July 12, 2025
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by Joshua Charles
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Other First Millennium Documents

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(Updated July 14, 2025)

Apostolic Era Documents

The Shepherd of Hermas (c. 80)

(Book 1, Part 2, Ch. 4)

You will write therefore two books, and you will send the one to Clemens [Clement of Rome] and the other to Grapte. And Clemens will send his to foreign countries, for permission has been granted to him to do so. And Grapte will admonish the widows and the orphans. But you will read the words in this city, along with the presbyters who preside over the Church.

(Book 2, Commandment 4, Ch. 1)

I said to him, “Sir, permit me to ask you a few questions.” “Say on,” said he. And I said to him, “Sir, if anyone has a wife who trusts in the Lord, and if he detect her in adultery, does the man sin if he continue to live with her?” And he said to me, “As long as he remains ignorant of her sin, the husband commits no transgression in living with her. But if the husband know that his wife has gone astray, and if the woman does not repent, but persists in her fornication, and yet the husband continues to live with her, he also is guilty of her crime, and a sharer in her adultery.”

And I said to him, “What then, sir, is the husband to do, if his wife continue in her vicious practices?” And he said, “The husband should put her away, and remain by himself. But if he put his wife away and marry another, he also commits adultery” (Matt. 5:32; 19:9).

And I said to him, “What if the woman put away should repent, and wish to return to her husband: shall she not be taken back by her husband?” And he said to me, “Assuredly. If the husband do not take her back, he sins, and brings a great sin upon himself; for he ought to take back the sinner who has repented. But not frequently. For there is but one repentance to the servants of God. In case, therefore, that the divorced wife may repent, the husband ought not to marry another, when his wife has been put away. In this matter man and woman are to be treated exactly in the same way.

(Book 3, Similitude 5, Ch. 4)

[The Shepherd said] “But those who are weak and slothful in prayer, hesitate to ask anything from the Lord; but the Lord is full of compassion, and gives without fail to all who ask Him. But you, having been strengthened by the holy Angel, and having obtained from Him such intercession, and not being slothful, why do not you ask of the Lord understanding, and receive it from Him?”…

(Book 3, Similitude 8, Ch. 7)

“And as many as have in the branches half-withered and cracked, hear also about them. They whose branches were half-withered to the same extent are the wavering; for they neither live, nor are they dead. And they who have them half-withered and cracked are both waverers and slanderers, [railing against the absent] and never at peace with one another, but always at variance. And yet to these also,” he continued, “repentance is possible. You see,” he said, “that some of them have repented, and there is still remaining in them,” he continued, “a hope of repentance. And as many of them,” he added, “as have repented, shall have their dwelling in the tower. And those of them who have been slower in repenting shall dwell within the walls. And as many as do not repent at all, but abide in their deeds, shall utterly perish. And they who gave in their branches green and cracked were always faithful and good, though emulous of each other about the foremost places, and about fame: now all these are foolish, in indulging in such a rivalry. Yet they also, being naturally good, on hearing my commandments, purified themselves, and soon repented. Their dwelling, accordingly, was in the tower. But if any one relapse into strife, he will be east out of the tower, and will lose his life. Life is the possession of all who keep the commandments of the Lord; but in the commandments there is no rivalry in regard to the first places, or glory of any kind, but in regard to patience and personal humility. Among such persons, then, is the life of the Lord, but among the quarrelsome and transgressors, death.”

Ancient Christian Inscriptions

Various Epitaphs: Agape (c. 150)1

My mother is Eucharis and my father is Pius. I pray you, O brethren, to pray when you come here, 17 | 18 and to ask in your common prayers the Father and the Son. May it be in your minds to remember dear Agape that the omnipotent God may keep Agape safe forever.

Epitaph of Abercius (c. 190)2

I, the citizen of a chosen city, erected this in my lifetime that I may have in time to come a place wherein to lay my body. My name is Abercius, the disciple of the Holy Shepherd, who feeds the flocks of His sheep on the hills and plains, and who has great eyes that look into every place…These things I, Abercius, commanded thus to be written when I was on earth; and truly I was seventy and two years old. Let him who understands this, and everyone who agrees therewith, pray for Abercius…

Various Epitaphs: Sozon (c. 250)3

Blessed Sozon gave back (his soul) aged nine years; may the true Christ (receive) your spirit in peace, and pray for us.

Various Epitaphs: Gentianus (c. 250)4

Gentianus, a believer, in peace, who lived twenty-one years eight months sixteen days, and in thy prayers ask for us, because we know that thou art in Christ.

