 324 Period I. The Apostolic Age: To Circa A. D. 100 § 1. The Neronian Persecution § 2. The Death of Peter and Paul § 3. The Death of the Apostle John § 4. The Persecution under Domitian Period II. The Post-Apostolic Age: A. D. 100-A. D. 140 § 5. Christianity and Judaism § 6. The Extension of Christianity § 7. Relation of the Roman State to Christianity § 8. Martyrdom and the Desire for Martyrdom § 9. The Position of the Roman Community of Christians in the Church § 10. Chiliastic Expectations § 11. The Church and the World § 12. Theological Ideas § 13. Worship in the Post-Apostolic Period § 14. Church Organization § 15. Church Discipline § 16. Moral Ideas in the Post-Apostolic Period Period III. The Critical Period: A. D. 140 to A. D. 200 Chapter I. The Church In Relation To The Empire And Heathen Culture § 17. The Extension of Christianity § 18. Heathen Religious Feeling and Culture in Relation to Christianity § 19. The Attitude of the Roman Government toward Christians, A. D. 138 to A. D. 192 § 20. The Literary Defence of Christianity Chapter II. The Internal Crisis: The Gnostic And Other Heretical Sects § 21. The Earlier Gnostics: Gnosticism in General § 22. The Greater Gnostic Systems: Basilides and Valentinus § 23. Marcion § 24. Encratites § 25. Montanism Chapter III. The Defence Against Heresy § 26. The Beginnings of Councils as a Defence against Heresy § 27. The Apostolic Tradition and the Episcopate § 28. The Canon or the Authoritative New Testament Writings § 29. The Apostles’ Creed § 30. Later Gnosticism § 31. The Results of the Crisis Chapter IV. The Beginnings Of Catholic Theology § 32. The Apologetic Conception of Christianity (A) The Logos Doctrine (B) The Doctrine of the Trinity (C) Moralistic Christianity (D) Argument from Hebrew Prophecy § 33. The Asia Minor Conception of Christianity Period IV. The Age Of The Consolidation Of The Church: 200 to 324 A. D. Chapter I. The Political And Religious Conditions Of The Empire § 34. State and Church under Septimius Severus and Caracalla