Early Church Fathers
Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 2
Edited by Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson and A. Cleveland Coxe · AD 95–325 (English edition 1885–96)
The Shepherd of Hermas, the second-century apologists and Clement of Alexandria.
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Contents
The Pastor
Book First.—Visions5 pages
The Pastor
The Pastor
Address of Tatian to the Greeks43 pages
- Chapter I.—The Greeks Claim, Without Reason, the Invention of the Arts
- Chapter II.—The Vices and Errors of the Philosophers
- Chapter III.—Ridicule of the Philosophers
- Chapter IV.—The Christians Worship God Alone
- Chapter V.—The Doctrine of the Christians as to the Creation of the World
- Chapter VI.—Christians' Belief in the Resurrection
- Chapter VII.—Concerning the Fall of Man
- Chapter VIII.—The Demons Sin Among Mankind
- Chapter IX.—They Give Rise to Superstitions
- Chapter X.—Ridicule of the Heathen Divinities
- Chapter XI.—The Sin of Men Due Not to Fate, But to Free-Will
- Chapter XII.—The Two Kinds of Spirits
- Chapter XIII.—Theory of the Soul's Immortality
- Chapter XIV.—The Demons Shall Be Punished More Severely Than Men
- Chapter XV.—Necessity of a Union with the Holy Spirit
- Chapter XVI.—Vain Display of Power by the Demons
- Chapter XVII.—They Falsely Promise Health to Their Votaries
- Chapter XVIII.—They Deceive, Instead of Healing
- Chapter XIX.—Depravity Lies at the Bottom of Demon-Worship
- Chapter XX.—Thanks are Ever Due to God
- Chapter XXI.—Doctrines of the Christians and Greeks Respecting God Compared
- Chapter XXII.—Ridicule of the Solemnities of the Greeks
- Chapter XXIII.—Of the Pugilists and Gladiators
- Chapter XXIV.—Of the Other Public Amusements
- Chapter XXV.—Boastings and Quarrels of the Philosophers
- Chapter XXVI.—Ridicule of the Studies of the Greeks
- Chapter XXVII.—The Christians are Hated Unjustly
- Chapter XXVIII.—Condemnation of the Greek Legislation
- Chapter XXIX.—Account of Tatian's Conversion
- Chapter XXX.—How He Resolved to Resist the Devil
- Chapter XXXI.—The Philosophy of the Christians More Ancient Than that of the Greeks
- Chapter XXXII.—The Doctrine of the Christians, is Opposed to Dissensions, and Fitted for All
- Chapter XXXIII.—Vindication of Christian Women
- Chapter XXXIV.—Ridicule of the Statues Erected by the Greeks
- Chapter XXXV.—Tatian Speaks as an Eye-Witness
- Chapter XXXVI.—Testimony of the Chaldeans to the Antiquity of Moses
- Chapter XXXVII.—Testimony of the Phoenicians
- Chapter XXXVIII.—The Egyptians Place Moses in the Reign of Inachus
- Chapter XXXIX.—Catalogue of the Argive Kings
- Chapter XL.—Moses More Ancient and Credible Than the Heathen Heroes
- Chapter XLI
- Chapter XLII.—Concluding Statement as to the Author
- Fragments
Theophilus to Autolycus
Book I14 pages
- Chapter I.—Autolycus an Idolater and Scorner of Christians
- Chapter II.—That the Eyes of the Soul Must Be Purged Ere God Can Be Seen
- Chapter III.—Nature of God
- Chapter IV.—Attributes of God
- Chapter V.—The Invisible God Perceived Through His Works
- Chapter VI.—God is Known by His Works
- Chapter VII.—We Shall See God When We Put on Immortality
- Chapter VIII.—Faith Required in All Matters
- Chapter IX.—Immoralities of the Gods
- Chapter X.—Absurdities of Idolatry
- Chapter XI.—The King to Be Honoured, God to Be Worshipped
- Chapter XII.—Meaning of the Name Christian
- Chapter XIII.—The Resurrection Proved by Examples
- Chapter XIV.—Theophilus an Example of Conversion
Theophilus to Autolycus. Book II
Chapter I.—Occasion of Writing This Book38 pages
- Opening
- Chapter II.—The Gods are Despised When They are Made; But Become Valuable When Bought
- Chapter III.—What Has Become of the Gods?
