LactantiusIntroductory Notice to Lactantius.
Book I. Of the False Worship of the Gods
Preface.—Of what great value the knowledge of the truth is and always has been
Chap. I.—Of religion and wisdom
Chap. II.—That there is a providence in the affairs of men
Chap. III.—Whether the universe is governed by the power of one God or of many
Chap. IV.—That the one God was foretold even by the prophets
Chap. V.—Of the testimonies of poets and philosophers
Chap. VI.—Of divine testimonies, and of the Sibyls and their predictions
Chap. VII.—Concerning the testimonies of Apollo and the gods
Chap. VIII.—That God is without a body, nor does he need difference of sex for procreation
Chap. IX.—Of Hercules and his life and death
Chap. XI.—Of the origin, life, reign, name and death of Jupiter, and of Saturn and Uranus
Chap. XII.—That the stoics transfer the figments of the poets to a philosophical system
Chap. XIV.—What the sacred history of Euhemerus and Ennius teaches concerning the gods
Chap. XV.—How they who were men obtained the name of gods
Chap. XVIII.—On the consecration of gods, on account of the benefits which they conferred upon men
Chap. XIX.—That it is impossible for any one to worship the true God together with false deities
Chap. XX.—Of the gods peculiar to the Romans, and their sacred rites
Chap. XXIII.—Of the ages of vain superstitions, and the times at which they commenced
Book II. Of the Origin of Error
Chap. III.—That Cicero and other men of learning erred in not turning away the people from error
Chap. VI.—That neither the whole universe nor the elements are God, nor are they possessed of life
Chap. VIII.—Of the use of reason in religion; and of dreams, auguries, oracles, and similar portents
Chap. IX.—Of the devil, the world, God, providence, man, and his wisdom
Chap. X.—Of the world, and its parts, the elements and seasons
Chap. XI.—Of living creatures, of man; Prometheus, Deucalion, the Parcæ
Chap. XV.—Of the corruption of angels, and the two kinds of demons
Chap. XVI.—That demons have no power over those who are established in the faith
Chap. XVII.—That astrology, soothsaying, and similar arts are the invention of demons
Chap. XVIII.—Of the patience and vengeance of God, the worship of demons, and false religions
Book III. Of the False Wisdom of the Philosophers
Chap. II.—Of philosophy, and how vain was its occupation in setting forth the truth
Chap. III.—Of what subjects philosophy consists, and who was the chief founder of the academic sect
Chap. IV.—That knowledge is taken away by Socrates, and conjecture by Zeno
Chap. V.—That the knowledge of many things is necessary
Chap. VI.—Of wisdom, and the academics, and natural philosophy
Chap. VII.—Of moral philosophy, and the chief good
Chap. VIII.—Of the chief good, and the pleasures of the soul and body, and of virtue
Chap. IX.—Of the chief good, and the worship of the true God, and a refutation of Anaxagoras
Chap. X.—It is the peculiar property of man to know and worship God
Chap. XI.—Of religion, wisdom, and the chief good
Chap. XIII.—Of the immortality of the soul, and of wisdom, philosophy, and eloquence
Chap. XIV.—That Lucretius and others have erred, and Cicero himself, in fixing the origin of wisdom
Chap. XXI.—Of the system of Plato, which would lead to the overthrow of states
Chap. XXII.—Of the precepts of Plato, and censures of the same
Chap. XXIII.—Of the errors of certain philosophers, and of the sun and moon
Chap. XXIV.—Of the antipodes, the heaven, and the stars
Chap. XXV.—Of learning philosophy, and what great qualifications are necessary for its pursuit
Chap. XXVIII.—Of true religion and of nature. whether fortune is a goddess, and of philosophy
Book IV. Of True Wisdom and Religion
Chap. II.—Where wisdom is to be found; why Pythagoras and Plato did not approach the Jews
Chapter IV.—Of wisdom likewise, and religion, and of the right of father and lord
Chap. VII.—Of the name of Son, and whence he is called Jesus and Christ
Chap. XI.—Of the cause of the incarnation of Christ
Chap. XIII.—Of Jesus, God and man; and the testimonies of the prophets concerning him
Chap. XIV.—Of the priesthood of Jesus foretold by the prophets
Chap. XV.—Of the life and miracles of Jesus, and testimonies concerning them
Chap. XVI.—Of the passion of Jesus Christ; that it was foretold
Chap. XVII.—Of the superstitions of the Jews, and their hatred against Jesus
Chap. XVIII.—Of the Lord’s passion, and that it was foretold
Chap. XIX.—Of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus; and the predictions of these events
Chap. XXII.—Arguments of unbelievers against the incarnation of Jesus
Chap. XXIII.—Of giving precepts, and acting
Chap. XXIV.—The overthrowing of the arguments above urged by way of objection
Chap. XXVI.—Of the cross, and other tortures of Jesus, and of the figure of the lamb under the law
Chap. XXVII.—Of the wonders effected by the power of the cross, and of demons
Chap. XXVIII.—Of hope and true religion, and of superstition
Chap. XXIX.—Of the Christian religion, and of the union of Jesus with the Father
Chap. XXX.—Of avoiding heresies and superstitions, and what is the only true Catholic Church
Chap. II.—To what an extent the Christian truth has been assailed by rash men
Chap. IV.—Why this work was published, and again of Tertullian and Cyprian
Chap. V.—there was true justice under Saturnus, but it was banished by Jupiter
Chap. VII.—Of the coming of Jesus, and its fruit; and of the virtues and vices of that age
Chap. IX.—Of the crimes of the wicked, and the torture inflicted on the Christians
Chap. X.—Of false piety, and of false and true religion
Chap XI.—Of the cruelty of the heathens against the Christians
Chap. XII.—Of true virtue; and of the estimation of a good or bad citizen
Chapter XIII.—Of the increase and the punishment of the Christians.
