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The Library

Forty Centuries of Christian Writing

1693 works catalogued century by century, from the literature the Bible was written among to the present — each with a note on what it is, why it lasted, and where to read it.

101–200

The Second Century

1 work

c. 140–155

Greek

The Shepherd

Poimen

Hermas

Visions, commands, and parables given to a freed slave in Rome by an ancient woman who is the church and an angel dressed as a shepherd, mostly concerned with whether a Christian who sins gravely after baptism can repent again.

Early Church · Apocalypse

401–500

The Fifth Century

1 work

392–418

Latin

Expositions on the Psalms

Enarrationes in Psalmos

Augustine of Hippo · 354–430

The only complete patristic commentary on all one hundred and fifty psalms, mostly preached, reading them as the voice of the whole Christ — head and body — speaking together.

Western · HomiliesPsalms

1101–1200

The Twelfth Century

1 work

c. 1147–1169

Latin

The Sermons

Isaac of Stella · c. 1100–c. 1178

Sermons of unusual philosophical seriousness on the soul, the church as the body of Christ, and the mercy owed to sinners by a community that shares their nature.

Cistercian · Homilies