History of the Catholic Church from accession of Constantine (A.D. 306) to the seventeenth consulship of Theodosius the Younger (A.D. 419). Written with the intention to serve as a continuation of Eusebius Pamphili’s Ecclesiastical History. Completed around 439 A.D., it provides an invaluable and intimate portrait of the early Byzantine Church and culture. Image above links to Schaff and Wace edition. ISBN recommendation: 0-8028-8116-5
Decrees of the Second Ecumenical Council (A.D. 381) which confirmed the Nicene profession of faith and the equal Divinity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Image above links to Tanner translation. ISBN recommendation: 0-87840-490-2
Decrees of the First Ecumenical Council (A.D. 325) in which teachings of Arius of Alexandria are placed under anathema and the consubstantiality of Jesus Christ with GOD the Father is confirmed. Image above links to Tanner translation. ISBN recommendation: 0-87840-490-2
Athanasius of Alexandria (born c. 296, died 373) upheld the orthodox teaching regarding the Incarnation against Arius and the world. He steadfastly defended the Faith despite many persecutions, exiles, and sufferings. He is now honored as a Doctor of the Church. Image above links to Robertson translation. ISBN recommendation: 978-0-88141-427-1
Contemporary biography of the Emperor Constantine I (born c. 272, died 337), who consolidated the Roman Empire, brought an end to the era of Roman persecution of the Catholic Church, hosted the First Ecumenical Council, and became the first Christian Roman Emperor. Image links to Richardson translation. ISBN recommendation: 0-19-814924-7
![Eusebii Pamphili Ecclesiastiae historae libri decem: eiusdem de vita Imp. Constantini, libri IV: quibus subjicitur oratio Constantini ad sanctos, & Panegyricus Eusebii Henricus Valesius Graecum textum collatis IV.Mss. Codicibus emendavit, latine vertit & adnotationibus illustravit. Parisiis [Paris]: Excudebat Antonius Vitre, 1659.](https://i0.wp.com/libriaurei.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/eusebii-liber.jpg?resize=400%2C349&ssl=1)
Eusebius is considered the Father of Church History. Completed around 325 A.D., his Ecclesiastical History provides an ancient comprehensive narrative of the prevalent Christian historical traditions from the Incarnation of Christ to Constantine’s defeat of Licinius (c. 325). Image links to McGiffert translation. ISBN recommendations: 978-0-8132-1445-0, 978-0-8132-1446-7
Apostolic Age letters, from the third bishop of Antioch, providing a most ancient collection of examples of early Church teaching. Image links to Lightfoot translations. ISBN recommendation: 0-8091-0038-X
First century epistle from the Church in Rome to the Church in Corinth, traditionally attributed to St. Clement, fourth pope of the Catholic Church. Image links to Lightfoot translation. ISBN recommendation: 0-8091-0038-X
Josephus, a first century Jew of the priestly and royal class, participated in the First Jewish-Roman War, was captured by the Romans, eventually gained favor with Vespasian, obtained freedom, and went on to chronicle the Judaic historical tradition from Creation to the destruction of the Second Temple. His War of the Jews begins with the taking of Jerusalem by Antiochus Epiphanes (c. 169 B.C.) and proceeds to events just after the fall of Masada to the Romans (circa A.D. 73). It is invaluable for providing cultural context to the New Testament. Image above links to online library of Josephus’ works. ISBN recommendation: 0-8254-2952-8
Kohen and scholar, Josephus completed Antiquities of the Jews around 94 A.D. It provides an Apostolic Age account of the Judaic Historical Tradition from the beginning of Genesis to the taking up of arms against the Romans during the procuratorship of Gessius Florus (circa A.D. 66). Serves to supplement the Biblical historical record. Image above links to online works of Josephus. ISBN recommendation: 0-8254-2952-8