- Chapter IV.—Absurd Opinions of the Philosophers Concerning God
- Chapter V.—Opinions of Homer and Hesiod Concerning the Gods
- Chapter VI.—Hesiod on the Origin of the World
- Chapter VII.—Fabulous Heathen Genealogies
- Chapter VIII.—Opinions Concerning Providence
- Chapter IX.—The Prophets Inspired by the Holy Ghost
- Chapter X.—The World Created by God Through the Word
- Chapter XI.—The Six Days' Work Described
- Chapter XII.—The Glory of the Six Days' Work
- Chapter XIII.—Remarks on the Creation of the World
- Chapter XIV.—The World Compared to the Sea
- Chapter XV.—Of the Fourth Day
- Chapter XVI.—Of the Fifth Day
- Chapter XVII.—Of the Sixth Day
- Chapter XVIII.—The Creation of Man
- Chapter XIX.—Man is Placed in Paradise
- Chapter XX.—The Scriptural Account of Paradise
- Chapter XXI.—Of the Fall of Man
- Chapter XXII.—Why God is Said to Have Walked
- Chapter XXIII.—The Truth of the Account in Genesis
- Chapter XXIV.—The Beauty of Paradise
- Chapter XXV.—God Was Justified in Forbidding Man to Eat of the Tree of Knowledge
- Chapter XXVI.—God's Goodness in Expelling Man from Paradise
- Chapter XXVII.—The Nature of Man
- Chapter XXVIII.—Why Eve Was Formed of Adam's Rib
- Chapter XXIX.—Cain's Crime
- Chapter XXX.—Cain's Family and Their Inventions
- Chapter XXXI.—The History After the Flood
- Chapter XXXII.—How the Human Race Was Dispersed
- Chapter XXXIII.—Profane History Gives No Account of These Matters
- Chapter XXXIV.—The Prophets Enjoined Holiness of Life
- Chapter XXXV.—Precepts from the Prophetic Books
- Chapter XXXVI.—Prophecies of the Sibyl
- Chapter XXXVII.—The Testimonies of the Poets
- Chapter XXXVIII.—The Teachings of the Greek Poets and Philosophers Confirmatory of Those of the Hebrew Prophets
Theophilus to Autolycus. Book III30 pages
- Chapter I.—Autolycus Not Yet Convinced
- Chapter II.—Profane Authors Had No Means of Knowing the Truth
- Chapter III.—Their Contradictions
- Chapter IV.—How Autolycus Had Been Misled by False Accusations Against the Christians
- Chapter V.—Philosophers Inculcate Cannibalism
- Chapter VI.—Other Opinions of the Philosophers
- Chapter VII.—Varying Doctrine Concerning the Gods
- Chapter VIII.—Wickedness Attributed to the Gods by Heathen Writers
- Chapter IX.—Christian Doctrine of God and His Law
- Chapter X.—Of Humanity to Strangers
- Chapter XI.—Of Repentance
- Chapter XII.—Of Righteousness
- Chapter XIII.—Of Chastity
- Chapter XIV.—Of Loving Our Enemies
- Chapter XV.—The Innocence of the Christians Defended
- Chapter XVI.—Uncertain Conjectures of the Philosophers
- Chapter XVII.—Accurate Information of the Christians
- Chapter XVIII.—Errors of the Greeks About the Deluge
- Chapter XIX.—Accurate Account of the Deluge
- Chapter XX.—Antiquity of Moses
- Chapter XXI.—Of Manetho's Inaccuracy
- Chapter XXII.—Antiquity of the Temple
- Chapter XXIII.—Prophets More Ancient Than Greek Writers
- Chapter XXIV.—Chronology from Adam
- Chapter XXV.—From Saul to the Captivity
- Chapter XXVI.—Contrast Between Hebrew and Greek Writings
- Chapter XXVII.—Roman Chronology to the Death of M. Aurelius
- Chapter XXVIII.—Leading Chronological Epochs
- Chapter XXIX.—Antiquity of Christianity
- Chapter XXX.—Why the Greeks Did Not Mention Our Histories
A Plea For the Christians By Athenagoras the Athenian: Philosopher and Christian38 pages
- Opening
- Chapter I.—Injustice Shown Towards the Christians
- Chapter II.—Claim to Be Treated as Others are When Accused
