The Apostolic Fathers is an important collection of writings revered by early Christians but not included in the final canon of the New Testament. Here a leading expert on these texts offers an authoritative contemporary translation, in the tradition of the magisterial Lightfoot version but thoroughly up-to-date. The third edition features numerous changes, including carefully revised translations and a new, more user-friendly design. The introduction, notes, and bibliographies have been freshly revised as well.

This is the first in a new six-volume translation of - and commentary about - the works of the Apostolic Fathers. The writings of these men, which immediately follow the books of the New Testament, make up a body of literature that provides indispensable source material for the study of the formation of the Christian Church. Interest in the early Church is higher today than ever before. Theologians, religious authorities, students, and historians find the initial stages of Church development relevant to the contemporary structure of the Church. This introduction to the series provides general information about the Apostolic Fathers and answers such questions as: Who were they? What did they do? What did they write? What influence did they have, either personally or through their writings? It analyzes the historical and theological significance of the Apostolic Fathers, the relationship of their writings to the Bible, the historical circumstances surrounding them and what they reflect of the early Church, its unity, ministry, worship, and daily life. Here, too, Robert Grant surveys the effects of the writings of the Apostolic Fathers on later Christian scholars and theologians. He traces the relationship of their writings to the Church in later times. What use was made of these Fathers themselves as symbols of primitive faith? What effect did knowledge or ignorance of the writings have upon conceptions of the life and thought of the early Church as later writers looked back to it? As an introduction to an important work of religious scholarship and as a survey of the life of the early Church, this much needed book gives impetus to and provides a solid foundation for the study and understanding of the formative period of the Christian Church.

A fresh, modern translation of key works of the apostolic fathers. These translations by Rick Brannan are perfect for use by students, scholars, and everyday Christians interested in these treasures of the early church.

A member of the Dominican Order guides readers carefully and intelligently through the major figures and debates of this key age in the emergence and spread of Christianity.

A contemporary version of important early Christian texts that are not included in the New Testament. The translation, Greek texts, introduction, notes, and bibliographies are freshly revised.

The early Christian Church and the men who were most influential during the formative years have a profound relevance to the contemporary structure of the Church. The Apostolic Fathers: A Translation and Commentary provides a modern translation and commentary on the writings of these men, indispensable source material for the student of Church history. This volume, one of six, includes a translation of and commentary on the Letter to the Philippians of Polycarp of Smyrna, The Martyrdom of Polycarp, and Fragments of Papias.

This is the second in a new six volume translation of and commentary on the works of the Apostolic Fathers. The writings of these men, which immediately follow the books of the New Testament, make up a body of literature that provides indispensable source material for the study of the formation of the Christian Church. Interest in the early Church is higher today than ever before. Theologians, religious authorities, students, and historians find the initial stages of Church development relevant to the contemporary structure of the Church. Volume 2, First and Second Clement, provides translation of and commentary on two of the best-known writings of the Apostolic Fathers. The First Letter of Clement or, more accurately, the letter of the Roman Church to the Corinthian community, provides a significant mixture of scriptural and non-scriptural motifs. The so-called Second Letter of Clement is neither a letter nor by Clement. Actually it is a sermon which deals first with self-control and more generally with exhorting the hearers to repentance and thereby to salvation and life. Not until the rise of historical scholarship in the nineteenth century could its real importance begin to be adequately assessed.