This volume presents English translations of a selection of early Christian texts that played a key role in shaping the theology and practice of the church in its formative years. These include letters by Clement of Rome, Polycarp, and Ignatius, three of the most prominent Christian leaders of the 2nd century, as well as the First Apology of Justin Martyr, one of the earliest and most important Christian apologetic works. This edition includes extensive notes and commentary providing historical and theological context for each text. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.