- Chapter III.—Charges Brought Against the Christians
- Chapter IV.—The Christians are Not Atheists, But Acknowledge One Only God
- Chapter V.—Testimony of the Poets to the Unity of God
- Chapter VI.—Opinions of the Philosophers as to the One God
- Chapter VII.—Superiority of the Christian Doctrine Respecting God
- Chapter VIII.—Absurdities of Polytheism
- Chapter IX.—The Testimony of the Prophets
- Chapter X.—The Christians Worship the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
- Chapter XI.—The Moral Teaching of the Christians Repels the Charge Brought Against Them
- Chapter XII.—Consequent Absurdity of the Charge of Atheism
- Chapter XIII.—Why the Christians Do Not Offer Sacrifices
- Chapter XIV.—Inconsistency of Those Who Accuse the Christians
- Chapter XV.—The Christians Distinguish God from Matter
- Chapter XVI.—The Christians Do Not Worship the Universe
- Chapter XVII.—The Names of the Gods and Their Images are But of Recent Date
- Chapter XVIII.—The Gods Themselves Have Been Created, as the Poets Confess
- Chapter XIX.—The Philosophers Agree with the Poets Respecting the Gods
- Chapter XX.—Absurd Representations of the Gods
- Chapter XXI.—Impure Loves Ascribed to the Gods
- Chapter XXII.—Pretended Symbolical Explanations
- Chapter XXIII.—Opinions of Thales and Plato
- Chapter XXIV.—Concerning the Angels and Giants
- Chapter XXV.—The Poets and Philosophers Have Denied a Divine Providence
- Chapter XXVI.—The Demons Allure Men to the Worship of Images
- Chapter XXVII.—Artifices of the Demons
- Chapter XXVIII.—The Heathen Gods Were Simply Men
- Chapter XXIX.—Proof of the Same from the Poets
- Chapter XXX.—Reasons Why Divinity Has Been Ascribed to Men
- Chapter XXXI.—Confutation of the Other Charges Brought Against the Christians
- Chapter XXXII.—Elevated Morality of the Christians
- Chapter XXXIII.—Chastity of the Christians with Respect to Marriage
- Chapter XXXIV.—The Vast Difference in Morals Between the Christians and Their Accusers
- Chapter XXXV.—The Christians Condemn and Detest All Cruelty
- Chapter XXXVI.—Bearing of the Doctrine of the Resurrection on the Practices of the Christians
- Chapter XXXVII.—Entreaty to Be Fairly Judged
The Treatise of Athenagoras The Athenian, Philosopher and Christian, on the Resurrection of the Dead25 pages
- Chapter I.—Defence of the Truth Should Precede Discussions Regarding It
- Chapter II.—A Resurrection is Not Impossible
- Chapter III.—He Who Could Create, Can Also Raise Up the Dead
- Chapter IV.—Objection from the Fact that Some Human Bodies Have Become Part of Others
- Chapter V.—Reference to the Processes of Digestion and Nutrition
- Chapter VI.—Everything that is Useless or Hurtful is Rejected
- Chapter VII.—The Resurrection-Body Different from the Present
- Chapter VIII.—Human Flesh Not the Proper or Natural Food of Men
- Chapter IX.—Absurdity of Arguing from Man's Impotency
- Chapter X.—It Cannot Be Shown that God Does Not Will a Resurrection
- Chapter XI.—Recapitulation
- Chapter XII.—Argument for the Resurrection From the Purpose Contemplated in Man's Creation
- Chapter XIII.—Continuation of the Argument
- Chapter XIV.—The Resurrection Does Not Rest Solely on the Fact of a Future Judgment
- Chapter XV.—Argument for the Resurrection from the Nature of Man
- Chapter XVI—Analogy of Death and Sleep, and Consequent Argument for the Resurrection
- Chapter XVII.—The Series of Changes We Can Now Trace in Man Renders a Resurrection Probable
