A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, usually known as the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers (NPNF), is a set of books containing translations of early Christian writings into English. [1] It was published between 1886 and 1900.
Unlike the Ante-Nicene Fathers which was produced by using earlier translations of the Ante-Nicene Christian Library (ANCL), the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers was printed simultaneously in Europe and in America, by T. & T. Clark, by Christian Literature Company and other American editors. The translations were in the main revised versions of those made for the Oxford Movement Library of the Fathers series. T. & T. Clark was surely convinced by the commercial success of the cheaper American version/revision of the ANCL, although of lesser quality on some minor points. The Swiss-born, German-educated Philip Schaff was commissioned to supervise the first series of the NPNF. [2] He was joined by the British Henry Wace for the second series. [3]
The volumes include the following:
List of Volumes
Vol. | Contents | First Published |
---|---|---|
I. | Eusebius: Church History from A.D. 1–324, Life of Constantine the Great, Oration in Praise of Constantine | 1890 |
II. | Socrates: Church History from A.D. 305–438; Sozomenus: Church History from A.D. 323-425 | 1890 |
III. | Theodoret, Jerome, Gennadius, Rufinus: Historical Writings, etc. | 1892 |
IV. | Athanasius: Select Writings and Letters | 1892 |
V. | Gregory of Nyssa: Dogmatic Treatises; Select Writings and Letters | 1893 |
VI. | Jerome: Letters and Select Works Letters. The Life of Paulus the First Hermit. The Life of S. Hilarion. The Life of Malchus, the Captive Monk. The Dialogue Against the Luciferians. The Perpetual Virginity of Blessed Mary. Against Jovinianus. Against Vigilantius. To Pammachius Against John of Jerusalem. Against the Pelagians. Prefaces. Translations from the Septuagint and Chaldee. The Commentaries. | 1893 |
VII. | Cyril of Jerusalem, Gregory Nazianze | 1894 |
VIII. | Basil: Letters and Select Works | 1895 |
IX. | Hilary of Poitiers, John of Damascus | 1899 |
X. | Ambrose: Select Works and Letters On the Duties of the Clergy. On the Holy Spirit. On the Decease of His Brother Saytrus. Exposition of the Christian Faith. On the Mysteries. Concerning Repentance. Concerning Virgins. Concerning Widows. Selections from the Letters of St. Ambrose. Memorial of Symmachus, Prefect of the city. Sermon Against Auxentius on the Giving Up of the Basilicas. | 1896 |
XI. | Sulpicius Severus, Vincent of Lerins, John Cassian | 1894 |
XII. | Leo the Great, Gregory the Great | 1895 |
XIII. | Gregory the Great II, Ephraim Syrus, Aphrahat | 1898 |
XIV. | The Seven Ecumenical Councils [3] | 1900 |
The full text of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is freely available at: