The original Greek and Latin texts that form the basis of our medieval legends appeared in the first centuries A.D. Alongside of the ‘canonical’ gospels there are a number of apocryphal gospels, producing abundant further material for legends. A well-known instance is the Gospel of Nicodemus, dating from the beginning of the fourth century, which produces the material for numerous new legends such as those pertaining to the person of Pilate and to Christ's Descent into Hell. The Old Testament serves as the creative basis for stories around Adam and Eve, the origin of the Holy Cross, Judith and Holofernes, and many others. The New Testament inspires stories around the birth and life of the Holy Virgin Mary, and the childhood, the passion and the death of her Son and, further, motivates legends such as those of Pilate, Veronica and Longinus, and the stories about Mary Magdalene. Furthermore, stories arise about the Apocalypse, such as the legend of the Antichrist and the Judgment Day.

The vernacular versions occur in various shapes: as an element in other genres such as penitentials or Easter plays, but also as autonomous, fully detailed stories in verse, as was common practice in the Middle Ages. Sometimes they appear only as brief references to legend matter, of just a few lines or words, falling back on medieval audiences’ widespread familiarity with all such stories. Such mixture of genres is typical for medieval religious literature. Well-known instances are the legends from the Kaiserchronik (middle twelfth century), particularly because of the context in which they occur – the history of the Roman Empire and the Holy Roman Empire up to the middle of the twelfth century – and because of their influence on later narratives of ancient rulers. Familiar legend matter such as the lives of Adam and Eve and its linked legend of the True Cross time and again find a place in extensive legend compilations (e.g. Passional and Väterbuch), and in world chronicles such as that by Rudolf von Ems, or the Christherre-Chronik. A standard element of the legends is the miracles that take place through the intercession of a saint during his lifetime or after his death, or spectacular conversions of great sinners, as in the legend of Theophilus.