Early Christian WritingsTranslated by MAXWELL STANIFORTHRevised translation introductions and notes by ANDREW LOUTH The writings in this volume cast a glimmer of light upon the emerging traditions and organization of the infant Church during an otherwise little known period of its development A selection of letters and small scale theological treatises from a group known as the Apostolic Fathers several of whom were probably disciples of the Apostles provides first hand accounts of the early Church and outlines a form of early Christianity still drawing on the theology and traditions of its parent religion Judaism Included here are the first Epistle of Bishop Clement of Rome an impassioned plea for harmony the Epistle of Polycarp the Epistle of Barnabas the Didache and the Seven Epistles written by Ignatius of Antioch among them his moving appeal to the Romans that they grant him a martyr s death Maxwell Staniforth s translation captures the immediate style of the orig