- Chapter XVIII.—Judgment Must Have Reference Both to Soul and Body: There Will Therefore Be a Resurrection
- Chapter XIX.—Man Would Be More Unfavourably Situated Than the Beasts If There Were No Resurrection
- Chapter XX.—Man Must Be Possessed Both of a Body and Soul Hereafter, that the Judgment Passed Upon Him May Be Just
- Chapter XXI.—Continuation of the Argument
- Chapter XXII.—Continuation of the Argument
- Chapter XXIII.—Continuation of the Argument
- Chapter XXIV.—Argument for the Resurrection from the Chief End of Man
- Chapter XXV.—Argument Continued and Concluded
Exhortation to the Heathen12 pages
- Chapter I.—Exhortation to Abandon the Impious Mysteries of Idolatry for the Adoration of the Divine Word and God the Father
- Chapter II.—The Absurdity and Impiety of the Heathen Mysteries and Fables About the Birth and Death of Their Gods
- Chapter III.—The Cruelty of the Sacrifices to the Gods
- Chapter IV.—The Absurdity and Shamefulness of the Images by Which the Gods are Worshipped
- Chapter V.—The Opinions of the Philosophers Respecting God
- Chapter VI.—By Divine Inspiration Philosophers Sometimes Hit on the Truth
- Chapter VII.—The Poets Also Bear Testimony to the Truth
- Chapter VIII.—The True Doctrine is to Be Sought in the Prophets
- Chapter IX.—"That Those Grievously Sin Who Despise or Neglect God's Gracious Calling."
- Chapter X.—Answer to the Objection of the Heathen, that It Was Not Right to Abandon the Customs of Their Fathers
- Chapter XI.—How Great are the Benefits Conferred on Man Through the Advent of Christ
- Chapter XII.—Exhortation to Abandon Their Old Errors and Listen to the Instructions of Christ
The Instructor. [Pædagogus.]
Book I13 pages
- Chapter I. The Office of the Instructor
- Chapter II.—Our Instructor's Treatment of Our Sins
- Chapter III.—The Philanthropy of the Instructor
- Chapter IV.—Men and Women Alike Under the Instructor's Charge
- Chapter V.—All Who Walk According to Truth are Children of God
- Chapter VI.—The Name Children Does Not Imply Instruction in Elementary Principles
- Chapter VII.—Who the Instructor Is, and Respecting His Instruction
- Chapter VIII.—Against Those Who Think that What is Just is Not Good
- Chapter IX.—That It is the Prerogative of the Same Power to Be Beneficent and to Punish Justly. Also the Manner of the Instruction of the Logos
- Chapter X.—That the Same God, by the Same Word, Restrains from Sin by Threatening, and Saves Humanity by Exhorting
- Chapter XI.—That the Word Instructed by the Law and the Prophets
- Chapter XII.—The Instructor Characterized by the Severity and Benignity of Paternal Affection
- Chapter XIII.—Virtue Rational, Sin Irrational
The Instructor Book II13 pages
- Chap. I.—On Eating
- Chapter II.—On Drinking
- Chapter III.—On Costly Vessels
- Chapter IV.—How to Conduct Ourselves at Feasts
- Chapter V.—On Laughter
- Chapter VI.—On Filthy Speaking
- Chapter VII.—Directions for Those Who Live Together
- Chapter VIII.—On the Use of Ointments and Crowns
- Chap. IX.—On Sleep
- Chapter X.—Quænam de Procreatione Liberorum Tractanda Sint
- Chapter XI.—On Clothes
- Chap. XII.—On Shoes
- Chapter XIII—Against Excessive Fondness for Jewels and Gold Ornaments
The Instructor. Book III13 pages
- Chapter I.—On the True Beauty
- Chapter II.—Against Embellishing the Body
- Chapter III.—Against Men Who Embellish Themselves
- Chapter IV.—With Whom We are to Associate
