This page contains links to pages on the site which contain a variety of historical documents which are relevant to Biblical Studies. All these are in public domain.
I plan to add to this list gradually
Documents linked to the New Testament
Pausanias and Strabo describing Corinth
This page includes quotations from Pausanias and Strabo which describe the city of Corinth around the time of Paul's visit
Libellus
When a citizen had obeyed the imperial edict and worshipped the emperor. They wrote a Libellus or Certificate which was signed by the Roman official to show that they had offered sacrifice to the emperor. Many hundreds of these have been found.
Pliny Trajan Letter
A letter from Pliny, the governor of Bithynia to the Emperor Trajan, asking him for advice about what to do about Christians who refused to worship the emperor. This is relevant historical background for the Book of Revelation
Martyrdom of Polycarp
The account of the martyrdom of Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, who was burnt alive around AD 156 because he refused to worship the emperor
Muratorian Canon
The earliest existing list of the books included into the New Testament, from around AD 170.
Eusebius Canon
In his Ecclesiastical History, Eusebius (AD 264-340) set out the results of research he had conducted into which books were accepted as inspired by different churches around the Roman Empire. He found four classes of books.
Ignatius to the Ephesians
A letter from Ignatius to the Ephesians, containing reference to their bishop Onesimus, and one of the few quotations from the Book of Philemon
Didache
The Didache, or Teaching of the Twelve Apostles
Jerome - On Illustrious Men
This page contains the first nine sections of a work by Jerome which gives helpful biographical information about the apostles.
Anti-Marcionite Prologues
These are short introductions to three of the Gospels (Mark, Luke and John) thought to have been written to oppose the teaching of Marcion. They give some helpful information about the authors of the Gospels.
Documents linked to the Old Testament
Hittite Suzerainty Treaties
These are examples of two different Hittite Suzerainty Treaties, made between the Hittites, as the suzerain and a vassal king. Both have similar sections to the Book of Deuteronomy, including a preamble, a historial introduction, clauses of the treaty, invocation of the gods. The first also has a section of curses and blessings.
Herodotus description of city and fall of Babylon
This page contains two extracts from the History of Herodotus. The first is his description of the city of Babylon. The second is his description of the fall of Babylon to Cyrus of Persia in 539 BC.
Josephus Antiquities of the Jews and Wars of the Jews
These are sections of the writings of Josephus which describe people or events from the Bible
Table of the Nations
Tower of Babel and role of the tyrant Nimrod
Moses in the bullrushes and leading Egyptian army
Earthquake during days of Uzziah
Daniel being taken to Babylon
Antipas, Herodias and the death of John the Baptist
Josephus and Philo about Pontius Pilate
Famine predicted by Agabus
Death of Herod Agrippa I
Martyrdom of James
Canon of Jewish Scriptures