Various Epitaphs: Matronata Matrona (c. 250)5

Pray for your parents, Matronata Matrona. She lived one year, fifty-two days.

Rylands Papyrus 470 (c. 300)

Mother of God (hear) my supplications: suffer us not (to be) in adversity, but deliver us from danger. Thou alone.

Various Epitaphs: Atticus (c. 350)6

Atticus, sleep in peace secure in thy safety, and pray anxiously for our sins.

Epitaph of Pectorius (c. 375)7

Aschandius, my father, beloved of my heart, with my sweet mother and my brothers, be mindful of your Pectorius abiding in the peace of the Fish [Christ]…

Acts and Apocrypha

Apocalypse of Peter (c. 130)

(§25)

And near that place I saw another strait place into which the gore and the filth of those who were being punished ran down and became there as it were a lake; and there sat women having the gore up to their necks, and over against them sat many children who were born to them out of due time, crying; and there came forth from them sparks of fire and smote the women in the eyes; and these were the accursed who conceived and caused abortion.

The Acts of Paul and Thecla (c. 160)

And after the exhibition, Tryphena again receives her. For her daughter Falconilla had died, and said to her in a dream: “Mother, you shall have this stranger Thecla in my place, in order that she may pray concerning me, and that I may be transferred to the place of the just.”

Acts of Philip (c. 350)

And the Savior said to Philip: “But since you have disobeyed me, and have requited evil for evil, and have not kept my commandment, on this account you shall finish your course gloriously indeed, and shall be led by the hand by my holy angels, and shall come with them even to the paradise of delight; and they indeed shall come beside me into paradise, but you will I order to be shut outside of paradise for forty days, in terror under the flaming and turning sword, and you shall groan because you have done evil to those who have done evil to you.”

Apostolic Teachings and Constitutions

Didache (c. 50)

(Ch. 2, §§1-2)8

(§1) The second commandment of the Teaching is (§2) You shall not commit murder. You shall not commit adultery [Ex. 20:13-14]. You shall not corrupt boys. You shall not commit fornication. You shall not steal [Ex. 20:15]. You shall not practice magic. You shall not practice sorcery. You shall not kill an unborn child or murder a newborn infant. And you shall not desire the goods 172 | 173 of your neighbor.

(Ch. 4, §5)9

Do not hold your hands open for receiving and closed for giving [Sir. 4:31]…Do not turn away from the needy [Sir. 4:5], but share all with your brother and do not claim that it is your own [Acts 4:32]

(Ch. 14, §§1-3)10

(§1) And on the Lord’s Day, after you have come together, break bread and offer the Eucharist, having first confessed your offenses, so that your sacrifice may be pure. (§2) But let no one who has a quarrel with his neighbor join you until he is reconciled, lest your sacrifice be defiled [Matt. 5:23-24]. (§3) For it was 182 | 183 said by the Lord: “In every place and time let there be offered to me a clean sacrifice, because I am the great king”; and also: “and my name is wonderful among the Gentiles” (Mal. 1:11, 14).

(Ch. 16, §§1-2)11

(§1) “Be vigilant” over your life; “let your lamps” not be extinguished, or your loins be ungirded, but be prepared, for you know not the hour in which the Lord will come [Matt. 24:42, 44; Luke 12:35]. (§2) Come together frequently, and seek what pertains to your souls: for the whole time of your faith will not profit you, unless in the last hour you shall be found perfect [2 Pet. 3:3; Matt. 24:10; 7:15].

Apostolic Constitutions (c. 400)

(Book 1, Part 3, §8)

