A concise history of Western Christianity:
The early and medieval period
Primary source documents
Primary sources provide first-hand testimony or direct evidence concerning a topic under investigation. They are created by witnesses or recorders who experienced the events or conditions being documented. The followings are some primary source documents to be read alongside each chapter.
chapter 1: Christianity in the first and early second century
- Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews XVIII, Chapter 1:2-5–on the sects of the Jews
- Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews XVIII, 3:3
- Clement of Rome, Letter to the Corinthians, Chapters 42-44. 63
- Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Magnesians 6:1 and Letter to the Trallians 1:1-3:2 – on the authority of the bishop
- Epistle of Barnabas – from the Chapters 4 and 9
- Didache Chapters 9-11
- Eusebius, Church History Book II, Chapter 23 – The martyrdom of James
Chapter 2: Christianity and politics: Persecution and extension in the first three centuries
- Acts 16:16-24
- Eusebius, Church History Book II, Chapter 25 – The persecution under Nero
- Tacitus, Annals, Book 15 Chapter 44
- Justin Martyr, The First Apology, Chap 5 and 6
- Epistle to Diognetus Chapters 5 and 6
- Pliny the Younger, Letters Book X: 96-97
- Acts of the Martyrs, Perpetua and Felicitas
- Eusebius, Church History, Book VIII, Chapter 1 – The Growth of Christianity
Chapter 3: Challenges to the Christian faith and the trend towards a unified faith
- The Infancy Gospel of
Thomas, Greek Text B, III-IV
- Irenaeus, Against Heresies Book I Chapter 24:3-5 – The Docetic Principles of the System
- Justin, The First Apology, Chapter 26
- Hippolytus, The Refutation of all Heresies, Book VII, Chapter 18-19 – on Marcion
- Hippolytus, The Refutation of all Heresies, Book VII, Chapter 22 – doctrine of the Ebionaeans
- Tertullian, A Treatise on the Soul Chapter 9 – Account of an ecstatic vision by a Montanist woman
- Jerome, On Illustrious Men, Chapter 53 – Tertullian the Presbyter
Chapter 4: Christianity and culture: The encounter with Hellenist philosophy
- Plato, The Republic, Book
VII – the Allegory of the Cave
- Plato, Phaedo – on the immortality of the soul
- Philo of Alexandria, On the Creation, VI: 23-25
- Plotinus, Ennead V. 2 – about the origin of all beings and the One
- Justin Martyr, Second Apology, Chapter X (Christ compared to Socrates)
- Justin Martyr, Hortatory Address to the Greeks, Chapter XXV – On Plato’s knowledge of God’s eternity
- Clement of Alexandria,
Stromata, Book I, Chapter 5 – Philosophy the handmaid of
theology
- Clement of Alexandria,
Exhortation to the Heathen, Chapter 6
- Origen, Contra Celsus, I:
28 and III: 55 – Origen quotes from the philosopher Celsus
Chapter 5: Christianity becoming the religion of the empire
- Eusebius, Church History.
Book VIII, Chapter 17 – The Edict of Galerius
- Lactantius, Of the Manner in which the Persecutors Died, Chapter 44 – about the Battle of the Milvian Bridge
- Imperial ordinances of Constantine and Licinius: The Edict of Milan
- Constantine, Imperial epistle in which money is granted to the churches
- Eusebius, Church History. Book VIII, Chapter 16 – The End of Persecution
- Theodosius, Codex Theodosianus 16:10,12 – The Emperor Prohibits Pagan Worship as a Crime (392)
- Athanasius (295-373), Life
of Saint Anthony, his early ascetic life
- Sozomen (c. 450) on
Pachomius’ Call to Community Life
- The Benedictine Rule
Chapter 6: Theological and ecclesial controversies in the fourth century
- The decision of the Synod
of Arles regarding Donatist ordination (314): Canon 13.
