Chapter IV: Part III: Introductory

The correspondence between Trajan and Pliny, and the
Imperial Rescript--Genuineness of this piece in Pliny’s
Letters 45

I

THE LETTERS OF PLINY

Nerva--Character of Trajan--Story of correspondence here
referred to--Pliny’s Letters--Reply of Trajan, which
contained the famous Rescript--Tertullian’s criticism of
Rescript--Pliny’s Letters--They were no ordinary letters,
but were intended for public reading--Pliny’s character--The
vogue of writing letters as literary pieces for public
reading--Pliny’s Letters briefly examined--The letter here
under special consideration--Its great importance in early
Christian history 48

II

VOGUE OF EPISTOLARY FORM OF LITERATURE

Letters of public men considered as pieces of literature--After
Trajan there were very few Latin writings until the close
of the fourth century--In that period some celebrated
letters again appear (written by Symmachus and by Sidonius
Apollinaris a few years later)--These letters were evidently
written as pieces of literature intended for public
circulation 63

III

THE NEW TESTAMENT EPISTLES, AND LETTERS OF APOSTOLIC
FATHERS

Adoption of favourite letter-form as literary pieces--in
Epistles of the New Testament, and in letters of Apostolic
Fathers 69