- Chapter V.—Behaviour in the Baths
- Chapter VI.—The Christian Alone Rich
- Chapter VII.—Frugality a Good Provision for the Christian
- Chapter VIII.—Similitudes and Examples a Most Important Part of Right Instruction
- Chapter IX.—Why We are to Use the Bath
- Chapter X.—The Exercises Suited to a Good Life
- Chapter XI.—A Compendious View of the Christian Life
- Chapter XII.—Continuation: with Texts from Scripture
- Elucidations
The Stromata, or Miscellanies
Book I30 pages
- Chapter I.—Preface—The Author's Object—The Utility of Written Compositions
- Chapter II.—Objection to the Number of Extracts from Philosophical Writings in These Books Anticipated and Answered
- Chapter III.—Against the Sophists
- Chapter IV.—Human Arts as Well as Divine Knowledge Proceed from God
- Chapter V.—Philosophy the Handmaid of Theology
- Chapter VI.—The Benefit of Culture
- Chapter VII.—The Eclectic Philosophy Paves the Way for Divine Virtue
- Chapter VIII.—The Sophistical Arts Useless
- Chapter IX.—Human Knowledge Necessary for the Understanding of the Scriptures
- Chapter X.—To Act Well of Greater Consequence Than to Speak Well
- Chapter XI.—What is the Philosophy Which the Apostle Bids Us Shun?
- Chapter XII.—The Mysteries of the Faith Not to Be Divulged to All
- Chapter XIII.—All Sects of Philosophy Contain a Germ of Truth
- Chapter XIV.—Succession of Philosophers in Greece
- Chapter XV.—The Greek Philosophy in Great Part Derived from the Barbarians
- Chapter XVI.—That the Inventors of Other Arts Were Mostly Barbarians
- Chapter XVII.—On the Saying of the Saviour, "All that Came Before Me Were Thieves and Robbers."
- Chapter XVIII.—He Illustrates the Apostle's Saying, "I Will Destroy the Wisdom of the Wise."
- Chapter XIX.—That the Philosophers Have Attained to Some Portion of Truth
- Chapter XX.—In What Respect Philosophy Contributes to the Comprehension of Divine Truth
- Chapter XXI.—The Jewish Institutions and Laws of Far Higher Antiquity Than the Philosophy of the Greeks
- Chapter XXII.—On the Greek Translation of the Old Testament
- Chapter XXIII.—The Age, Birth, and Life of Moses
- Chapter XXIV.—How Moses Discharged the Part of a Military Leader
- Chapter XXV.—Plato an Imitator of Moses in Framing Laws
- Chapter XXVI.—Moses Rightly Called a Divine Legislator, And, Though Inferior to Christ, Far Superior to the Great Legislators of the Greeks, Minos and Lycurgus
- Chapter XXVII.—The Law, Even in Correcting and Punishing, Aims at the Good of Men
- Chapter XXVIII.—The Fourfold Division of the Mosaic Law
- Chapter XXIX.—The Greeks But Children Compared with the Hebrews
- Elucidations
The Stromata, or Miscellanies. Book II27 pages
- Chapter I.—Introductory
- Chapter II.—The Knowledge of God Can Be Attained Only Through Faith
- Chapter III.—Faith Not a Product of Nature
- Chapter IV.—Faith the Foundation of All Knowledge
- Chapter V.—He Proves by Several Examples that the Greeks Drew from the Sacred Writers
- Chapter VI.—The Excellence and Utility of Faith
- Chapter VII.—The Utility of Fear. Objections Answered
- Chapter VIII.—The Vagaries of Basilides and Valentinus as to Fear Being the Cause of Things
- Chapter IX.—The Connection of the Christian Virtues
- Chapter X.—To What the Philosopher Applies Himself
- Chapter XI.—The Knowledge Which Comes Through Faith the Surest of All
- Chapter XII.—Twofold Faith
- Chapter XIII.—On First and Second Repentance
- Chapter XIV.—How a Thing May Be Involuntary
- Chapter XV.—On the Different Kinds of Voluntary Actions, and the Sins Thence Proceeding
- Chapter XVI.—How We are to Explain the Passages of Scripture Which Ascribe to God Human Affections
- Chapter XVII.—On the Various Kinds of Knowledge
- Chapter XVIII.—The Mosaic Law the Fountain of All Ethics, and the Source from Which the Greeks Drew Theirs
- Chapter XIX.—The True Gnostic is an Imitator of God, Especially in Beneficence
- Chapter XX.—The True Gnostic Exercises Patience and Self-Restraint
- Chapter XXI.—Opinions of Various Philosophers on the Chief Good
- Chapter XXII.—Plato's Opinion, that the Chief Good Consists in Assimilation to God, and Its Agreement with Scripture
- Chapter XXIII.—On Marriage
- Elucidations
- The Stromata, or Miscellanies (part 1 of 2)
- The Stromata, or Miscellanies (part 2 of 2)
- Elucidations
The Stromata, or Miscellanies. Book IV22 pages
- Chapter I.—Order of Contents
- Chapter II.—The Meaning of the Name Stromata or Miscellanies
- Chapter III.—The True Excellence of Man
- Chapter IV.—The Praises of Martyrdom
- Chapter V.—On Contempt for Pain, Poverty, and Other External Things
- Chapter VII.—The Blessedness of the Martyr
- Chapter VIII.—Women as Well as Men, Slaves as Well as Freemen, Candidates for the Martyr's Crown
- Chapter IX.—Christ's Sayings Respecting Martyrdom
- Chapter X.—Those Who Offered Themselves for Martyrdom Reproved
- Chapter XI.—The Objection, Why Do You Suffer If God Cares for You, Answered
- Chapter XII.—Basilides' Idea of Martyrdom Refuted
- Chapter XIII.—Valentinian's Vagaries About the Abolition of Death Refuted
- Chapter XIV.—The Love of All, Even of Our Enemies
- Chapter XV.—On Avoiding Offence
- Chapter XVI.—Passages of Scripture Respecting the Constancy, Patience, and Love of the Martyrs
- Chapter XVII.—Passages from Clement's Epistle to the Corinthians on Martyrdom
- Chapter XVIII.—On Love, and the Repressing of Our Desires
- Chap. XIX.—Women as well as Men Capable of Perfection
- Chapter XX.—A Good Wife
- Chapter XXI.—Description of the Perfect Man, or Gnostic
- Chapter XXIII.—The Same Subject Continued
- Elucidations
The Stromata, or Miscellanies. Book V15 pages
- Chap. I.—On Faith
- Chap. II.—On Hope
- Chapter III.—The Objects of Faith and Hope Perceived by the Mind Alone
- Chapter IV.—Divine Things Wrapped Up in Figures Both in the Sacred and in Heathen Writers
- Chapter V.—On the Symbols of Pythagoras
- Chapter VI.—The Mystic Meaning of the Tabernacle and Its Furniture
- Chapter VII.—The Egyptian Symbols and Enigmas of Sacred Things
- Chapter VIII.—The Use of the Symbolic Style by Poets and Philosophers
- Chapter IX.—Reasons for Veiling the Truth in Symbols
- Chapter X.—The Opinion of the Apostles on Veiling the Mysteries of the Faith
- Chapter XI.—Abstraction from Material Things Necessary in Order to Attain to the True Knowledge of God
- Chapter XII.—God Cannot Be Embraced in Words or by the Mind
- Chapter XIII.—The Knowledge of God a Divine Gift, According to the Philosophers
- Chapter XIV.—Greek Plagiarism from the Hebrews
- Elucidations
The Stromata, or Miscellanies Book VI19 pages
- Chapter I.—Plan
- Chapter II.—The Subject of Plagiarisms Resumed. The Greeks Plagiarized from One Another
- Chapter III.—Plagiarism by the Greeks of the Miracles Related in the Sacred Books of the Hebrews
- Chapter IV.—The Greeks Drew Many of Their Philosophical Tenets from the Egyptian and Indian Gymnosophists