Chap. XIV.—Of the fortitude of the Christians
Chap. XV.—Of folly, wisdom, piety, equity, and justice
Chap. XVI.—Of the duties of the just man, and the equity of Christians
Chap. XVII.—Of the equity, wisdom, and foolishness of Christians
Chap. XVIII.—Of justice, wisdom, and folly
Chap. XIX.—Of virtue and the tortures of Christians, and of the right of a father and master
Chap. XX.—Of the vanity and crimes, impious superstitions, and of the tortures of the Christians
Chap. XXII.—Of the rage of the demons against Christians, and the error of unbelievers
Chap. XXIII.—Of the justice and patience of the Christians
Chap. XXIV.—Of the divine vengeance inflicted on the torturers of the Christians
Chap. I.—Of the worship of the true God, and of innocency, and of the worship of false Gods
Chap. II.—Of the worship of false gods and the true God
Chap. IV.—Of the ways of life, of pleasures, also of the hardships of Christians
Chap. V.—Of false and true virtue; and of knowledge
Chap. VI.—Of the chief good and virtue, and or knowledge and righteousness
Chap. VIII.—Of the errors of philosophers, and the variableness of law
Chap. IX.—Of the law and precept of god; of mercy, and the error of the philosophers
Chap. X.—Of religion towards God, and mercy towards men; and of the beginning of the world
Chap. XI.—Of the persons upon whom a benefit is to be conferred
Chap. XII.—Of the kinds of beneficence, and works of mercy
Chap. XIII.—Of repentance, of mercy, and the forgiveness of sins
Chap. XV.—Of the affections, and the opinion of the Peripatetics respecting them
Chap. XVII.—Of the affections and their use; of patience, and the chief good of Christians
Chap. XVIII.—Of some commands of God, and of patience
Chap. XIX.—Of the affections and their use; and of the three furies
Chap. XXI.—Of the pleasures of the ears, and of sacred literature
Chap. XXII.—Of the pleasures of taste and smell
Chap. XXIII.—De tactus voluptate et libidine, atque de matrimonio et continentiâ
Chap. XXIV.—Of repentance, of pardon, and the commands of God
Chap. XXV.—Of sacrifice, and of an offering worthy of God, and of the form of praising God
Chap. II.—Of the error of the philosophers, and of the divine wisdom, and of the golden age
Chap. III.—Of nature, and of the world; and a censure of the Stoics and Epicureans
Chap. V.—Of the creation of man, and of the arrangement of the world, and of the chief good
Chap. VI.—Why the world and man were created. How unprofitable is the worship of false gods
Chap. VII.—Of the variety of philosophers, and their truth
Chap. VIII.—Of the immortality of the soul
Chap. IX.—Of the immortality of the soul, and of virtue
Chap. X.—Of vices and virtues, and of life and death
Chap. XI.—Of the last times, and of the soul and body
Chap. XII.—Of the soul and the body, and of their union and separation and return
Chap. XIII.—Of the soul, and the testimonies concerning its eternity
Chap. XIV.—Of the first and last times of the world
Chap. XV.—Of the devastation of the world and change of the empires
Chap. XVI.—Of the devastation of the world, and its prophetic omens
Chap. XVII.—Of the false prophet, and the hardships of the righteous, and his destruction
Chap. XIX.—Of the advent of Christ to judgment, and of the overcoming of the false prophet
Chap. XX.—Of the judgment of Christ, of Christians, and of the soul
Chap. XXI.—Of the torments and punishments of souls
Chap. XXII.—Of the error of the poets, and the return of the soul from the lower regions
Chap. XXIII.—Of the resurrection of the soul, and the proofs of this fact
Chap. XXIV.—Of the renewed world
Chap. XXV.—Of the last times, and of the city of Rome
Chap. XXVI.—Of the loosing of the devil, and of the second and greatest judgment
The Epitome of the Divine Institutes
The Preface.—The plan and purport of the whole Epitome, and of the Institutions
Chap. I.—Of the divine providence
Chap. II.—That there is but one God, and that there cannot be more
Chap. III.—The testimonies of the poets concerning the one God
