Otto Bardenhewer (1851-1935) was Professor of New Testament Exegesis at Munich from 1886 to 1924. Following the success of his 1894 Patrologie (the 1908 English edition of which is also reissued), Bardenhewer went on to write this monumental five-volume history, in German, of early Christian literature from its beginnings to the seventh century. Published between 1902 and 1932, it was acclaimed for its thoroughness, clarity and sound judgment, and remains a standard work of reference. Volume 2 (reissued here in its 1914 second edition) focuses on the third century. Part 1 covers the Eastern tradition, including Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Methodius and Julius Africanus. Part 2 is devoted to the West, including Africa (Tertullian, Cyprian) and Rome (Hippolytus, papal letters). Bardenhewer introduces each author and work, and outlines their critical reception and interpretation. He also lists the 'lives of the martyrs', and Christian adaptations of earlier texts.