- Chapter V.—The Greeks Had Some Knowledge of the True God
- Chapter VI.—The Gospel Was Preached to Jews and Gentiles in Hades
- Chapter VII.—What True Philosophy Is, and Whence So Called
- Chapter VIII.—Philosophy is Knowledge Given by God
- Chapter IX.—The Gnostic Free of All Perturbations of the Soul
- Chapter X.—The Gnostic Avails Himself of the Help of All Human Knowledge
- Chapter XI.—The Mystical Meanings in the Proportions of Numbers, Geometrical Ratios, and Music
- Chapter XII.—Human Nature Possesses an Adaptation for Perfection; The Gnostic Alone Attains It
- Chapter XIII.—Degrees of Glory in Heaven Corresponding with the Dignities of the Church Below
- Chapter XIV.—Degrees of Glory in Heaven
- Chapter XV.—Different Degrees of Knowledge
- Chapter XVI.—Gnostic Exposition of the Decalogue
- Chapter XVII.—Philosophy Conveys Only an Imperfect Knowledge of God
- Chapter XVIII.—The Use of Philosophy to the Gnostic
- Elucidations
The Stromata, or Miscellanies. Book VII19 pages
- Chapter I.—The Gnostic a True Worshipper of God, and Unjustly Calumniated by Unbelievers as an Atheist
- Chapter II.—The Son the Ruler and Saviour of All
- Chapter III.—The Gnostic Aims at the Nearest Likeness Possible to God and His Son
- Chapter IV.—The Heathens Made Gods Like Themselves, Whence Springs All Superstition
- Chapter V.—The Holy Soul a More Excellent Temple Than Any Edifice Built by Man
- Chapter VI.—Prayers and Praise from a Pure Mind, Ceaselessly Offered, Far Better Than Sacrifices
- Chapter VII.—What Sort of Prayer the Gnostic Employs, and How It is Heard by God
- Chapter VIII.—The Gnostic So Addicted to Truth as Not to Need to Use an Oath
- Chapter IX.—Those Who Teach Others, Ought to Excel in Virtues
- Chapter X.—Steps to Perfection
- Chapter XI.—Description of the Gnostic's Life
- Chapter XII.—The True Gnostic is Beneficent, Continent, and Despises Worldly Things
- Chapter XIII.—Description of the Gnostic Continued
- Chapter XIV.—Description of the Gnostic Furnished by an Exposition of 1 Cor. vi. 1, Etc
- Chapter XV.—The Objection to Join the Church on Account of the Diversity of Heresies Answered
- Chapter XVI.—Scripture the Criterion by Which Truth and Heresy are Distinguished
- Chapter XVII.—The Tradition of the Church Prior to that of the Heresies
- Chapter XVIII—The Distinction Between Clean and Unclean Animals in the Law Symbolical of the Distinction Between the Church, and Jews, and Heretics
- Elucidations
The Stromata, or Miscellanies. Book VIII10 pages
- Chapter I.—The Object of Philosophical and Theological Inquiry—The Discovery of Truth
- Chapter II.—The Necessity of Perspicuous Definition
- Chapter III.—Demonstration Defined
- Chapter IV.—To Prevent Ambiguity, We Must Begin with Clear Definition
- Chapter V.—Application of Demonstration to Sceptical Suspense of Judgment
- Chapter VI.—Definitions, Genera, and Species
- Chapter VII.—On the Causes of Doubt or Assent
- Chapter VIII.—The Method of Classifying Things and Names
- Chapter IX.—On the Different Kinds of Cause
- Elucidations
Fragments of Clemens Alexandrinus2 pages
Clemens Alexandrinus on the Salvation of the Rich Man3 pages
Subject Indexes5 pages
Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 2, ed. Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson and A. Cleveland Coxe (1885–96). Public domain. Text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library.