Includes bibliographical references.

Early Christian gospels. The gospel according to Matthew -- The gospel according to Mark -- The gospel according to Luke -- The gospel according to John -- The gospel of Thomas -- The gospel of Peter -- The infancy gospel of Thomas -- The secret gospel of Mark -- Paprus Egerton 2: The unknown gospel -- The gospel of the Ebionites -- The gospel of the Nazareans -- The gospel according to the Hebrews --

Early Christian acts. The acts of the Apostles -- The acts of Paul and Thecla --

Early Christian letters attributed to Paul. The letter to the Romans -- The first letter to the Corinthians -- The second letter to the Corinthians -- The letter to the Galatians -- The letter to the Ephesians -- The letter to the Philippians -- The letter to the Colossians -- The first letter to the Thessalonians -- The second letter to the Thessalonians -- The first letter to Timothy -- The second letter to Timothy -- The letter to Titus -- The letter to hilemon -- The third letter to the Corinthians --

General epistles and other early Christian writings. The letter to the Hebrews -- The letter of James -- The letter of 1 Peter -- The letter of 2 Peter -- The letter of 1 John -- The letter of 2 John -- The letter of 3 John -- The letter of Jude -- The letter of 1 Clement -- The Didache -- The letter of Ignatius to the Ephesians -- The letter of Ignatius to the Magnesians -- The letter of Ignatius to the Trallians -- The letter of Ignatius to the Romans -- The letter of Ignatius to the Philadelphians -- The letter of Ignatius to the Smyrneans -- The letter of Ignatius to Polycarp -- The letter of Polycarp to the Philippians -- The letter of Barnabas -- The preaching of Peter -- The fragments of Papias --

Early Christian Apocalypses. The revelation of John -- The Shepherd of Hermas -- The apocalypse of Peter.

"This Reader presents, for the first time in one volume, every Christian writing known to have been produced during the first hundred years of the church (30-130 C.E.). In addition to the New Testament itself, it includes other early non-canonical Gospels, Acts, Epistles, and Apocalypses, as well as additional important writings, such as those of the Apostolic Fathers. Each text is provided in an up-to-date and readable translation (including the NRSV for the New Testament), and introduced with a succinct and incisive discussion of its author, date of composition, and overarching themes. With an opening overview which shows how the canon of the New Testament came to be formulated - the process by which some Christian books came to be regarded as sacred Scripture whereas others came to be excluded - this accessible Reader will meet the needs of students, scholars, and general readers alike. An ideal primary text for courses in the New Testament, Christian Origins, and Early Church History, it can be used in conjunction with a companion volume, the author's The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings (OUP, 1996)."--Book Jacket.