1. The Epistle of James ·
- Found in five chapters of the Bible, it is addressed to the twelve tribes of the Diaspora,
hence the audience is Greek speaking. It is the most
"Jewish" book of the New Testament. All those addressed are Jews, not a gentile is among them. This
points to a date prior to 50 C.E., the approximate date of the apostolic council. According to tradition,
James takes the lead in Jerusalem around 45 CE. A date of writing between these seems
appropriate, perhaps 47 C.E., which makes it the earliest surviving Christian document.
2. The Didache ·
- Discovered in 1865 and published in 1875, is the first known catechism of the church.
The Didache reflects the conditions at Antioch in Acts 11-13, approximately 45 C.E., after
the apostles left Jerusalem and their teaching is still transmitted verbally. It follows
the epistle of James, with which it has the most in common, so a date shortly after 50 C.E.,
the date of the apostolic council, seems likely. This is believed to be the second oldest
surviving Christian document.
3. Death of James ·
- Hegesippus' account of the death of James from his fifth book of his memoirs, as preserved
in Eusebius' History 2.23.
4. Epistle to Diognetus
·
- The writer and date of this epistle is unknow. It is in answer to an inquiry that Diognetus
has made about the religion of the Christians.
5. Acts of Justin ·
- The Martyrdom of Justin - 165 C.E.
6. Acts of Cyprian ·
The Martyrdom of Cyprian - 258 C.E.
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