- Constantine, Imperial letter ordering a synod of bishops to be held at Rome for unity and concord of the churches
- Arius, Letter to Bishop Alexander (c.320)
- Athanasius, Against the
Arians – about the co-eternity of Father and Son
- Basil, Letters, CCXXXVI: 6 – the distinction of meaning between ousia and hypostasis
- Gregory of Nyssa, On Not Three God
- Gregory of Nyssa, Life of
St. Macrina – Macrina converts Basil to the ascetic life
chapter 7: Theology and christological debates in the 5th century
- Cyril of Alexandria, Letter
to Nestorius
- Cyril of Alexandria, The Twelve Anathemas against Nestorius
- Common Christological Declaration between the Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East (11 November 1994)
- Leo I of Rome, Letter to
Patriarch Flavian of Constantinople (449)
- Augustine, Confessions Book I, Chapter 1:1 – about the yearning of our heart
- Augustine Confessions Book III, Chapter 7:12 – following the Manichean teaching
- Augustine, Confessions Book VIII, Chapter 7:16-17 – about some of his struggles with worldly desires
- Augustine, The City of God 14: 28 and 15: 1 – the origins and destinies of the two cities
- Augustine, A Treatise on
Rebuke and Grace, Chapter 23 and chapter 39 – about the nature
and number of
chapter 8: Mission history: The extension of the Catholic Church and its inculturation in new contexts
- Patrick, Declaration,
Chapters 1 and 10 – Patrick’s call to be a missionary to Ireland
- Bede, Ecclesiastical History of the English People, Book I, Chapters 23. 25-26 – the Mission of Augustine
- Bede, Ecclesiastical History of the English People Book I Chapter 30 - Letter of Pope Gregory I to Abbot Mellitus (601)
- Jonas, Vita Columbani –
about the beginning of Columban’s mission endeavor
- Gregory of Tours, The History of the Franks II, Chapters 30 and 31 – the conversion of Clovis
- Willibald, The Life of Saint Boniface, Chapter 6 – the felling of Donar’s oak
chapter 9: Papal history: The growth of papal power
- Pope Leo I, Sermon on
Petrine Supremacy
- The Donation of Constantine
- Pope Leo III crowns Charlemagne as emperor (800)
- The foundation charter of
the Monastery of Cluny
- Gregory VII’s concept of papal authority
- First deposition and banning of Henry IV, by Gregory VII, 22 February 1076
- Summons of Henry IV to the Council of Worms - Royal Justification (1076)
- Gregory VII’s account of Henry IV’s penance at Canossa
- Innocent III, Letter “Sicut Universitatis” to Consul Acerbus of Florence, 30 Oct 1198 – on the supreme power in the world
- Boniface VIII, Unam Sanctam
(1302)
chapter 10: The history of a growing division: The churches in East and West on separate ways
- Justinian, Novella (New
Constitutions) 137:6
- The Third Council of Constantinople, 680-81
- John of Damascus, The Orthodox Faith. Book IV Chapter 16. On Images
- Second Council of Nicaea
(787) – definition of the sacred images and tradition
- Leo IX, Epistle "In terra pax hominibus" to Michael Cerularius and to Leo of Achrida, September 2, 1053 – on the primacy of the Roman Pontiff
- Gregory Palamas, The Triads. C. The Hesychast method of prayer, and the transformation of the body
- Council of Florence - Decree for the Greeks (July 6, 1439)
- Letter of Filofei to the Russian Grand Prince Vassilij and Ivan the Terrible – Moscow as the third Rome
chapter 11: The history of the other church: Revivalism, reform, and alternative Christian faith expression in the medieval time
- The founding of the
Monastery of Clairvaux by St Bernard
- Joachim of Fiore, The Book of Concordance, Book 2, Part 1, Chapters 8 and 9
- Fourth Lateran Council (1215), Chapter 3 – decree against the Waldensians
- The will of St Francis
(1226)
- The Book of the Two Principles (anonymous Cathar writer, 13th century), Part 1: 1-2. 13
- Council of Vienne (1311-12) – on the errors of the Beghards and the Beguines
chapter 12: Outward militancy and inward divisions in the high and late medieval time
- Robert the Monk: Speech of
Pope Urban II (1088-99) at the Council of Clermont (1095)
calling for a crusade
- William of Malmesbury: From the Chronicle of the Kings of England – the popular reaction to Urban II’s call for a crusade.
- Fulcher of Chartres: History of the Crusade to Jerusalem. The Deeds of the French Journeying Thither.
- From the Royal Chronicle of
Cologne: The ‘Children’s crusade’
- Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica. Second part of the second part. Question 11, article III: Whether Heretics should be tolerated.
- Various papal and conciliar decrees regarding the Jews
- Decree Sacrosancta, Council of Constance (1415) – on the supreme authority of a church council in ecclesiastical matters
chapter 13: Theological developments during the medieval time
- Dionysius Areopagita, The
Ecclesiastical Hierarchy
- Anselm, Proslogion 3 and 4 – the ontological proof of God’s existence.
- Anselm, Why God became a man (Cur deus homo). Book I: 11-13. 20 – the satisfaction theory of the atonement
- Mechthild of Magdeburg, The Flowing Light of the
Godhead I:44
- Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica Part 1 Question 1 Article 8
- Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica. Part I Question 13 Article 6
- William of Ockham, Quodlibeta VI Question 6, 2 -