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The Library

Forty Centuries of Christian Writing

1774 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.

1–100

The First Century

1 work

c. 100

Hebrew or Aramaic, surviving in Latin and Syriac

Fourth Ezra

Anonymous

Seven visions in which Ezra, sitting in the ruins of Jerusalem, refuses to accept the angel's answers: why does God let the wicked prosper, why were so few made to be saved, and what use was a law that no one could keep. The consolations do not silence him.

Second Temple Jewish · ApocalypseEzraRomansRevelationDanielRead elsewhere

101–200

The Second Century

1 work

c. 130–200

Greek or Latin

Fifth Ezra

Anonymous

God rehearses everything he did for Israel in the wilderness and declares that the house is now to be given to a people coming from the east, closing with Ezra on Mount Zion watching a great multitude receive crowns from the Son of God.

Early Church · ProphecyEzraMatthewRevelationHoseaRead elsewhere

201–300

The Third Century

1 work

c. 250–300

Greek or Latin

Sixth Ezra

Anonymous

Two chapters of unrelieved threat against the nations — Babylon, Asia, Egypt, Syria — written for Christians under persecution and promising that the sword will come, that mothers will be widowed and their houses given to others, and that the elect are to hold on and not fear.

Early Church · ProphecyEzraRevelationIsaiahJeremiahRead elsewhere