Ireneaus was a Second Century Bishop of Lugdunum in what is today southern France. He is notable for his missionary activity and for his writings promoting apostolic teaching and refuting heresy. He traced his knowledge of the apostolic teaching through Polycarp of Smyrma back to the Apostle John and was last person we know of who could legitimately make such a claim. Today’s free book is F.R. Montogomery Hitchcock’s detailed study of Irenaeus’s life and teaching. This public domain title was digitised using the copy of the book held in Spurgeon’s College library. Francis Ryan Montgomery Hitch ..read more

Today’s free book is Richard Bertram Tollinton’s substantial work on the life of Origen’s predecessor at the Catachetical School in Egypt, Clement of Alexandria. This public domain work was digitised from the copy held in Spurgeon’s College library. Robert Bertram Tollinton [1866-1932], Clement of Alexandria: A Study in Christian Liberalism, 2 Vols. London: Williams and Norgate, 1914. Hbk. pp.366+339. [Click here to visit the download page for this title] Table of Contents, Volumes 1 & 2 Preface Clement Alexandria The Close of the Second Century Six Contemporaries In Clement’s Library ..read more

Today’s free book is F J Foakes Jackson’s collection of five essays on Eusebius Pamphili, also known as Eusebius of Caesarea. This public domain title was digitised using the copy held in Spurgeon’s College library. Frederick John Foakes Jackson [1855-1941], Eusebius Pamphili. Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine and first Christian Historian. A Study of the Man and His Writings. Five Essays. Cambridge: W. Heffer & Sons Ltd., 1933. Hbk. pp.153. [Click here to visit the download page for this title] Table of Contents Avant-Propos Preface The Background The Life of Eusebius First Five Books o ..read more

Today’s free book contains a brief biography of Hilary of Poitiers md Martin of Tours, part of the Fathers of the Church for English Readers series. This public domain volume was digitised using the copy held in Spurgeon’s College library. John Gibson Cazenove [1821-1896], St. Hilary of Poitiers and St. Martin of Tours. The Fathers For English Readers. London: SPCK, 1883. Hbk. pp.269. [Click here to visit the download page for this title] Table of Contents Hilary of Poitiers The Country and Age of Hilary Outlines of the Career of Hilary The Youth of Hilary First Years of Hilary’s Episcopate ..read more

Today’s free book is another of Herbert B. Workman’s studies of Christian persecution in the early church. A copy of this public domain title was provided for digitisation by Book Aid. Herbert Brook Workman [1862-1951], The Martyrs of the Early Church. London: Charles H. Kelly, [n.d.]. Hbk. pp.152. [Click here to visit the download page for this title] Table of Contents The Martyrs of the Apostolic Age The Causes of Persecution The Martyrs of the Second Century Thr Martyrs of the Third Century, to the Close of the Persecution of Valerian The Great Persecution Under Diocletian Main image: Mos ..read more

Today’s free book is a biography of Pope Leo I, also called Leo the Great by Charles Gore. He is considered one of the most significant Popes by historians and theologians alike. He was a Roman aristocrat, and was the first pope to have been called “the Great”. He is perhaps best known for having met Attila the Hun in 452 and persuaded him to turn back from his invasion of Italy. He is also a Doctor of the Church, most remembered theologically for issuing the Tome of Leo, a document which was a major foundation to the debates of the Council of Chalcedon, the fourth ecumenical council. That m ..read more

Today’s free book is J.F. Bethune-Baker’s extremely useful History fo Early Christian Doctrine, which entered the public domain. This title was digitised from the copy held in Spurgeon’s College library. James Franklin Bethune-Baker [1861-1951], An Introduction To The Early History Of Christian Doctrine, 2nd edn. London: Methuen & Co., 1903. Hbk. pp.458. [Click here to visit the download page for this title] Table of Contents Preface Preface to the Second Edition Introductory The Beginnings of Doctrines in the New Testament The Development of Doctrine The Sources of Doctrine: Oral Tradi ..read more

The works of the church historian H B Workman entered the public domain this year. Perhaps his most famous work (and most useful to students) is Christian Persecution in the Early Church. This title was digitised from the copy held in Spurgeon’s College library. Herbert Brook Workman [1862-1951], Persecution in the Early Church: A Chapter in the History of Renunciation. London: Charles H. Kelly, {1906]. pp.382. [Ckick here to visit the download page for this title] Table of Contents Preface Abbreviations and Editions The Master and Hi Disciples Caesar or Christ The Great Persecutions The Ex ..read more

Today’s free book is Fredrick Watson’s study of the Christian Apologists of the Second and Third Centuries, which includes Justin Martyr, Tatian, Athenagoras, Theophilus of Antioch, Minucius Felix, Tertullian and Origen. This public domain title was digitised from the copy held in Spurgeon’s College library. Frederick Watson [1844-1906], The Defenders of the Faith; or, the Christian Apologists of the Second and Third Centuries. The Fathers for English Readers, 4th edn. London: SPCK, 893. Hbk. pp.196. [Click here to visit the download page for this title] Table of Contents Preface The Enemi ..read more

Today’s free book is a biography of Athanasius of Alexandria, part of the Fathers for English Readers series, by Robert Wheler Bush. This public domain title was digitised from the copy held in Spurgeon’s College library. Robert Wheler Bush [1820-1908], St. Athanasius: His Life and Times. The Fathers for English Readers. London: SPCK, 1888. Hbk. pp.252. [Click here to visit the download page for this title] Table of Contents The Birthplace of Athanasius The Birth, Boyhood, and Yout of Athanasius Athanasius Appointed Secretary to Alexander Earlier Writings of Athanasius Arius the Heresiarch T ..read more