Chap. IV.—The testimonies of the philosophers to the unity of God
Chap. V.—That the prophetic women—that is, the Sibyls—declare that there is but one God
Chap. VI.—Since God is eternal and immortal, he does not stand in need of sex and succession
Chap. VII.—Of the wicked life and death of Hercules
Chap. VIII.—Of Æsculapius, Apollo, Mars, Castor and Pollux, and of Mercurius and Bacchus
Chap. IX.—Of the disgraceful deeds of the gods
Chap. X.—Of Jupiter, and his licentious life
Chap. XI.—The various emblems under which the poets veiled the turpitude of Jupiter
Chap. XII.—The poets do not invent all those things which relate to the gods
Chap. XIII.—The actions of Jupiter are related from the historian Euhemerus
Chap. XIV.—The actions of Saturnus and Uranus taken from the historians
Chap. XX.—Of the gods peculiar to the Romans
Chap. XXI.—Of the sacred rites of the Roman gods
Chap. XXII.—Of the sacred rites Introduced by Faunus and Numa
Chap. XXIII.—Of the Gods and sacred rites of the barbarians
Chap. XXIV.—Of the origin of sacred rites and superstitions
Chap. XXV.—Of the golden age, of images, and Prometheus, who first fashioned man
Chap. XXVI.—Of the worship of the elements and stars
Chap. XXVII.—Of the creation, sin, and punishment of man; and of angels, both good and bad
Chap. XXVIII.—Of the demons, and their evil practices
Chap. XXIX.—Of the patience and providence of God
Chap. XXXI.—Of knowledge and supposition
Chap. XXXII.—Of the sects of philosophers, and their disagreement
Chap. XXXIII.—What is the chief good to be sought in life
Chap. XXXIV.—That men are born to justice
Chap. XXXV.—That immortality is the chief good
Chap. XXXVI.—Of the philosophers,—namely, Epicurus and Pythagoras
Chap. XXXVII.—Of Socrates and his contradiction
Chap. XXXVIII.—Of Plato, whose doctrine approaches more nearly to the truth
Chap. XXXIX.—Of various philosophers, and of the antipodes
Chap. XL.—Of the foolishness of the philosophers
Chap. XLI.—Of true religion and wisdom
Chap. XLII.—Of religious wisdom: the name of Christ known to none, except himself and his father
Chap. XLIII.—Of the name of Jesus Christ, and his twofold nativity
Chap. XLIV.—The twofold nativity of Christ is proved from the prophets
Chap. XLV.—The power and works of Christ are proved from the scriptures
Chap. XLVI.—It is proved from the prophets that the passion and death of Christ had been foretold
Chap. XLVIII.—Of the disinheriting of the Jews, and the adoption of the Gentiles
Chap. XLIX.—That God is one only
Chap. L.—Why God assumed a mortal body, and suffered death
Chap. LI.—Of the death of Christ on the cross
Chap. LIII.—The reasons of the hatred against the Christians are examined and refuted
Chap. LIV.—Of the freedom of religion in the worship of God
Chap. LV.—The heathens charge justice with impiety in following God
Chap. LVI.—Of justice, which is the worship of the true God
Chap. LVII.—Of wisdom and foolishness
Chap. LVIII.—Of the true worship of God, and sacrifice
Chap. LIX.—Of the ways of life, and the first times of the world
Chap. LX.—Of the duties of justice
Chap. LXII.—Of restraining the pleasures of the senses
Chap. LXIII.—That shows are most powerful to corrupt the minds
Chap. LXIV.—The passions are to be subdued, and we must abstain from forbidden things
Chap. LXV.—Precepts about those things which are commanded, and of pity
Chap. LXVI.—Of faith in religion, and of fortitude
Chap. LXVII.—Of repentance, the immortality of the soul, and of providence
Chap. LXVIII.—Of the world, man, and the providence of God
Chap. LXIX.—That the world was made on account of man, and man on account of God
Chap. LXX.—The immortality of the soul is confirmed
Chap. LXXII.—Of Christ descending from heaven to the general judgment, and of the millenarian reign
Chap. LXXIII.—The hope of safety is in the religion and worship of God
A Treatise on the Anger of God Addressed to Donatus
Chap. I.—Of divine and human wisdom
Chap. II.—Of the truth and its steps, and of God
Chap. III.—Of the good and evil things in human affairs, and of their author
Chap. IV.—Of God and his affections, and the censure of Epicurus
Chap. V.—The opinion of the Stoics concerning God; of His anger and kindness
Chap. VII.—Of man, and the brute animals, and religion
Chap. IX.—Of the providence of God, and of opinions opposed to it
Chap. X.—Of the origin of the world, and the nature of affairs, and the providence of God
Chap. XI.—Of God, and that the one God, and by whose providence the world is governed and exists
Chap. XII.—Of religion and the fear of God
Chap. XIII.—Of the advantage and use of the world and of the seasons
Chap. XV.—Whence sins extended to man
Chap. XVI.—Of God, and his anger and affections
Chap. XVII.—Of God, His care and anger
Chap. XVIII.—Of the punishment of faults, that it cannot take place without anger
Chap. XIX.—Of the soul and body, and of providence
Chap. XX.—Of offences, and the mercy of God
Chap. XXI.—Of the anger of God and man
Chap. XXII.—Of sins, and the verses of the Sibyls respecting them recited
On the Workmanship of God, or the Formation of Man
Chap. I.—The introduction, and exhortation to Demetrianus
Chap. II.—Of the production of the beasts and of man
Chap. III.—Of the condition of the beasts and man
Chap. IV.—Of the weakness of man
Chap. V.—Of the figures and limbs of animals
Chap. VI.—Of the error of Epicurus, and of the limbs and their use
Chap. VII.—Of all the parts of the body
Chap. VIII.—Of the parts of man: the eyes and ears
Chap. IX.—Of the senses and their power
Chap. X.—Of the outer limbs of man, and their use
Chap. XI.—Of the intestines in man, and their use
Chap. XII.—De utero, et conceptione atque sexibus.
Chap. XIII.—Of the lower members
Chap. XIV.—Of the unknown purpose of some of the intestines
Chap. XVI.—Of the mind and its seat
Chap. XVII.—Of the soul, and the opinion of philosophers concerning it
Chap. XVIII.—Of the soul and the mind, and their affections
Chap. XIX.—Of the soul, and it given by God
Of the Manner in Which the Persecutors Died
The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles
Introductory Notice by Professor M. B. Riddle, D.D.
Section 1.—The discovery of the codex, and its contents.
Section 2.—Publication of the discovered works: the effect
Section 3.—Contents of teaching, and relation to other works
The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles
Chapter I.—The Two Ways; The First Commandment
Chapter II.—The Second Commandment: Gross Sin Forbidden
Chapter III.—Other Sins Forbidden
Chapter VI.—Against False Teachers, and Food Offered to Idols
Chapter VII.—Concerning Baptism
Chapter VIII.—Concerning Fasting and Prayer (the Lord’s Prayer)
Chapter IX.—The Thanksgiving (Eucharist)
Chapter X.—Prayer After Communion
Chapter XI.—Concerning Teachers, Apostles, and Prophets
Chapter XII.—Reception of Christians
Chapter XIII.—Support of Prophets
Chapter XIV.—Christian Assembly on the Lord’s Day
Chapter XV.—Bishops and Deacons; Christian Reproof
Constitutions of the Holy Apostles
Book II. Of Bishops, Presbyters, and Deacons
Sec. I.—On Examining Candidates for the Episcopal Office.
Sec. II.—On the Character and Teaching of the Bishop
Sec. III.—How the Bishop is to Treat the Innocent, the Guilty, and the Penitent
Sec. V.—On Accusations, and the Treatment of Accusers
Sec. VII.—On Assembling in the Church
Book VII. Concerning the Christian Life, and the Eucharist, and the Initiation into Christ
Sec. I.—On the Two Ways,—The Way of Life and the Way of Death
Sec. II.—On the Formation of the Character of Believers, and on Giving of Thanks to God
Sec. III.—On the Instruction of Catechumens, and Their Initiation into Baptism
Book VIII. Concerning Gifts, and Ordinations, and the Ecclesiastical Canons
Sec. I.—On the Diversity of Spiritual Gifts
Sec. II.—Election and Ordination of Bishops: Form of Service on Sundays
Sec. III.—Ordination and Duties of the Clergy
Sec. IV.—Certain Prayers and Laws
Sec. V.—All the Apostles Urge the Observance of the Order of the Church