Let the wife be obedient to her own proper husband, because “the husband is the head of the wife” (1 Cor. 11:3). But Christ is the head of that husband who walks in the way of righteousness; and “the head of Christ is God,” even His Father. Therefore, O wife, next after the Almighty, our God and Father, the Lord of the present world and of the world to come, the Maker of everything that breathes, and of every power; and after His beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom glory be to God, do thou fear thy husband, and reverence him, pleasing him alone, rendering thyself acceptable to him in the several affairs of life, that so on thy account thy husband may be called blessed, according to the Wisdom of Solomon, which thus speaks: “Who can find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more precious than costly stones. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that she shall have no need of spoil: for she does good to her husband all the days of her life. She buyeth wool and flax, and worketh profitable things with her hands. She is like the merchants’ ships, she bringeth her food from far. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and food to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it; with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She tasteth that it is good to labour; her lamp goeth not out all the whole night. She stretcheth out her arms for useful work, and layeth her hands to the spindle. She openeth her hands to the needy; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the poor. Her husband takes no care of the affairs of his house; for all that are with her are clothed with double garments. She maketh coats for her husband, clothings of silk and purple. Her husband is eminent in the gates, when he sitteth with the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it to the Phoenicians, and girdles to the Canaanites. She is clothed with glory and beauty, and she rejoices in the last days. She openeth her mouth with wisdom and discretion, and puts her words in order. The ways of her household are strict; she eateth not the bread of idleness. She will open her mouth with wisdom and caution, and upon her tongue are the laws of mercy. Her children arise up and praise her for her riches, and her husband joins in her praises. Many daughters have obtained wealth and done worthily, but thou surpassest and excellest them all. May lying flatteries and the vain beauty of a wife be far from thee. For a religious wife is blessed. Let her praise the fear of the Lord: “give her of the fruits of her lips, and let her husband be praised in the gates” (Prov. 31:10). And again: “A virtuous wife is a crown to her husband” (Prov. 12:4) And again: “Many wives have built an house” (Prov. 14:1). You have learned what great commendations a prudent and loving wife receives from the Lord God. If thou desirest to be one of the faithful, and to please the Lord, O wife, do not superadd ornaments to thy beauty, in order to please other men; neither affect to wear fine broidering, garments, or shoes, to entice those who are allured by such things. For although thou dost not these wicked things with design of sinning thyself, but only for the sake of ornament and beauty, yet wilt thou not so escape future punishment, as having compelled another to look so hard at thee as to lust after thee, and as not having taken care both to avoid sin thyself, and the affording scandal to others. But if thou yield thyself up, and commit the crime, thou art both guilty of thy own sin, and the cause of the ruin of the other’s soul also. Besides, when thou hast committed lewdness with one man, and beginnest to despair, thou wilt again turn away from thy duty, and follow others, and grow past feeling; as says the divine word: “When a wicked man comes into the depth of evil, he becomes a scorner, and then disgrace and reproach come upon him” (Prov. 18:3). For such a woman afterward being wounded, ensnares without restraint the souls of the foolish. Let us learn, therefore, how the divine word triumphs over such women, saying: “I hated a woman who is a snare and net to the heart of men worse than death; her hands are fetters” (Ecc. 7:26). And in another passage: “As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is beauty in a wicked woman.”2577 And again: “As a worm in wood, so does a wicked woman destroy her husband” (Prov. 12:4, LXX). And again: “It is better to dwell in the corner of the house-top, than with a contentious and an angry woman” (Prov. 21:9, 19). You, therefore, who are Christian women, do not imitate such as these. But thou who designest to be faithful to thine own husband, take care to please him alone. And when thou art in the streets, cover thy head; for by such a covering thou wilt avoid being viewed of idle persons. Do not paint thy face, which is God’s workmanship; for there is no part of thee which wants ornament, inasmuch as all things which God has made are very good. But the lascivious additional adorning of what is already good is an affront to the bounty of the Creator. Look downward when thou walkest abroad, veiling thyself as becomes women. 

(Book 2, Part 4, §32)

And again, Moses says to those who rose up against him: “Your murmuring is not against us, but against the Lord our God” (Ex. 16:8). For if he that calls one of the laity Raka [Matt. 5:22], or fool, shall not be unpunished, as doing injury to the name of Christ, how dare any man speak against his bishop, by whom the Lord gave the Holy Spirit among you upon the laying on of his hands, by whom ye have learned the sacred doctrines, and have known God, and have believed in Christ, by whom you were known of God, by whom you were sealed with the oil of gladness and the ointment of understanding, by whom you were declared to be the children of light, by whom the Lord in your illumination testified by the imposition of the bishop’s hands, and sent out His sacred voice upon every one of you, saying, “You are my son, this day have I begotten thee?” (Ps. 2:7). By your bishop, O man, God adopts you for His child. Acknowledge, O son, that right hand which was a mother to you. Love him who, after God, is become a father to you, and honor him.

(Book 6, Part 3, §11)

We abhor all unlawful mixtures, and that which is practiced by some against nature as wicked and impious.

