Bibliographical Helps

Numerous key patristic resources for the fourth century are unavailable at many libraries.  Some were also published in numerous fascicles and volumes, making it difficult to navigate both the material and the bibliographic information on them.  If you need a certain page photocopied, or want to order a fascicle through inter-library loan, it can be tricky to find the right volume. The links below supply useful helps to the contents and make-up of these important works.  For a fuller bibliographies of early Christianity, see

H. Drobner, The Fathers of the Church: A Comprehensive Introduction, trans. S. Schatzmann, updated by W. Harmless and H. Drobner (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2007) , pp. xli-lvi.

C. Moreschini and E. Norelli, Early Christian Greek and Latin Literature: A Literary History, trans. M.O'Connell, volume 2 (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2005), pp.719-24.

Pages which are part of our Fourth Century Christianity website are noted with the FCC abbreviation.

Ancient  Christian Writers  (English translations of early Christian writings) external link
  This series has 58 volumes of ancient Christian writings, many of which are available nowhere else in English translation. This link takes you to the Paulist Press page where you can view the titles of the volumes they have published so far.

Ante-Nicene Fathers (10 volumes of English translations of early Christian writings) external link
  While over 100 years old, this set was a valuable contribution to scholarship at its time, and continues to be valuable because its copyright is expired so it is available on the internet for free.  The Christian Classics Ethereal Library edition includes supplemental translations by Roger Pearse.

Athanasius Werke (3 volumes) contents listed by FCC
 

 H.-G. Opitz et al. (1934-5) -- works of Athanasius (vol. 1-2) and others documents relating to the Arian controversy (Urkunden, vol. 3). 


CPL - Clavis Patrum Latinorum (A one-volume work by E. Dekkers) contents listed by FCC
  a checklist of the authors listed in sections 1 and 2 of CPL (3rd edition, 1995), with the CPL numbers assigned to their works.

CPG - Clavis Patrum Graecorum (The second volume of this work by Mauritius Geerard) contents listed by FCC
 

a checklist of the authors listed in volume 2 of CPG (from Athanasius to Chrysostom, 1974), with the CPG  numbers assigned to their works. 


Corpus Christianorum (Critical editions of early Christian writings) external link
  This publishing house produces both a Greek (Series Graeca) and Latin (Series Latina) series of ancient texts. 

CSEL - Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Latinorum (Critical editions of early Christian Latin writings)  FCC summary
  This series, begun in 1866 and continuing to the present, gives critical editions to replace the volumes in PL (see below).  The CSEL website has a list of the volumes arranged by author or volume. To see a list arranged by volume, with links to volumes available free on the Internet, click here.

Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Orientalium (Critical editions and translations of early eastern Christian writings, over 600 volumes)  external link
  This series began in 1903 and includes critical editions of works in Syria, Coptic, Ethiopic, Arabic, Armenian and Georgian.  Typically one volume is a critical edition while the next volume is the translation.  Early translations were into Latin, but recent translations are in modern languages. 

EOMIA - Ecclesiae Occidentalis Monumenta Iuris Antiquissima (9 volumes by C. H. Turner, published 1899-1939) contents listed by FCC
  a checklist of the contents of EOMIA, showing which canons, creeds, and letters of which councils are found in each volume and fascicle. 

Fathers of the Church  (English translations of early Christian writings) external link
  This series has over 108 volumes of ancient Christian writings, many of which are available nowhere else in English translation. This series does not include the original text.  This link takes to you the Catholic University Press website where you can view the titles of the volumes they have published so far.

GCS - Die Griechischen Christlichen Schriftsteller  (Critical editions of early Christian writings) external link
 

This is a series of ancient Christian texts. There are currently over 50 volumes. The link is to the GCS website which gives a full listing of the texts published in GCS series.


Loeb Classical Library (Text and translations of Greek and Latin writings from antiquity)
  Though this series of more than 400 volumes does not focus on early Christianity, it contains over 20 volumes of Christian writings.

Maassen - Geschichte der Quellen und der Literatur des canonischen Rechts im Abendlande (A one-volume work) contents listed by FCC
 

A listing of extant church canons covered in this volume, which gives the textual history of various versions of church canons and their manuscripts, collections, etc. 


Nicene/Post Nicene Fathers (28-volumes of English translations of early Christian writings)
  While over 100 years old, this set was a valuable contribution to scholarship at its time, and continues to be valuable because its copyright is expired so it is available on the internet for free.  The Christian Classics Ethereal Library edition includes supplemental translations by Roger Pearse.

PG - Patrologia Graeca (Texts of early Christian Greek writings) external link
  This 161-volume collection of early Christian Greek writings was compiled by Migne from 1857 to 1866. This link takes you to Wikipedia's listing of the contents which has a few links to some volumes available online.  Documenta Catholica Omnia has significant portions of over 100 volumes in a read-only format.

PL - Patrologia Latina (Texts early Christian Latin writings) external link
  This 217-volume collection of early Christian Greek writings was compiled by Migne from 1844 to 1855. Documenta Catholica Omnia has significant portions of 217 volumes in a read-only format.  (or see entire contents)

PO - Patrologia Orientalis (Texts of early Christian writings in multiple languages, with translations in various languages)
  This  collection of early Christian Syriac, Coptic, Armenian, Georgian, Greek and Latin writings was compiled to cover the eastern writings not covered in Patrologia Latina or Patrologia Graeca.  Our page lists the contents of the volumes and notes the volumes that are available online. 

Oxford Early Christian Studies and Early Christian Texts
  Oxford University publishes texts with translations under the the category Early Christian Texts, but they also have many translations without texts under the category Early Christian Studies.  They have so many publications on the early church, you might have to search to make sure you didn't miss something in another category such as Classical Studies or Biblical Studies.

St. Vladimir's Seminary Press
  St. Vladimir's Seminary has published several translations and studies of the early church fathers.  Translations are especially available under the category "Popular Patristics" to which this link will direct you.

SC - Sources-Chrétiennes (Critical editions of early Christian writings with French translations) external link
  This series, begun in 1947, publishes original texts of ancient Christian writings with a French translation on the opposite page.  The series contains over 500 works, including many editions of fourth-century writers. This external link will take you to a list of all the authors in their series.

Translated Texts for Historians (English translations of important ancient texts)
  Though this series does not focus exclusively on Christian authors, it contains over 15 volumes related to early Christianity.

See also Fourth Century Christianity's other pages:

Recommended Reading
 

a listing of a few books we have consulted in making this site, or we recommend for more information.


Recommended Websites
 

there are several other sources on the web which can assist your study of Fourth Century Christianity

 

Compiled with commentary by AJW
Last updated: 1/23/08 AJW
Copyright 2006 Wisconsin Lutheran College
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