Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. II

What It's About

This volume collects five major second-century Christian writers. It opens with the Shepherd of Hermas, an allegorical work built around a series of visions, in which repentance, moral discipline, and the possibility of renewal after sin are explored through symbolic figures and parables. It continues with Tatian's Address to the Greeks, a sharp polemic against Greek religion and culture; Theophilus of Antioch's letters To Autolycus, an apologetic defence of Christianity addressed to a pagan friend; Athenagoras's Plea for the Christians and his treatise On the Resurrection; and, at greatest length, the writings of Clement of Alexandria — the Exhortation to the Heathen, The Instructor, and the Stromata (Miscellanies).

Key Concepts

Running through the volume is the question of how Christianity should relate to the surrounding Greco-Roman world. Hermas is concerned less with doctrine than with practical repentance and the moral life of the Christian community. Tatian rejects Greek philosophy and culture outright as inferior to Christian truth, while Athenagoras answers specific pagan accusations against Christians — atheism, cannibalism, incest — point by point, and defends the resurrection of the body against philosophical objection. Clement of Alexandria takes the opposite approach to Tatian, arguing that Greek philosophy can be a preparation for the Gospel, and works out an early Christian ideal of knowledge (gnosis) distinct from the rival claims of Gnostic sects.

About the Author

Alexander Roberts (1826–1901) was a Scottish biblical scholar and Free Church minister who became Professor of Humanity at the University of St Andrews. James Donaldson (1831–1915) was a Scottish classical and patristic scholar who served as Principal of the University of St Andrews from 1886 until his death. Together they edited this series of translations of early Christian writings.

About This Edition

This edition has been prepared for readability and general interest, and does not include the original scholarly footnotes. While the notes in historical editions often provide biblical references, Latin translations, and academic cross-references, they can interrupt the flow for many modern readers. The aim here is to present the text in a clear, accessible form, allowing readers to engage directly with these early Christian writings without distraction. For those who prefer a fully annotated, scholarly experience, comprehensive editions with complete footnotes remain widely available.