Translations of Early Documents Series, now online
Important Background Material for New Testament and Early Church
From around 1917 to 1927 the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge (SPCK) published a series of translations of early documents that provided valiable background material to the New Testament and Early Church.
The object of the Series was to provide short, cheap, and handy text-books for students, either working by themselves or in classes. The translations were unencumbered by commentary or elaborate notes, which can be found in larger works. Most volumes are now in the public domain and available for free download via the links below. If anyone can help me obtain copies of those not currently available (those without a link in the list), please contact me. By bookmarking this page you can keep up-to-date with additions to the series as they are uploaded. You will also find a link on that page that allows all available volumes to be downloaded in a single file.
First Series: Palestinian-Jewish and Cognate Texts (Pre-Rabbinic)
Aramaic Papyri of the Fifth Century B.C.—Arthur Ernest Cowley [1861-1931]
The Wisdom of Ben-Sira (Ecclesiasticus)—William Oscar Emil Oesterley [1866–1950]
The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs—William Oscar Emil Oesterley [1866–1950]
The Odes and Psalms of Solomon—George Herbert Box [1869-1933]
The Apocalypse of Ezra (II. Esdras)—George Herbert Box [1869-1933]
The Biblical Antiquities of Philo—Montague Rhodes James [1862-1936]
Lost Apocrypha of the Old Testament—Montague Rhodes James [1862-1936]
Second Series: Hellenistic-Jewish Texts
The Wisdom of Solomon—William Oscar Emil Oesterley [1866–1950]
Selections from Philo—John Henry Arthur Hart [1876–1952]
Selections from Josephus—Henry St. John Thackeray [1869-1930]
The Third and Fourth Books of Maccabees—Cyril William Emmet [1875-1923]
The Book of Joseph and Aseneth. Translated and edited from the Syriac text—Ernest Walter Brooks [1863-1955] {Public domain in 2026 - copy already in hand}
Third Series: Palestinian-Jewish and Cognate Texts (Rabbinic)
Pirqe Aboth (Sayings of the Jewish Fathers)—William Oscar Emil Oesterley [1866–1950]
Berakhoth (Benedictions)—Arthur Lukyn Williams [1853-1943]
Yoma—George Herbert Box [1869-1933]
Shabbath—William Oscar Emil Oesterley [1866–1950]
Kimchi's Commentary on the Psalms (Book I, Selections)—R.G. Finch
Jewish Literature and Christian Origins
Vol. I. The Apocalyptic Literature—William Oscar Emil Oesterley [1866–1950] and George Herbert Box [1869-1933]
Vol. II. A Short Survey of the Literature of Rabbinical Judaism—William Oscar Emil Oesterley [1866–1950] and George Herbert Box [1869-1933]
The Acts of the Apostles, Translated from the Codex Bezae—C.M. Wilson
Barnabas, Hermas and the Didache.The Donnellan Lectures, 1920—Joseph Armitage Robinson [1858-1933]
The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians—William Kemp Lowther Clarke [1879-1968]
Jewish Literature and Christian Origins: A Short Survey of the Literature of Rabbinical and Mediaeval Judaism—William Oscar Emil Oesterley [1866–1950] and George Herbert Box [1869-1933]
Jewish Uncanonical Writings: A Popular Introduction—William John Ferrar [1868-1945]
Pistis Sophia. Literally translated from the Coptic—George Horner [1849-1930]
Select Passages Illustrating Mithraism— Alfred Shenington Geden [1857-1936]
Select Passages Illustrating Neoplationism—E.R. Dodds
Interpreting the Word of God - Chapter Now Online
In my last post, I asked for help in choosing a chapter to digitise from the book Interpreting the Word of God. Festschift in Honor of Steven Barabas. The majority of respondents chose the chapter by Samuel J. Schult, which now appears online by kind permission of Moody Press. Click on the link below to download a copy.
Samuel J. Schultz, "Old Testament Prophets in Today's Worldt," Samuel J. Schultz & Morris A. Inch, eds., Interpreting the Word of God. Festschift in Honor of Steven Barabas. Chicago: Moody Press, 1976. Hbk. pp.46-59.
My thanks to everyone who responded to the poll. It is very useful to have your input when making such decisions.