(Book 6, Part 6, Ch. 30)

For our Savior says to the Sadducees: “But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which is written, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God, therefore, is not the God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to Him” (Ex. 3:6; Luke 20:38). Wherefore, of those that live with God, even their very relics are not without honor. For even Elisha the prophet, after he was fallen asleep, raised up a dead man who was slain by the pirates of Syria [2 Kings 13:21]. For his body touched the bones of Elisha, and he arose and revived. Now this would not have happened unless the body of Elisha were holy. And chaste Joseph embraced Jacob after he was dead upon his bed [Gen. 50:1]; and Moses and Joshua the son of Nun carried away the relics of Joseph [Ex. 13:19; Josh. 24:32], and did not esteem it a defilement. Whence you also, O bishops, and the rest, who without such observances touch the departed, ought not to think yourselves defiled. Nor abhor the relics of such persons, but avoid such observances, for they are foolish. And adorn yourselves with holiness and chastity, that you may become partakers of immortality, and partners of the kingdom of God, and may receive the promise of God, and may rest for ever, through Jesus Christ our Savior.

(Book 7, Part 1, §3)

Thou shall not slay thy child by causing abortion, nor kill that which is begotten; for “everything that is shaped, and has received a soul from God, if it be slain, shall be avenged, as being unjustly destroyed” (Ex. 21:23, LXX).

(Book 8, Part 1, §2)

Now women prophesied also. Of old, Miriam the sister of Moses and Aaron, and after her Deborah, and after these Huldah and Judith—the former under Josiah, the latter under Darius…

(Book 8, Part 4, §§40-41)

(§40) …Concerning those that are at rest in Christ: After the bidding prayer, that we may not repeat it again, the deacon shall add as follows:

(§41) Let us pray for our brethren that are at rest in Christ, that God, the lover of mankind, who has received his soul, may forgive him every sin, voluntary and involuntary, and may be merciful and gracious to him, and give him his lot in the land of the pious that are sent into the bosom of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, with all those that have pleased Him and done His will from the beginning of the world, whence all sorrow, grief, and lamentation are banished. Let us arise, let us dedicate ourselves and one another to the eternal God, through that Word which was in the beginning.

And let the bishop say: O You who is by nature immortal, and has no end of Your being, from whom every creature, whether immortal or mortal, is derived; who made man a rational creature, the citizen of this world, in his constitution mortal, and added the promise of a resurrection; who did not suffer Enoch and Elijah to taste of death: the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, who art the God of them, not as of dead, but as of living persons: for the souls of all men live with You, and the spirits of the righteous are in Your hand, which no torment can touch [Matt. 22:32; Wis. 3:1]; for they are all sanctified under Your hand: do Thou now also look upon this Your servant, whom You have selected and received into another state, and forgive him if voluntarily or involuntarily he has sinned, and afford him merciful angels, and place him in the bosom of the patriarchs, and prophets, and apostles, and of all those that have pleased You from the beginning of the world, where there is no grief, sorrow, nor lamentation; but the peaceable region of the godly, and the undisturbed land of the upright, and of those that therein see, the glory of Your Christ; by whom glory, honor, and worship, thanksgiving, and adoration be to You, in the Holy Spirit, forever. Amen…

Footnotes

  1. H.P.V. Nunn, trans., Christian Inscriptions (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1920), 17-18. ↩︎
  2. H.P.V. Nunn, trans., Christian Inscriptions (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1920), 24. ↩︎
  3. H.P.V. Nunn, trans., Christian Inscriptions (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1920), 15. ↩︎
  4. H.P.V. Nunn, trans., Christian Inscriptions (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1920), 16. ↩︎
  5. H.P.V. Nunn, trans., Christian Inscriptions (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1920), 18. ↩︎
  6. H.P.V. Nunn, trans., Christian Inscriptions (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1920), 18. ↩︎
  7. H.P.V. Nunn, trans., Christian Inscriptions (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1920), 22. ↩︎
  8. Francis X. Glimm, Joseph M.F. Marique, SJ, Gerald G. Walsh, SJ, trans., The Fathers of the Church, Vol. 1: The Apostolic Fathers (Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 1947), 172-73. ↩︎
  9. Francis X. Glimm, Joseph M.F. Marique, SJ, Gerald G. Walsh, SJ, trans., The Fathers of the Church, Vol. 1: The Apostolic Fathers (Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 1947), 174. ↩︎
  10. Francis X. Glimm, Joseph M.F. Marique, SJ, Gerald G. Walsh, SJ, trans., The Fathers of the Church, Vol. 1: The Apostolic Fathers (Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 1947), 182-83. ↩︎
  11. Francis X. Glimm, Joseph M.F. Marique, SJ, Gerald G. Walsh, SJ, trans., The Fathers of the Church, Vol. 1: The Apostolic Fathers (Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 1947), 183. ↩︎
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  1. Apostolic Era Documents
  2. Ancient Christian Inscriptions
  3. Acts and Apocrypha
  4. Apostolic Teachings and Constitutions
  5. Footnotes
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